Vega cabin top

[sunnydelightly]

Hi there
We posted a review of the Albin Vega on our site www.bluewaterboats.org and have had this query on the article which I think you guys will easily be able to answer. Are we wrong about the plywood coring?

- "I'm surprised to read about plywood coring in the deck and cabin top. I thought that the core material was divynlester foam. I installed some coachroof hardware this year and saw no evidence of wood in the layup in this part of the boat." Karen Whelton -

Cheers
Rosemary

 

[tim_klynn]

My understanding is that the deck is cored with divinyl foam (which doesn't decompose if it gets wet), with some wood inserts in areas where hardware mounts (under deck cleats etc).

The manual shows the location of the wood backing in the deck core. -Tim
________________________________
From: sunnydelightly newrosie@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2011 3:31 PM
Subject: [AlbinVega] Vega cabin top
Hi there
We posted a review of the Albin Vega on our site www.bluewaterboats.org and have had this query on the article which I think you guys will easily be able to answer. Are we wrong about the plywood coring?

- "I'm surprised to read about plywood coring in the deck and cabin top. I thought that the core material was divynlester foam. I installed some coachroof hardware this year and saw no evidence of wood in the layup in this part of the boat." Karen Whelton -

Cheers
Rosemary

 

[n6ric]

Actually, it is plywood cored. I just repaired a lot of dry rot on the coachroof where the previous owner took off the handrails and left the holes open.

Ric
s/v Blue Max
#2692

 

[tim_klynn]

I checked the manual, on page 3 there is a diagram of the deck plan with wood inserts and conduits for electrical wires.
The wood inserts are under the 4 deck rails, 2 strips that cross at 90 degrees under the mast, and a strip the runs down the center of the foredeck from the raised cabin trunk to just short of the forestay.
If you've hit plywood, then the "wood strips" are probably plywood, rather than solid wood.

When I changed out the existing head ventilator, I drilled the hole larger and the deck was cored with divinyl cell foam.
When mounting other deck hardware, I have also hit divinyl cell.
My boat is a 1973, but as far as I know, all the Vegas had divinyl cell cores with wood in just a few areas.
I was lucky with my boat, the previous owner did a great job of taking care of it. I really haven't had any problems with rot.

I epoxy fill and redrill any deck penetrations to prevent any water ingress.
This guy has a great site on the technique: Sealing Deck Penetrations to Prevent Core Rot by Compass Marine How To

I've been using polysulfide caulk for most bedding of deck hardware with some lifeseal here and there.
I will probably try using butyl tape on future deck hardware.
The deck to hull joint was done with butyl tape and there doesn't seem to be much problem with it yet (38 years).
The other nice thing about the tape is that you can remove hardware, as it never hardens (as far as I know).

I generally only use 5200 below the water line on things that someone will regret taking off long after I'm dead and gone. -Tim
________________________________
From: Ric n6ric@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 1, 2011 7:55 PM
Subject: [AlbinVega] Re: Vega cabin top
Actually, it is plywood cored. I just repaired a lot of dry rot on the coachroof where the previous owner took off the handrails and left the holes open.

Ric
s/v Blue Max
#2692

 

[n6ric]

I'm using Buytl tape pretty much for everything now, since I got it to use with the new windows. Easy to work with, not messy in the grand scheme of things and it doesn't harden so it flexes when needed.
Ric
sv Blue Max