Moisture in the Deck

[EggHrbrGuy]

Thank you Rod. I appreciate your perspective.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by ramblinrod

If there is skin delamination, you can use a drilled grid and hotvac technique to draw out moisture.

Rotted core between laminates need not necessarily be removed, if it can be dried, and adequately infused with resin.

Sorry Rod, don't agree with this at all. Sucking the moisture out of decayed balsa leaves behind a pile of dirty dust balsa fibers and the equally dirty interior surfaces of the upper and inner skins. Epoxy the epoxy will bond to the dust and dirt and not the laminate. I've seen this done at least 30-40 times and all you end up with is a free floating blob of cured epoxy that is bonded to nothing.
That may not be a big deal in some cases but certainly not around mast steps or chainplates.

[UNCIVILIZED]

What kinds of readings are you getting in other areas of the deck, including ones that you're (almost) certain are dry? Also, are you having troubles finding similar boats in the area for about the same price? Ones which don't have questionable structures that is.

[EggHrbrGuy]

Boatpoker - what is your referred approach?
Uncivilized - the boat has a long list of positives and I haven't found a good comp in the midwest.

[ramblinrod]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

Sorry Rod, don't agree with this at all. Sucking the moisture out of decayed balsa leaves behind a pile of dirty dust balsa fibers and the equally dirty interior surfaces of the upper and inner skins. Epoxy the epoxy will bond to the dust and dirt and not the laminate. I've seen this done at least 30-40 times and all you end up with is a free floating blob of cured epoxy that is bonded to nothing.
That may not be a big deal in some cases but certainly not around mast steps or chainplates.

I agree that if the rot slime is not removed, one will have little joy.

Like usual, it is 80% in the prep.