Water Intrusion/Balsa Core

[atrometer]

Apparently a lot of boats (O'Day included) get water intrusion/wet balsa (rotted) under stanchions, mast step, and other areas. What is the EASIEST way to make the repair? Can you just drill some small holes around the area and inject 'Get Rot"? How is it injected?

 

[sailcruiser]

I was told even get rot needs the core to be as dry as possible. I've gone by Don Casey and pulled the offending hardware grind out the rot to good wood and coated that with no filler epoxy and once that dried filled the remainder with chopped mat and epoxy with high density filler. If the rot is more extensive it's recommended to cut the section out and replace it.

If you have areas without rot coat the core with epoxy to protect it from future damage.

How big of an area are we talking? SC

 

[atrometer]

I haven't bought the boat YET, but since it's a 1985 she probably has some of these areas. If repaired as you suggest, don't you have to peel off the upper fiberglass skin?

 

[sailcruiser]

For large areas yes for a few inches around the fitting no. I've never peeled skin and hope I never have to but I have read a lot on the topic and watched a friend do it on a free boat that ended up costing a fortune. They say just injecting epoxy in a large area is too rigid and will over time cause cracks because it won't flex. SC

 

[atrometer]

TYVM again!

 

[NICK NAPPI]

Balsa repair.

Apparently a lot of boats (O'Day included) get water intrusion/wet balsa (rotted) under stanchions, mast step, and other areas. What is the EASIEST way to make the repair? Can you just drill some small holes around the area and inject 'Get Rot"? How is it injected?

I just had my mast step done on my O'day 22, peeled off the top deck and removed the soggy balsa core. replaced the balsa with fiberglass. looks and works great.