Chesapeake bay work boat?????

[pungo hayden]

PAR
thank you. i think you are absolutely right since they are so small. the planks are in good condition and not plywood. when i paint the inside this is going to be alright? i'm just about ready to paint.
it will be late spring before i see thoes boys again. i want to be ready to go.
one more question. this is the biggest problem on the boat: the deck is plywood covered with painted canvas. where the mast goes threw the deck and also where the tiller connects to the stern deck is rotten just right around the wholes. i know this is a big problem but not the worst... i'm thinking that i need to remove the deck all together. if i go to that trouble i might as well put a prettier deck on it. if i don't remove it and just reinforse it i think i'll be just putting a bandade on it. ???
you asked for it answering my plea...haha
all's well, having fun with it....hayden

[PAR]

Anything for the southern belle who has two boatbuilding sons.

At the mast and tiller holes, peal back the covering fabric and grind away the bad wood until good stuff is seen. Cover a thin piece of plywood (1/4" is fine) with the same packaging tape then temporarily screw it to the under side of the deck were the mast goes through (ditto the tiller) Make sure it a good tight fit (no gaps or it'll leak epoxy) Cut a circle to place inside the mast/tiller holes that is smaller in diameter, but making up the difference of the material you removed that was bad. Cover this circle with the tape and screw it to the temporary piece of plywood. Now you've created a mold to cast a new edge to the holes.

Using epoxy straight from the mixing pot, wet the wood areas real good. Slather it on, you can't over do it. Mix a new batch (follow the directions on the can) but this time add flour (yes the stuff you have in the kitchen) and some wood dust from a belt or palm sander (about 50/50) until it pretty thick (this will take a good bit of flour and dust) Then scoop out the heavy cream like mixture, you just mixed up and put it in the two molds (mast/tiller holes) and spread it flush with the surrounding deck. Try to keep the epoxy off the canvas covering.

Wait a good day or two for the goo to cure and unscrew the mold pieces from the boat. They'll act like their stuck, but an easy tap with a hammer and they'll fall right off. Sand the repair into the surrounding areas, then reapply the canvas covering, by painting the deck with an oil based paint then pushing the fabric down into the wet paint (a well placed stable or three along the edges will be of great help) Went this dries, paint the deck and you're done. Don't tell your sons about the flour part, just tell them you used a proper "thickened" epoxy mixture of your own invention.

You could replace the deck, but it's a lot more work then fixing a few bad spots. Check all the fasteners you can get a wrench or screwdriver on, making sure they are tight. The two holes you describe are commonly found to have some abuse surrounding them. It's a normal thing and nothing to get to worried about, if the repair is made. A new deck isn't an easy job for the average person to take on. There's generally a lot more to it then it looks. If you did remove it, another plywood deck is the best route to go. It's leak free and very strong. It could be a fancy piece of varnished ply, but varnished decks aren't very practical, especially on sailboats and they require loads of care to keep looking nice.

[pungo hayden]

you are a saint. thank you very much. this deck problem is what i want to work on first now since it is what i think is the worst problem. i'll have to wait a little for a warmer day. i could send pictures if i knew how.
back with you soon, thanks, hayden

[Oyster]

Pungo Hayden, you have chosen not to receive PM. But if you would change that, I will send you an address to send them to, and I will load them and post them. If you can send me a mail through my feature then do so.

[pungo hayden]

oyster
not sure what you are saying.
tell me how and i will.
thanks, hayden

[Oyster]

I clicked on your login and it came up as "send you private message" and I tried to, but when I hit send, the forum hardware told me that you do not receive private messages here. I also found this with Porkchunker. I do not know what your profile settings are from when you logged on the site. So it may be just thats the problem and needs to be changed.

Click on "User UP" at the top of the page and look down the side column.