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#1
12-13-2008, 04:31 PM
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Re: soft deck
Well we know there was a bunch of water there because when we cut an access hole inside of the compartment (infront of the console) on the port side wall water poured out and the foam inside was soaked. Also, when we drilled the holes to secure the forward leg of the t-top, the two holes on the outside (towards the port rail) were wet, but the two on the inside (closer to the console) were dry. Could this be a bigger problem then I think and should I be worried about the damaging the stringers when cutting into the deck?
Also, does anyone know where I could find a blueprint of the stringer system and how everything is laid out underneath the deck? Thanks 
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#2
12-13-2008, 06:49 PM
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Re: soft deck
Sounds like you got a lot of deck damage. The deck lamination is made of balsa and some plywood when water gets in there it eventually turns to wood pulp which is what you have. The question is how bad, or how far did the water travel. Everywhere it got to on a 1975 boat by now is bad and needs to be cut out. Again you cut out the TOP layer of glass which is 1/4'” thick remove it and then remove the balsa lamination. Which is ½” thick then re fill the cavity with plywood and then replace the glass skin. I am NOT telling you to cut deeper than the first layer of glass. The stringers are further down.
Now I will tell you the best way and why. Remove the T-top Remove the center consol. Remove all the top layer of glass (skin) Remove all the balsa and plywood Replace all with plywood Replace old skin with new glass. Fair it out and then paint. Why – your CC and T-top are screwed into Wet Wood Pulp. It’s just a matter of time when you will hit a good wave and pull up the CC screws and t-top screws from that wood pulp. While you are at it, my bet, if the transom hasn’t been done it is in the same shape as the deck. As for pictures go to the main screen of Classicseacraft.com then go to SeaCraft Galleries go the 23’ click on Fellowship and look at approx 70 pictures of my boat from beginning to end. Again you might want to down load that West marine file and read a bunch of it that really helped me when I got started. A 1975 Potter 23’CC SeaCraft is a true Classic. The fiberglass is ageless but the balsa and plywood is not. If you do it the Best Way it will serve you another 30+ years. Best of luck and sorry to be the barer of a major project new, but sounds like the band aid approach isn’t going to really cut it for you. Maybe you need to get some one with a lot of knowledge to check out the deck for you maybe it is still in that one side or ¼ or ½ of that side. My concern is all those screws that hold down the CC and the T-top are they screwed into good dry wood or wet wood pulp. FellowShip Just for the Grins 
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#3
12-14-2008, 01:54 AM
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Re: soft deck
I knew that this was probably the case and I would love to create a major project and do a total re-haul, but the funds are not quit there yet. I think the t-top should be fine considering three out of the four legs are screwed into solid deck (as well as 2 out of the 4 screws on the fourth leg) but I am just worried that someone will jump from the rail to the deck and make a nice new hole or do some other damage. The bottom line is that I would love to make this a project boat, but the timing is not great considering my bank account.
But would this patch-work be sufficient/worth it for the time being? Or should I not even be worried about it if a total re-haul is somewhere in the semi-near future (2-3 years)? Also, I think the transom is alright, we have an SF inboard so there is not much strain or pressure being put on the transom anyways. (however, this will definitely be part of the re-haul when it does actually occur).
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#4
12-14-2008, 08:25 AM
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Re: soft deck
Quote:
FellowShip Just for the Grins
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