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,
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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.
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.
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
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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