Hi, I have 2 questions I would love answers to.
No 1. I own a 1999 Beneteau 411 Oceanis Clipper (French built) and about two years ago some fine gel coat cracks appeared in the superstructure, mostly on the smooth non thread areas. The cracks are now starting to run rampant (mainly on the port and starboard walk areas, gunnels and stern scoop) and some are deep and big enough that the gel coat is breaking out in small pieces. When not in use (about 40% of the time) my boat lives under a cover as I am in the tropics. I have used nothing but quality polishes (3M) on the boat in the 7 years I have had her.
Question: Has anyone had this problem and if so do they know the cause?
No 2. The teak timber toe rail under my deck cleats is splitting badly. I originally filled the splits with a West System epoxy but the splits continue to grow both in length and width. A French Beneteau owner told me that when Beneteau mounted the cleats during construction of the boat using a metallic sleeve to position the threads for the cleats through the boats toe rail. He claimed that dissimilar metal reaction is causing massive expansion of the toe rail timber thus splitting it.
Question: Has anyone struck this problem before and is the dissimilar metals reaction theory actually fact?
Cheers
John
No 1. I own a 1999 Beneteau 411 Oceanis Clipper (French built) and about two years ago some fine gel coat cracks appeared in the superstructure, mostly on the smooth non thread areas. The cracks are now starting to run rampant (mainly on the port and starboard walk areas, gunnels and stern scoop) and some are deep and big enough that the gel coat is breaking out in small pieces. When not in use (about 40% of the time) my boat lives under a cover as I am in the tropics. I have used nothing but quality polishes (3M) on the boat in the 7 years I have had her.
Question: Has anyone had this problem and if so do they know the cause?
No 2. The teak timber toe rail under my deck cleats is splitting badly. I originally filled the splits with a West System epoxy but the splits continue to grow both in length and width. A French Beneteau owner told me that when Beneteau mounted the cleats during construction of the boat using a metallic sleeve to position the threads for the cleats through the boats toe rail. He claimed that dissimilar metal reaction is causing massive expansion of the toe rail timber thus splitting it.
Question: Has anyone struck this problem before and is the dissimilar metals reaction theory actually fact?
Cheers
John
