Hull delamination or Pan to Hull void ??

[Bob E]

I have a bit of a quandary, and I hope the sum total of other H27 owners, Cherubini design, may be able to help me out here.In short, my surveyor said it "sounded like" I have delamination in the hull (starboard side only), in that the layers of fiberglass apparently separated. There is no such 'sound' (based on thumping) from the port side.I sent a note to Hunter Marine, outlining the above. Greg suggested that what the surveyor may have discovered is that the "pan" is anchored to the sump, and he may have heard a hollowness between the pan and the solid fiberglass hull. { I assume he means the 'pan' of the boats' interior which is fitted into the 'shell' called a Hull? }. Greg seems to be very knowledgable based on other questions I've asked and it certainly sounds plausible.There is no similar sound on the port side.Here's the question: Have any other H27 seen this?I've already bought the boat. The only question that remains is whether or not to put into extra reinforcement inside the hull. Doing so would involve a fair amount of 'nasty environement' work. If it's really not necessary, I'd rather spend the time 'drilling and filling' core laminate on the coach roof.s/v Second Nature

 

[David Foster]

Not on Lady Lillie

our '77 h27. But at the age of our boats, anything could develop in one hull.But again...The lower hull of the h27 is very, very solid: thick hull lay-up, extensive "grid" of beam glassed to the hull, and a 1/4 inch liner tied into the grid and the hull. The yard I had fixing a "road ding" on my keel this summer said they see nothing like it in current models.Isn't there some way to be sure there is a problem before committing to a tough fix? Here I defer to others. One idea is to drill a plug in the suspect area - then you could be sure. Repairing a small plug should not be too hard.DavidLady Lillie

 

[Ed Schenck]

Where precisely?

Other H27 owners would need to know exactly where the surveyor was tapping. There is definitely void between the pan and the hull in many places. Could be that the same spot on the port side is different inside, maybe a tank or bulkhead glassed in. If two or so feet below the waterline you should be on real solid glass. Above that it starts getting thinner with air and the liner behind it.Did he use a moisture meter? If there is delamination then he should get a high moisture reading. I think David's suggestion for a small plug is a good one. But only after you get some more input. Let us know.

 

[Doug T.]

Right, where precisely?

I'll be out at our boat (77 H27) on Saturday. If you can tell me exactly where to look, I'll thump around on ours to compare.Question: Do you have any blisters?

 

[Bob E]

Where explained, is the 'drum sound'.

Unfortunatelty I don't have a diagram area with me, and the boat is 90 miles away. However, by memory, i one were to stand in behind the rudder, we could describe the hull shape as a semi-"S" form, beggining at the keel, to the right upward, and finally ending at the boot stripe. At a point in the flatish section of the curve, more or less directly below the the settee, is where the 'drum' sound is most evident, with the rest of the hull being very solid sounding. When I say 'drum' sound, that means an irregular vibration emitting from what seems to be the interior void.The surveyor suggested going in through the starboard side settee, and forming a 'tunnel' form to reinforce the hull. From what I have heard so far, apparently this is an uncommon sort of malady, if one at all?Thanks,Bob

 

[Peter Albright]

Is the 27 like the 30?

On the 1977 H30, the cabin pan is not symetrical, port to starboard. The starboard side is open to the hull, and the port side has a shelf for the water tank.Could this be the difference?

 

[Ed Schenck]

Peter, looks symmetrical.

If you can trust the diagrams in the "Hunter manual" there are no tanks or other differences. See the Link. This assumes the void is near the center of the salon.