The deck is off now what??

[Don Carone]

After the help from you kind folk I got the deck off just like you said. There are no # marked anywere I can find, it does say "front" 2 times under the dash. I was told its a '64? (16') what is the best way to fix soft deck and pass seat? I have cut the bott layer of glass and peeled back to expose the "still wet after 2 years" 3"x3" balsa squares. Do I discard that layer? I would hope not. can I just put something between the layers and reglass? and what would that something be that wont rot again? marine ply?

Thanks again!!!

[Bigbroadjumper]

Don, where are you in Mundelein? I have my Magnum in Long Grove (Indian Creek Road, & Diamond lake Road). I would love to come and see what you are doing.

Bob

[Don Carone]

I live in Hawthorn Woods and work in Mundelein so I travel past there all the time!
I have a workshop in Dekalb and thats where I keep my boats. If ever you want to take a ride sometime
let me know im out there quite a bit

[Scott Pearson]

Don,
Yes you must discard the old wet balsa and replace it with new balsa. Then re-glass the new stuff in just the way it was done the first time.

(NJ)Scott

[BERTRAM BOY]

Don,
I just recored the seating area in my 16 last night. Tonight, it gets glassed.
As Mr. Pearson said, you MUST discard the old balsa. Even IF you could dry it out, it has undoubtedly lost all of it's strength. Also the old balsa, is NOT end-grain balsa, meaning that when it get's wet, the water travels wherever it wants.
I used a Sawzall to make the outside cut, and then a die grinder.
Don, If you want to send me an e-mail, we can then have a telephone conversation, this is going to take to long.....
BERTRAM BOY :D :D :D

BERTRAMBOY@COX.NET

[Don Carone]

Thanks for the responses
My ? was not to save the balsa or not but what to do with the bottom layer of fiberglass
not that you would ever see under the deck but it would seem more original to reglass something else in where the balsa was and leave that bottom layer alone. what im wondering is what do we replace the balsa with?? and do I discard the bottom layer of glass and replace or save it ??

[MOP]

End grain balsa is by far still one of the best coring materials. Quite a few manufacturers have gone back to it. The foam types are more dificult to get to bond really well and end up same weight or heavier. To get foams to hold well you need to bag them, yes you can get a fairly decent bond without bagging but why bother when end grain balsa is so easy to work with and very rarely shears. Just keep it dry and it does fine.

[Scott Pearson]

Don,
Ok...Now I'm really confused. What layer of glass did you remove??? If the deck is flipped upside down, you then cut away the glass layer that is over the top of the balsa. This layer is only about an 1/8 thick. Once you expose the bad balsa you then remove it. Now your looking at the 1/4 thick (Outside) layer of the boats glass.

You then sand or grind the area lightly. Just enough to clean it up. Replace with new end grain balsa or marine plywood. Balsa is much easyer to work with.

You must saturate the basla underside with resin and let cure in place. Then reglass over top.

Here is pictures of my 1968 18 hatch that I recored.

http://www.donzi.net/photos/spearbalsa5.jpg

http://www.donzi.net/photos/spearbalsa1.jpg


http://www.donzi.net/photos/spearbalsa2.jpg

http://www.donzi.net/photos/spearbalsa3.jpg

http://www.donzi.net/photos/spearbalsa4.jpg

(NJ)Scott

[Don Carone]

Flipped upsidedown I cut the 1/8" layer of glass at the edges and peeled back then removed 3"x3"x1/2" balsa squares and discarded my ? is do I have do get rid of the 1/8" bottom layer or can that be glassed in to preserve origanility somehow ??

[Scott Pearson]

Don,
Get rid of it. It will never fit right anyway. It will also look like hell when you glass around where you cut it.

Believe me...No one will notice. Donzi was really crude in there glass work back then. One boat will not match another boat.


(NJ)Scott

[MOP]

Scott! Looks like you did it right! When can I pick it up??????? :D