Deck to hull joint problem - need advise please

[mark stevens]

I decided to replace the carpet lining on my Oday 30 due to water stains from a leak. I was also intending to rebed the stantions while i was at it. Then I discovered a problem with the deck to hull joint. The deck goes over the hull and then downward to create a flange. Apiece of wood was then fiberglassed in along the top of the hull inside and the through bolts attached every 6" from the outside of the hull through this glassed in wood. This wood does not run the entire lenght of the hull but rather seems to be only 5 feet out each side of midship.Some test holes confirm my fear. The wood is soaked and rotten underneath the fiberglass covering. I suppose the proper repair would be to cut away the fiberglass covering, remove the bolts and glass in a new piece of wood stipp and install new sts. bolts and washers. A very large job! I am looking for an alternative? How about I remove the outside black rubrail that covers the bolt heads and put a new bolt inbetween each one and only replace a small block of wood where the new bolts go through? Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[Justin - O'day Owners' Web]

Is it really that bad?

Mark - It may not be as bad as is seems. Frustrating time of year to discover this, though. First - how many test holes, how far apart, over how much of the wood? Next - what's coming out? Mush? Wet but solid wood? Black crap? How wet is it? First thing to do is call Rudy Nickerson at D and R Marine - he used the build the things. Link to his webpage is on the website. You need to know what sort of wood it is. does it really terminate five feet from midship? is it supposed to? Are there other blocks in other portions of the hull? You will have a dilemna. You need to pull the bolts from the holes either so the wood can dry or so that you can replace it. Ask Rudy what happens with the bolts out. Will the boat hang together? Will there be reallignment problems? Best care scenario - The wood is rotted around the bolts but not all along is length. You pull one bolt at a time, rout a hole large enough to work through, and remove the bad wood from near the hole. Then fill with tickened epoxy, allow to set, cure, redrill, rebolt. If you want someone to look at the boat I have a surveyor in Yarmouth I like. Also, there are a couple of fiberglass guys here in Portland I like.I'd drive down too, if you wanted. <jandrus@maine.rr.com>Justin - O'day Owners' Web

 

[mark stevens]

Justins reponse

Thank you Justin for response.The wood is black,soaking wet,removable with your finger. The bolts are every 12". My thought now is to take my dremel with side cutting drill bit and cut out a 3" wide section of glassed over wood strip in between each bolt and epoxy in a new section of wood. Then drill for a new bolt, in effect sister each existing bolt with new wood block about 2" high and 3" wide and glass over. I am also contemplating drilling right through the black rubrail out side that covers the existing bolt heads for these sister bolts and fill with black 5200. To remove the black rubrail from it channell grooves and then replace would be almost impossible due to age and hardness.It is strange that the fore and aft sections of the boat have glass to glass connections and only the midship section has this wood addative. Perhaps for additional strength at the most extreme beam? There is nothing else attached to the wood in the way of deck hardware .By the way- I would be interested in the name of that surveyor as I have been looking at some Allied Princess's for sale here in Maine and hope to purchase one this Summer/Fall.mark

 

[Chris Coutu]

balsa wood core?

Just a thought...Perhaps it's part of the balsa core thats rotted. That would turn black and fall apart to the touch. You need a survey done to determine the amount of rot.It could be just needed to be dried out and resin injected. The deck would have to be separated from the hull in that area. to accomplish that. But, its not to bad of a job.