I purchased a 1976 Catalina 22 last year. It is in good overall condition except for some rotted core material on the cabin top from the sliding hatch forward. When I bought her I knew nothing about "soft decks" but, afterward, sounded it with a screw driver, narrowed the problem area to the cabin top and then did some drill samples. I found much of the area to be moist, rotted wood interspersed with dry core wood. In order to be able to sail this season, I took some advice from a sailing colleague, drilled dozens of holes and filled them with Git Rot. In hindsight, I now realize that probably wasn't too effective as much wood was moist and would probably have not absorbed the epoxy.
I am very comfortable with fiberglass layup as I build wooden small boats sometimes coated with epoxy and fiberglass. And as long as my 22 floats, I don't care a whole lot about how aesthetically pleasing she is. So, this winter I am determined to remove the mast etc. and recore the cabin top forward of the hatch.
My concern is this: Don Casey's book, "This Old Boat" as well a multiple descriptions online, make clear that if done from above (my preference) one tries to remove the top skin in large pieces to reveal the core and then reattach them when recoring is complete. Since I did the drill and fill, am I correct in assuming I won't be able to remove the skin in large pieces because some of it will adhere to the epoxy I injected? If so, am I looking at having to grind off the top skin, replace the wood core and layup a fiberglass skin and fair to the old camber as best as I can (I will settle for a solid surface over a pretty one) . Any other options?
Thanks for advice/ideas!
I am very comfortable with fiberglass layup as I build wooden small boats sometimes coated with epoxy and fiberglass. And as long as my 22 floats, I don't care a whole lot about how aesthetically pleasing she is. So, this winter I am determined to remove the mast etc. and recore the cabin top forward of the hatch.
My concern is this: Don Casey's book, "This Old Boat" as well a multiple descriptions online, make clear that if done from above (my preference) one tries to remove the top skin in large pieces to reveal the core and then reattach them when recoring is complete. Since I did the drill and fill, am I correct in assuming I won't be able to remove the skin in large pieces because some of it will adhere to the epoxy I injected? If so, am I looking at having to grind off the top skin, replace the wood core and layup a fiberglass skin and fair to the old camber as best as I can (I will settle for a solid surface over a pretty one) . Any other options?
Thanks for advice/ideas!