E35-II Cockpit Cubby / Coamings

[bradh]

Traced an intermittent leak at the end of last season to the cubby in my cockpit (a win in itself as it had mystified me). The fillet along the edge of the cubby was a layer of fiberglass. Over time the single cosmetic layer had deteriorated. Started pulling it off and it was in bad shape. They used a piece of wood to fill the gap behind it, to provide the glass a backer; and it was pretty much gone in a couple of places. Also the horizontal board "bottom" of the cubby is bad in spots. So what looked small has turned into a full fledged project.

Here's my plan:
1) Cut out all of the fillet
2) Remove as much of the bottom flat as possible. Strip the remainder
3) Replace the wood gap filler/backer with epoxy dipped marine ply
4) Lay in new glass and resin on only the horizontal shelf
5) Use strand filled epoxy to create the fillet (the goal is to not have something too stiff)

(Pictures are after glass fillet was removed and show the wood filled gap behind. Side boards already removed.)

Thoughts?

Brad

 

[Christian Williams]

http://www.ericsonyachts.org/infoex...715-Replacement-cockpit-coaming-box-for-E35-3

http://www.ericsonyachts.org/infoexchange/showthread.php?7908-Coaming-Storage-Wood-Replacement

I think the problem is UV, which the factory never figured would pour in as it does.

Various solutions, all of them surprisingly awkward.

Then there is the trim piece for the opening of the box. Catalina has a plastic trim piece for sale, if you can bear looking at it.

Ericson made up the trim out of scraps, and it is hard to bring back if far gone.

I routered a replacement out of an old teak hatch board:

http://www.ericsonyachts.org/infoexchange/entry.php?323-Copckpit-Coaming-Trim-Piece

 

[bradh]

Cuckpit Cubby

Thanks Christian - but this is a different area on boat. Some good info in those links though. It's the cubby behind the wood sideboards (which are removed in the picture above). So I don't have an issue with the wood opening, it's inside the cubby itself.

 

[Christian Williams]

Nothing wrong with the feet at least, they look fine.

 

[bradh]

Member of my regular crew performing at her highest level of napping.

 

[tenders]

Reinforce the floor of the cubby with thickened epoxy, tinted white.

On my 32, I replaced the entire wooden coaming with StarBoard, both sides, with absolutely no regrets. I also added coaming box covers made out of 1/2” StarBoard to keep water out. They work perfectly.