sv.islandgirl
Member I
I recently drilled a through deck hole to install a fresh water deck fill. When I drilled the hole I observed that the balsa core (particularly the forward facing part of the hole) was very damp. Soft to the point I could clean out some of it with my finger. As part of the project I'm replacing the waste pump out as well and when I removed it the core was very damp there as well (however I wasn't surprised at that one). My intention is to do the whole overdrill-epoxyfill-redrill-thing but I'm very curios why the core around the new hole is wet. There are no deck openings anywhere near the new hole. Perhaps the core all over the deck is wet (which cannot be good). I'm not aware and have not noticed any soft spots in any of the deck. I'd be interested in any and all thoughts or ramblings on this. Here are some particulars -
1. The hole is 1.5 inches in diameter.
2. It is placed on the exact opposite side of the boat from the waste pump out (incase anyone is familiar with the layout).
3. The hole is 3 inches inboard of the toe rail.
4. The hole is approx. 14 inches forward of the the forward chain plate.
5. Water drains off the deck aft of the location where the hole is drilled.
6. The nearest deck mounting or hole forward of the hole is a stanchion mount approx 18 inches forward of the new hole.
7. The coach roof has a small port light but it is aft of the new hole by approx. 7 inches (and thus "downhill").
8. The boat has been in a dry garage since October.
9. The boat is a 1977 model.
1. The hole is 1.5 inches in diameter.
2. It is placed on the exact opposite side of the boat from the waste pump out (incase anyone is familiar with the layout).
3. The hole is 3 inches inboard of the toe rail.
4. The hole is approx. 14 inches forward of the the forward chain plate.
5. Water drains off the deck aft of the location where the hole is drilled.
6. The nearest deck mounting or hole forward of the hole is a stanchion mount approx 18 inches forward of the new hole.
7. The coach roof has a small port light but it is aft of the new hole by approx. 7 inches (and thus "downhill").
8. The boat has been in a dry garage since October.
9. The boat is a 1977 model.