I need some sage advice. My 1997 36mkII has started to leak around the chain plates where they pass through the deck. I have attempted to remove the chainplate cover plates to remove the old sealant and replace it, but without much success. I am afraid of damaging the deck in the process of removing these covers. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Additionally, any suggestions as to which bedding material to use to reseal these sites as this is turning out to be a real job and not one I want to do on an annual basis. Thanks, Jack
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LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners
Bedding
I don't know the set up for the 36 but if anything passes through cored deck, I would grind out any wet coring & fill with epoxy before reinstalling. Use a little bit of straight epoxy to wet out the area & strengthen the coring and then fill the rest with epoxy mixed with filler for flexibility. Make sure you do this to an area larger than the size of the hole. That way, if they start to leak again, it won't hurt the coring. As far as what kind of bedding compound to use, 3M 4200. Don't use 5200 cuz you'll never get it off. I've also heard LifeCaulk is pretty much the same as 4200 but haven't used it myself. LaDonna
I don't know the set up for the 36 but if anything passes through cored deck, I would grind out any wet coring & fill with epoxy before reinstalling. Use a little bit of straight epoxy to wet out the area & strengthen the coring and then fill the rest with epoxy mixed with filler for flexibility. Make sure you do this to an area larger than the size of the hole. That way, if they start to leak again, it won't hurt the coring. As far as what kind of bedding compound to use, 3M 4200. Don't use 5200 cuz you'll never get it off. I've also heard LifeCaulk is pretty much the same as 4200 but haven't used it myself. LaDonna
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Ken Perry
How exactly did you attempt to remove them?
Jack, I have the exact same problem on my 2000 model 36MKII. The port side aft and center chain plate both leak. I was thinking that I might get a very stiff putty knife and then attempt to drive the knife between the deck and the chain plate cover, however I am also worried about scratching the deck around the cover. Any help/advice would be appreciated.
Jack, I have the exact same problem on my 2000 model 36MKII. The port side aft and center chain plate both leak. I was thinking that I might get a very stiff putty knife and then attempt to drive the knife between the deck and the chain plate cover, however I am also worried about scratching the deck around the cover. Any help/advice would be appreciated.
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John Visser
Choice of sealant?
Whay would you choose 3M 4200 instead of 101 Marine Sealant (which is a polysulfide bedding compound)?
Whay would you choose 3M 4200 instead of 101 Marine Sealant (which is a polysulfide bedding compound)?
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LaDonna Bubak - Catalina Owners
No particular reason
Just what I've always used. Have had no problems whatsoever with 4200. LaDonna
Just what I've always used. Have had no problems whatsoever with 4200. LaDonna
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Melody Miller
Catalina Quality
Hey Guys and Gals: At risk of annoying some people, I would be livid if I had a 1997 boat that started leaking in such a critical area. I hope you call Catalina and complain. This is one reason I will likely not buy another. Thanks Melody
Hey Guys and Gals: At risk of annoying some people, I would be livid if I had a 1997 boat that started leaking in such a critical area. I hope you call Catalina and complain. This is one reason I will likely not buy another. Thanks Melody
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Gene Foraker
Rebedding Chainpates
I had the same problem on my 1999. As I recall, I just worked it loose with a screwdriver and pryed it up. Put something down on the deck to act as a fulcrum to the screwdriver's lever. Yes, this is certainly a pain. Other common problems almost everyone seems to have now includes a really crappy battery charger from Pro Mariner. I am now on my third (that's every year) and my dealer says that's not unusual. Always replaced by the manufacturer, but it's a pain and doesn't cost Catalina a dime. When it happens again, I'll replace it at my expense with something else. The other common complaints from everyone on a new C36 are a tachometer out of adjustment and lots of dirt and trash along the bilge and underneath the cabinets. I bet the cost to fix these right at the factory would be around 4 or 5 hrs. of low cost labor with most being cleaning the bilge areas. I hear Frank is very responsive to owners, so it just must be communication. Maybe he feels it is part of the dealer's responsibility at commissioning. Don't think this is just a problem with Catalina. Overall, the problems are few and minor. I have a friend with a new Tarten 3700 and his problems while acceptable were greater and more serious. And this boat costs almost $100,000 more than a C36. Cheers, Gene
