Hull-Deck Joint CD 28

[jlipkowitz]

Hello!

I am looking at purchasing a 1975 CD 28. In general it has been well cared for, but is has a few issues that seem to come with the territory of an old boat. Forgetting about the chainplates, the hull-deck joint is of particular concern. I slid my body into the forepeak today, and I can see daylight between the hull/deck joint on the portside a few feet aft of the bow. I will attach some pictures.

I am hoping someone can tell me about the hull-deck construction, as I can't seem to find exact specifics in the manual. It seems to indicate that the deck is mounted on the hull flange with nothing but polyester resin. The teak toe rail is then screwed on which covers up the joint and helps hold it together. It seems to me that the genoa track and pad eyes have through bolts which go through the hull-deck joint and help hold it together, but forward and aft of the track, there are no through bolts. Do I have this correct?

If that is the case, how concerning is the separation that I am seeing in the bow? Wondering whether this is cause to walk away. I don't have the appetite for removing the entire toe rail and addressing the length of the joint this season. We are in Maine, the season is short, and we would like to sail now. Next season perhaps, but not this season. Perhaps that space has been there for a long time and just needs to be caulked to help keep water our, or perhaps it is actively separating. I am planning on returning to see if I can get a look at the joint in other places further aft to investigate. It also seems like there is far less polyester on the portside in the bow than the starboard. See the attached pictures.

Note: The pictures loaded sideways. They all need to be rotated 90 degrees clockwise to be rightside up.

Thank you so much for any information and guidance,

Josh

[Steve Laume]

I would be more worried about the chain plate and the wiring, than the deck joint. Are you sure you have a gap or is it just light shining through translucent glass? There should be a bunch of bolts holding the joint together with a Cape Dory's lovely mush in the seam. If this problem is in the chain locker, then any water that seeps in will just find it's way to the bilge and should not cause any real problem. The next time you visit, I would bring a flat blade and see if there is indeed a gap or it is just light. It doesn't look like an open seam to me, Steve.