My wheel pedestal in the cenetr of my cockpit moves back and forth due to flexing of the floor deck. The floor decking flexes under pressure. The deck is fairly firm but I would like to either brace or somehow reinforce the cockpit floor. Any ideas??
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Are you handy with West System Epoxy?
You could bond 2x4 lateral braces under the cockpit sole which presently consists only of a 3/4" piece of plywood...
You could bond 2x4 lateral braces under the cockpit sole which presently consists only of a 3/4" piece of plywood...
Not a bad project
I would expect that the construction is very similar to that period, and yes is ¾" plywood between 2 layers of glass. The problem was that hunter did not dress the holes with epoxy and left the bare wood exposed on all penetrations. I found that at any place, hatches and portlights, which had lost proper bedding was subject to softening. Removing the Edson is not a fun project unless you are a little smaller then me, however I think that you will be able to clean out the affected wood and build a suitable repair with epoxy fill. Packed Fiber referred to as cat hair is good for this. My experience is that you may only find the decay between the inner liner and the deck to extend in several inches. The previous post is not a bad idea, except you need to stop and correct the problem or it will continue to worsen resulting in a soft deck. In the case of the 30' I can tell you that there is little room for reinforcement due to tank clearance and the location of the steering cables. Good luck on your project, in this case you really have little to concern yourself cosmetically so it should go well. Seal that Edson to the deck with 3M 5200 and it will be the last time you have to concern yourself with it. Terry
I would expect that the construction is very similar to that period, and yes is ¾" plywood between 2 layers of glass. The problem was that hunter did not dress the holes with epoxy and left the bare wood exposed on all penetrations. I found that at any place, hatches and portlights, which had lost proper bedding was subject to softening. Removing the Edson is not a fun project unless you are a little smaller then me, however I think that you will be able to clean out the affected wood and build a suitable repair with epoxy fill. Packed Fiber referred to as cat hair is good for this. My experience is that you may only find the decay between the inner liner and the deck to extend in several inches. The previous post is not a bad idea, except you need to stop and correct the problem or it will continue to worsen resulting in a soft deck. In the case of the 30' I can tell you that there is little room for reinforcement due to tank clearance and the location of the steering cables. Good luck on your project, in this case you really have little to concern yourself cosmetically so it should go well. Seal that Edson to the deck with 3M 5200 and it will be the last time you have to concern yourself with it. Terry
Terry, I never even even thought he might
have had softening of the plywood reinforcement due to water penetration! Good thing there are people like you on this forum to spot my brain-softening (Also due to age...) How about drilling closely spaced holed from the top of the cockpit sole and injecting either that "git-rot" stuff, or West epoxy, to strengthen the area without having to reach under the cockpit from the quarter berth access panel in the 27 which was obviously designed for midgets. Not sure if that would do the job....
have had softening of the plywood reinforcement due to water penetration! Good thing there are people like you on this forum to spot my brain-softening (Also due to age...) How about drilling closely spaced holed from the top of the cockpit sole and injecting either that "git-rot" stuff, or West epoxy, to strengthen the area without having to reach under the cockpit from the quarter berth access panel in the 27 which was obviously designed for midgets. Not sure if that would do the job....
Concur
Just had to remove a rear "window" port and can attest that the cabin sides are plywood inter with out sealing. Had on rot, just a little discoloration. Fixed problem by rebeding port. Wow what a hard leak to find.
Just had to remove a rear "window" port and can attest that the cabin sides are plywood inter with out sealing. Had on rot, just a little discoloration. Fixed problem by rebeding port. Wow what a hard leak to find.
All good advice except 5200.
At some later date the next owner is going to need to get the Edson out for lube, adjustment, repair, etc. Use a good sealant, but not 5200. A removal would tear up the deck.
At some later date the next owner is going to need to get the Edson out for lube, adjustment, repair, etc. Use a good sealant, but not 5200. A removal would tear up the deck.
IT HAPPENED TOI ME
I had the same problem, I made a left turn out of my slip and the cables jumped off the metal sheaves, no steering yet powering up the channel, fortunatly I ran into sea grapes, tied up and removed the cables off the quantrant, and placed my emergency tiller in place , turner around and got her back into the slip. I marked the floor to see how far and wide i could use a 7" dia, rotary saw, set the blade at 1/4" depth, only cutting the top surface, lifted the top skin, and started removing the deteriated ply wood, wich is 6" squares, i soaked two pieces of 3/4" ply, in resin, acetone and hardener, with a 12" dia. hole where the pedestal go's, that area i filled with 14 layers of triaxiel mat glass, each had a 4" dia. hole in the center, filled all the gaps and seams with chopped glass, relocated the top skin with a lot of screws, after drying, removed the screws filled the screw holes and seams, and sand painted the cockpit sole, can't tell if it were opened or not, good luck.
I had the same problem, I made a left turn out of my slip and the cables jumped off the metal sheaves, no steering yet powering up the channel, fortunatly I ran into sea grapes, tied up and removed the cables off the quantrant, and placed my emergency tiller in place , turner around and got her back into the slip. I marked the floor to see how far and wide i could use a 7" dia, rotary saw, set the blade at 1/4" depth, only cutting the top surface, lifted the top skin, and started removing the deteriated ply wood, wich is 6" squares, i soaked two pieces of 3/4" ply, in resin, acetone and hardener, with a 12" dia. hole where the pedestal go's, that area i filled with 14 layers of triaxiel mat glass, each had a 4" dia. hole in the center, filled all the gaps and seams with chopped glass, relocated the top skin with a lot of screws, after drying, removed the screws filled the screw holes and seams, and sand painted the cockpit sole, can't tell if it were opened or not, good luck.
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