What is the composition of a Catalina hull????

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Pres Broussard

I am currently getting a bottom job on my 1982 27' Catalina. It was pulled out last week and I thought everything was moving along ok until yesterday. I visited the worksite and the repair guy said to come look at the wet foam on the starboard side beneath the boat. It was damp, I did see the yellowish foam or what appears to be foam. He indicated that the Cats don't typically have a thick layer of fiberglass. The boat actually had quite a few blisters which will be fixed. A few questions - how thick is the fiberglass typically on a production 27' boat like this? Has anyone else seen foam like this before on their boat? What do you think about this situation? I'm kind of new to sailing - three years or so, so I am asking a few questions and will call Catalina to ask them a few questions as well. Thanks,
 
Jun 4, 2004
67
Catalina 310 LaSalle, MI
I can only speak for a 2005 Cat 310, but

our boat is polyester gel coat and fiberglass (or FRP for short). I know....I have the jigs (that are about 1" thick) that were drilled for through hulls to prove it. The only thing that might be foam cored (around a steel frame) would be the rudder, but that is just a guess. Not sure about the older boats.
 
Jun 3, 2004
730
Catalina 250 Wing Keel Eugene, OR
Solid fiberglass

Both my 1986 C22 and now my 2000 C250 hulls were solid fiberglass. The only cored areas are the decks.
 
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Tom S

I would also go to the International C27 Website

Click this link. http://www.catalina27.org/ They have a forum there you can ask also. I don't know about your particular boat but as was mentioned above I think most Catalinas are a solid fiberglass hull. Unless maybe the very smallest daysailors I can tell you that my 1999 C36 has a Solid Fiberglass hull and the hull thickness on the bottom of the boat (near the side of the bilge area) is ~1" thick solid fiberglass and the side of the hull about 6 inches above the waterline(where my AC water discharge is) is ~ .325" . This is what I would expect and want. You want the strength and weight lower in the hull. Weight up high is bad for the boats stability charachteristics. Too much too high makes a boat turn turtle too easily. Do you have a picture of the area that you say you see "foam"? Are you sure its foam? Was there a previous repair done in that area? What do you see on the inside at that same spot? The 1977 brochure says that the boat has is "100% hand layed up fiberglass" http://www.catalina27.org/images/ic27_77bro3.jpg For more on the contsruction on new Catalina's you can get more info here http://www.catalinayachts.com/bulletin.cfm
 
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