October Surprise!

[MarkT]

This summer I found a soft spot on the foredeck of our boat, and are having it fixed as I write this. The surprise was how big the "soft spot" was. Another surprise is how Pursuit built the boat. Under the skin of the deck a large area of coring was bad. But what really got me was how the windlass and cleat were installed. There is a board under the skin, but it is only big enough that half of the windlass and half of the cleat were bolted through. The other respective halves were bolted through the coring. A time bomb for water leaking in. Pictures attached. You can also see how the cuts through the deck were not sealed to prevent water from getting into the coring. I am also having a stainless anchor rhode guide made from plate that the windlass and cleat will be mounted on, just some more stiffness and protection. Next step, we are pulling the engines for a go thru to make ready for some longer trips next season.

[MarkT]

Well the damage went down the port side deck some also, so that came off yesterday. I'll keep you posted!

[MarkT]

She is 99% back together, but I am planing some more work to do before next season. Soon it will be moved to my Cummins specialist and the engines come out. I am making a plate for the windlass to sit on. The base will be 1/4" Starboard with a 1/8" aluminum plate over it, powder coated off white. This will help distribute the load better. I will attach pictures of the templates I have made so far. Also, the balsa coring was replaced with "coos" board. I am told this is not going to absorb water. The man repairing the deck gave me a new piece of balsa and of coos. As an experiment I placed them both in water. In two days I could flex the balsa, in 4 I split it. The coosa showed no signs of absorption or flex, it seemed as dry as it came. If you want to know what is under your Pursuit deck, take a look at the picture labeled coring. It has been out of the water for a few days now, and it is very soft and flexible still. Take every precaution you can to seal the holes when installing through coring!

[MarkT]

Coosa board!

[MarkT]

Well the glass work is done! Now I am waiting on the hardware to make the protective plate for the anchor chain. Here are a few shots of the repaired area, and a shot of some of the "better" old coring. Still wet after almost a month out of the boat. I feels nice and solid now, and I will no longer worry about the windlass being torn out of the deck!