I had the same problem on my 1999. As I recall, I just worked it loose with a screwdriver and pryed it up. Put something down on the deck to act as a fulcrum to the screwdriver's lever. Yes, this is certainly a pain. Other common problems almost everyone seems to have now includes a really crappy battery charger from Pro Mariner. I am now on my third (that's every year) and my dealer says that's not unusual. Always replaced by the manufacturer, but it's a pain and doesn't cost Catalina a dime. When it happens again, I'll replace it at my expense with something else. The other common complaints from everyone on a new C36 are a tachometer out of adjustment and lots of dirt and trash along the bilge and underneath the cabinets. I bet the cost to fix these right at the factory would be around 4 or 5 hrs. of low cost labor with most being cleaning the bilge areas. I hear Frank is very responsive to owners, so it just must be communication. Maybe he feels it is part of the dealer's responsibility at commissioning. Don't think this is just a problem with Catalina. Overall, the problems are few and minor. I have a friend with a new Tarten 3700 and his problems while acceptable were greater and more serious. And this boat costs almost $100,000 more than a C36. Cheers, Gene
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Rod H
Mask off the area around your chainplate cover
With the blue or green 3m and then mask over that with duct tape, then get a gasket scraper and pry it off. Whatever you bed with if it is an adhesive it will pull the gel off with it. The idea is to caulk it not glue it. I wish I had researched the subject more before I started caulking stuff up on my boat. I can't remeber if it was Life Caulk or Life Seal but I pulled all the chaiplates for inspection, cleaning, and rebedding while my rig is down getting new paint and the one I bedded did pull off the gel coat.(oh well nothing a little epoxy won't fix and it is under the cover)
With the blue or green 3m and then mask over that with duct tape, then get a gasket scraper and pry it off. Whatever you bed with if it is an adhesive it will pull the gel off with it. The idea is to caulk it not glue it. I wish I had researched the subject more before I started caulking stuff up on my boat. I can't remeber if it was Life Caulk or Life Seal but I pulled all the chaiplates for inspection, cleaning, and rebedding while my rig is down getting new paint and the one I bedded did pull off the gel coat.(oh well nothing a little epoxy won't fix and it is under the cover)
T
Tom
Melody Do you own a Catalina 36MKII ??
What boat do you own? Why would you say you wouldn't own one??? Just because of a few deck leaks in a 5 year old boat???? I have been on Hinckleys, Tartans, Sabre, Watkins and other sailboats and they all are not immune to deck leaks. Its' a boat and sometimes it happens. I own a '99 Cat 36MKII and it too had these leaks. While I'm not too happy about such a annoyance, its probably the ONLY problem I found on this great boat. In fact if you asked me weather I would buy this boat again I WOULD DO IT IN A HEARTBEAT !!!!! And I think most (maybe ALL) Cat 36 owners would say the same thing. It is a VERY sweet boat. Practical Sailor Just did a review on the Cat 36 and had a lot favorable comments. And if you read Practical Sailor at all that translates to very high praise. In fact a least 3 of these boats have done circumnavigated the world....not trivial. (ps. They did note this minor leak annoyance in their report) Now back to the Chainplates leaking. The previous owner did nothing about it (he was not a sailor and only owned the boat for a year.....I saw the boat and bought it right there and then).........I was going to re-chaulk but as a temporary fix I used that "Creeping Crack Cure" stuff from a marine store. Guess what after 9 months I have yet to see a drop come through !!!......What an easy fix, If I ever see any water I'll just keep dripping this stuff down the bedding. Even if it only lasts a year or two, who cares its so easy. (caution will only work for fine cracks-- but typically that's mostly what we have on the shroud fittings)......
What boat do you own? Why would you say you wouldn't own one??? Just because of a few deck leaks in a 5 year old boat???? I have been on Hinckleys, Tartans, Sabre, Watkins and other sailboats and they all are not immune to deck leaks. Its' a boat and sometimes it happens. I own a '99 Cat 36MKII and it too had these leaks. While I'm not too happy about such a annoyance, its probably the ONLY problem I found on this great boat. In fact if you asked me weather I would buy this boat again I WOULD DO IT IN A HEARTBEAT !!!!! And I think most (maybe ALL) Cat 36 owners would say the same thing. It is a VERY sweet boat. Practical Sailor Just did a review on the Cat 36 and had a lot favorable comments. And if you read Practical Sailor at all that translates to very high praise. In fact a least 3 of these boats have done circumnavigated the world....not trivial. (ps. They did note this minor leak annoyance in their report) Now back to the Chainplates leaking. The previous owner did nothing about it (he was not a sailor and only owned the boat for a year.....I saw the boat and bought it right there and then).........I was going to re-chaulk but as a temporary fix I used that "Creeping Crack Cure" stuff from a marine store. Guess what after 9 months I have yet to see a drop come through !!!......What an easy fix, If I ever see any water I'll just keep dripping this stuff down the bedding. Even if it only lasts a year or two, who cares its so easy. (caution will only work for fine cracks-- but typically that's mostly what we have on the shroud fittings)......
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