rotten plywood, and cable stays.

[glide]

Hey all. I have been searching for info regarding replacement of rotten wood at the chain plates. I thought I should check mine to make sure they were good. poked my pocket knife at the inside edge and was super happy when it was solid, then i gouged it into the side nearest the hull and it went all the way through. I have seen somewhere pictures of turnbuckles used along with the plywood. I know that mine will have to be replaced, but wonder if I could make a quick fix and use a turnbuckle for a quick and temporary fix? The bolts seem to be in the solid area, but then what holds the wood in place? I have been working like a mad man trying to get the old girl ready to sail, makeing a sail, lowering the motor mount, makeing a crutch, and gin pole. fixing lights. replacing wheel bearings, the list goes on and on. And really was in hopes that I finally would get to go out this weekend. "Vain Hope"..as it's been said.
Could really use some advise as to replacing them (it), which I'm sure is what I should do. How far does the plywood go into the "slot", and is it surrounded in fiberglass or just on the sides?
I have not started anything so far, as far as removing the carpet to see what is behind it. And am open to any and all advise.
It is a 1987 Hunter 23 Thanks.... glide..

 

[isaksp00]

I just redid one of mine. I am pretty sure the chainplate through-deck had been leaking for years, with the previous owner, seeping into the end grain of the plywood from the top. Mine cracked under load, and I had to repair it while the mast was up, which was quite risky, using a jury rigged stay on one side.

The wood bulkheads (I liken them to bookshelf supports) on mine are tabbed and glued to the hull. You have to remove the storage shelf by removing the teak plugs over the screws then remove the shelf. As you know, peel back the carpet. You will have to (at least I did) grind out the glass cloth that tabs the wood to the hull; I used an angle grinder. That "slot" is basically just the space occupied by the wood in between the glass cloth tabbed to the side, and I saw no way to get the wood out without destroying the glass cloth "slot". Then fashion a new bulkhead. I used poplar I got at Home Depot but am not sure that is the best - marine ply would likely be stronger, so don't necessarily follow me. I used a few layers of unthickened epoxy to seal the top edge of the new bulkhead, then used epoxy and the West System "stronger" filler powder to glue it to the hull, using the chain plate c-clamped to the wood and up through the deck to ensure proper placement. I created a fillet joint along the edges of the wood where it meets the hull. Then I glassed it to the hull using maybe 4 layers of glass. I could not get the 45 degree bias ply type cloth, but should in future add a layer or two of that. I can only hope it is strong enough now. I have not found any teak veneer to cover the poplar, but sort of don't care that much cosmetically anyway.

It is a pretty messy job, doing all that grinding in the cabin.

 

[glide]

I did remove the "book shelf" and have pulled pack the carpet. Is it possible to just dig out the wood without grinding the fiberglass that holds it? Mine is soft enough I think it can simply pull out. I started to try it, then climbed out to get some cardboard to make a template, and decided to attack it tomorrow. It is nothing short of a miracle that it hadn't pulled out.
My plan is to make a template, pull out the soft wood, grind a clean area, replace the wood with some advanteck OSB I have, and re-attach it with resin, and some bolts through it. If any of this is going to cause problems let me know.
Really it doesn't seem like a terrible job. But as one project usually leads to another I doubt it will be as simple as it looks.

 

[Mac Bentley]

A few pics

Three pics show the damage, after I cut out the old bulkhead and the finished product.
I went through several tools, unsuccessfully, trying to cut out the old bulkhead through the fiberglass. Most tools were too awkward, didn't fit the room available, etc. Finally found the multifunction, oscillating tool at Harbor Freight real cheap and it worked great. Filled up the void left by the old bulkhead with West System, made a new bulkhead and glassed it in.
Wasn't a difficult job once I found the right cutting tool.
Use West System and follow directions. I had to call their support a couple of times because I'm slow to catch on, and the guy was very friendly and helpful.
Mac

 

[glide]

I was able to get all the old soft wood out, leaving the fiberglass intact, not a bad project at all. thanks for the pictures.