On our Catalina 22, we have significant deck rot. We found this by noticing the deck sags when walked on and when intalling life lines the saw dust was moist. Does anyone have suggestions on the repair? We are considering infusing the product from Dr. Rot. The whole deck seems to be affected. Marmite
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Neighbor had this problem
I had a neighbor in the next slip with this problem on a 32 footer. He used West Epoxy and drilled holes ever so many inches and injected the epoxy in with a syringe. He was a Doctor so the syringes where no problem to get. Many years latter decks where still strong and no problems so must be a good fix. I think the West Epoxy material tells exactly how to do this repair. Contact Gudgen Brother/West Epoxy people for information.
I had a neighbor in the next slip with this problem on a 32 footer. He used West Epoxy and drilled holes ever so many inches and injected the epoxy in with a syringe. He was a Doctor so the syringes where no problem to get. Many years latter decks where still strong and no problems so must be a good fix. I think the West Epoxy material tells exactly how to do this repair. Contact Gudgen Brother/West Epoxy people for information.
May be easier to lift the deck.
When the deck is in this condition it may be easier to cut out the deck sections. You would cut at the edge of the non-skid. When you replace the rotten core, you would reglass these sections in place and re-gelcoat.
When the deck is in this condition it may be easier to cut out the deck sections. You would cut at the edge of the non-skid. When you replace the rotten core, you would reglass these sections in place and re-gelcoat.
time for new boat?
Hello, You didn't write how old your boat is, or what condition it's in. If the decks are as bad as you describe, you may be better off just junking the boat and getting something in better condition. If you like Catalina 22's, you can buy nice ones for 3-4K. Think about that before committing a lot of time and money into your boat. Good luck.
Hello, You didn't write how old your boat is, or what condition it's in. If the decks are as bad as you describe, you may be better off just junking the boat and getting something in better condition. If you like Catalina 22's, you can buy nice ones for 3-4K. Think about that before committing a lot of time and money into your boat. Good luck.
I did a similar repair
on my 1968 Galaxy 32. I drilled a number of 1/2" holes thru the deck, dried he interior with heat lamps, injected the gitrot, let dry then filled the holes with West thickened epoxy. Painted the repair with 2 coats primer, 1 coat nonskid. Worked GREAT.
on my 1968 Galaxy 32. I drilled a number of 1/2" holes thru the deck, dried he interior with heat lamps, injected the gitrot, let dry then filled the holes with West thickened epoxy. Painted the repair with 2 coats primer, 1 coat nonskid. Worked GREAT.
If you have
a cored deck as compared to a single skin deck then drying the core will be very difficult. As mentioned cutting out rather large sections of the top skin and removing the rotted core will be your best repair. This will only be economically feasible if you can provide the labor. If you have to pay for the labor at sixty to eighty dollars per hour it won't be worth it. If you do it your self the material cost will probably be less that three hundred dollars. It is all going to depend on how much skill and how much determination you have. It will not be a one or two weekend project unless you are willing to settle for a workboat finish. The basic repairs will take less time than the fussing with the appearance work.
a cored deck as compared to a single skin deck then drying the core will be very difficult. As mentioned cutting out rather large sections of the top skin and removing the rotted core will be your best repair. This will only be economically feasible if you can provide the labor. If you have to pay for the labor at sixty to eighty dollars per hour it won't be worth it. If you do it your self the material cost will probably be less that three hundred dollars. It is all going to depend on how much skill and how much determination you have. It will not be a one or two weekend project unless you are willing to settle for a workboat finish. The basic repairs will take less time than the fussing with the appearance work.
Injecting Thick Expoxy
Marmite: I found that you can build a temporary well head around the holes you drill in the deck using clear silicon caulking. Then you can pour in the thickend epoxy product and it will move into the deck cavity by gravity. Keep refilling until it won't take any more. When everything is hardened you can easily cut off the caulking. First though, be sure interior wood of the deck is nice and dry. Dick
Marmite: I found that you can build a temporary well head around the holes you drill in the deck using clear silicon caulking. Then you can pour in the thickend epoxy product and it will move into the deck cavity by gravity. Keep refilling until it won't take any more. When everything is hardened you can easily cut off the caulking. First though, be sure interior wood of the deck is nice and dry. Dick
If you are determined to inject thickened
epoxy into the void then buy some empty caulk tubes, mix your epoxy, pour it into the tube and pump it with a caulking gun into 1/4 inch holes that you have drilled into the void. As the epoxy starts to come out of the ajoining holes put a plug in the holes and keep pumping. Don't mix more than about half a tube full at a time because the heat of the reaction is confined and the whole batch can go off early.
epoxy into the void then buy some empty caulk tubes, mix your epoxy, pour it into the tube and pump it with a caulking gun into 1/4 inch holes that you have drilled into the void. As the epoxy starts to come out of the ajoining holes put a plug in the holes and keep pumping. Don't mix more than about half a tube full at a time because the heat of the reaction is confined and the whole batch can go off early.
Cut off the bad and rebuild it
Forget injecting resins and glue. Do the job right from the start and cut out the cancer and rebuild. Injecting is just a band-aid solution. If the cost of the repair is more than your boat is worth then leave it alone. Pouring good money into bad is a waste. Do the math first. Regards
Forget injecting resins and glue. Do the job right from the start and cut out the cancer and rebuild. Injecting is just a band-aid solution. If the cost of the repair is more than your boat is worth then leave it alone. Pouring good money into bad is a waste. Do the math first. Regards
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