just purchased a 1981 CD25. I have noticed the the 2 "L" shaped pieces of wood that make up the toerail are splitting at the joint where the 2 pieces of wood meet. There is a good size gap, about 1/8" space and about a 2.5 foot long section at the chainplate area on the starboard side and the same is just starting to happen on the port side. When looking at the deck and inside section of the top piece of wood it is laying flush on the deck with no gaps. At first I thought the hull and deck may be seperating but looking at illustrations of how the hull/deck joint is made its hard for me to believe the hull and deck could seperate at all due to the inward flange of the hull and deck overlap-and thru bolted construction. Maybe the previous owner had the rigging cranked down way to hard or maybe the wood is just changing and I need some wood filler when I revarnish. Out of all the messages on the board and previous old messages I see no one talking about a hull/deck joint problem with a cape dory--anybody with knowledge on this subject please respond-Thanks Steve Kahn s/v Spoondrift 2, Kemah, Texas
sailpm2@ix.netcom.com
Hull/deck joint ??
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Duncan Maio
Re: Hull/deck joint ??
Steve:
You are correct; it is unlikely that the hull/deck joint is separating. The toe rail and rub rail are not "L-shaped"'; they only overlap a fraction of an inch at the upper, outer corner. I can't tell from your description how it happened, but it sounds like the rub rail has come loose from the hull and needs to be reattached. There are 1/2" plugs covering screws every foot or so along the rub rail, and a scarf joint no more than 16' back from the bow. Based on your description, the scarf joint (a 4-6" long diagonal joint) has probably also opened up.
If you can get the rub rail to lay against the hull (using clamps), you may be able to just add a couple more screws and re-glue the scarf joint. Be careful when drilling near the chainplates - there is a 1/4" thick stainless or mild steel plate in there.
The alternative is to remove the rub rail, fill the screw holes in the hull with epoxy, then replace the rail (drilling new pilot holes in the epoxy-filled spots) and replace all the plugs.
Duncan Maio
s/v Remedy
CD27 #37
Bristol, RI
dmaio@meganet.net
You are correct; it is unlikely that the hull/deck joint is separating. The toe rail and rub rail are not "L-shaped"'; they only overlap a fraction of an inch at the upper, outer corner. I can't tell from your description how it happened, but it sounds like the rub rail has come loose from the hull and needs to be reattached. There are 1/2" plugs covering screws every foot or so along the rub rail, and a scarf joint no more than 16' back from the bow. Based on your description, the scarf joint (a 4-6" long diagonal joint) has probably also opened up.
If you can get the rub rail to lay against the hull (using clamps), you may be able to just add a couple more screws and re-glue the scarf joint. Be careful when drilling near the chainplates - there is a 1/4" thick stainless or mild steel plate in there.
The alternative is to remove the rub rail, fill the screw holes in the hull with epoxy, then replace the rail (drilling new pilot holes in the epoxy-filled spots) and replace all the plugs.
Duncan Maio
s/v Remedy
CD27 #37
Bristol, RI
dmaio@meganet.net