Amazing. I just got back from going up to my boat in the driving rain
to try and find the source of the last nagging deck leak. I took off
the cabin lining and traced it upwards by process of elimination.
Nothing up there but fiberglass. Then, I saw the dodger snap. That
has got to be the source and they are all slightly rusty and don't
feel real solid. I'm ditching the dodger anyway so pulling out the
snaps and filling the holes should be an easy fix. Your post was the
first thing I clicked after getting home.

I have a solid cabin top. Your situation is more serious because of
the core.

Have you had the boat surveyed? You should. The surveyor will be able
to get a good idea how much moisture is back there.

There are penetrating epoxies that will go almost anywhere the water
will. This can probably be fixed unless large areas of core have gone
punky.

--

Roger Long



"Lester Evans" wrote in message
news:arp9g.549$Y55.205@trndny08...
Here is the situation. The boat I am interested in is OK, # one,
in most areas. Old engine, will get it checked out.

After checking over the deck very thoroughly, the "dull" sound of
delamination was discovered near where the dodger snaps are set in
the cabin roof. I never liked the thought of putting dodge snaps
into a fiberglass deck and this confirmed my thinking. How can the
little snaps be bedded? As far as I could tell, they just go through
the top layer of fiberglass, they are not supported below or
anything.

It looks like moisture has entered behind the snaps. This has
caused some delamination around the area on the cabin roof.

Not a big area. The tapping of the cabin roof deck showed this. I
don't think this is totally wet core, more like delamination. But,
it definitely needs to be attended too.

I am in the buying, negotiating stage of this boat. I haven't made
an offer yet. Talked a little about it, but no real money has been
put on the table.

The boat is some distance from my house, not real far.

What would you do? Should I ask that the area be repaired before a
deal is struck. Should I say "this is my offer subject to repairing
this area" ... or should I say "I am deducting XXX dollars from my
offer for the delamination repair".

I checked Don Casey's book. He shows how to drill a small number of
holes, fill with thickened epoxy, put some weight on the deck and
let it dry. This will do it, I'm sure.

But, since it is below the deck ........... the old "who knows" has
me worried.

If the area is just delamination caused by moisture getting in from
the snap holes ........... and I repair the area .........

What do I do about the snaps.

The snaps are the little thingy's that the dodger attach to.

I sure hope someone can help. I am very close on this boat.

My heart is singing and my head is issuing a warning.

HELP... Please ..