A WET FOREDECK LAMINATE

Q: I have a 1973 Ranger 26 in exceptionally good condition, but rainwater has gotten into the foredeck from the stanchions. It sounds very dull on tapping with a hammer, in contrast to other deck areas. Rainwater also collects in the bottom of the hull when the boat sits on its cradle. Could you provide me with some directions to solve this problem? Is it possible to inject something to solidify the foredeck, which now feels somewhat soft? I should add that the boat has never been in saltwater and was purchased new in 1973. I am heartbroken and would thank you very much for your advice. Martin Kuehne, Burlington, VT

DON CASEY REPLIES

I share your heartbreak. Core rot, particularly in the foredeck and side decks, is the cancer of aging sailboats. Wood core fully encapsulated between thick fiberglass skins should be more or less immortal, but then the manufacturer, the commissioning dealer and eventually the owner, or owners, puncture these protective skins to add hardware to the boat. The hardware is bedded on a flexible sealant, which serves for a while, but like the elastic in underwear, such sealants eventually lose effectiveness. The result is a leak into the core with no opportunity to dry out. Rot is the consequence. Today manufacturers typically use solid fiberglass in deck areas where they anticipate hardware installation. However, 45 years ago a manufacturer was more likely to simply substitute plywood for balsa for better compression resistance. This worsened the consequences of a leak.

I wish I could offer an easy solution, but there isn’t one. Once the core is soft, the proper solution is to replace it, which requires cutting away one of the skins. When the damage area is small—close around a stanchion, for example—a Band-Aid repair is to drill holes, dry the core with the help of the sun, a vacuum, acetone or a dehumidifier and then fill all of the holes with reinforced epoxy, creating a columnar construction between the two skins to stiffen the laminate.

Unfortunately, the cost to have the core replaced may actually exceed the value of your old Ranger, so a decision to effect this repair will be based on its value to you. That said, ignoring the problem is a bad idea for an offshore boat, although maybe not for a boat used just to daysail. You should also be sure to re-bed the deck hardware to stop the current leaks. Beyond that, though, just living with a springy

deck probably has no material effect on safety or how the boat sails and has the considerable advantage of no cost.