Are all Cape Dory sailboat decks balsa cored?
Are the decks not a continual source of leaks, rot and headache?
I am playing that most enjoyable game: "The Next Boat" and have always liked the looks and reputation of the smaller Cape Dories, but have heard too many deck mush horror stories (and crashed too many model airplanes!) to believe that balsa wood belongs on a boat. Can anyone contadict me with salty experience?
KKRmond@aol.com
Balsa Cored Deck Rot
Moderator: Jim Walsh
-
Bruce Bett
Re: Balsa Cored Deck Rot
Kevin:
Deck de-lamination is something to watch out for when purchasing any old boat. I don't think Cape Dory is any worse than any other. I have a 22 year old Cape Dory 25 with sound decks. I believe there are many sound CD decks of that vintage out there. Balsa cored decks are almost universal in 70's boats and are very common in new boats. Some of the older boats are cored with plywood (which is worse). The purpose is to reduce weight while maintaining strength.
Bruce Bett
Sostenuto
CD 25 # 496
Bett@smtp.munet.edu
Deck de-lamination is something to watch out for when purchasing any old boat. I don't think Cape Dory is any worse than any other. I have a 22 year old Cape Dory 25 with sound decks. I believe there are many sound CD decks of that vintage out there. Balsa cored decks are almost universal in 70's boats and are very common in new boats. Some of the older boats are cored with plywood (which is worse). The purpose is to reduce weight while maintaining strength.
Bruce Bett
Sostenuto
CD 25 # 496
Kevin wrote: Are all Cape Dory sailboat decks balsa cored?
Are the decks not a continual source of leaks, rot and headache?
I am playing that most enjoyable game: "The Next Boat" and have always liked the looks and reputation of the smaller Cape Dories, but have heard too many deck mush horror stories (and crashed too many model airplanes!) to believe that balsa wood belongs on a boat. Can anyone contadict me with salty experience?
Bett@smtp.munet.edu
-
sam
Re: Balsa Cored Deck Rot
Nearly all boats, including the very heavy and sturdy Westsails have some sort of core in the deck. For weight, rigidity, strength. Most deck problems with CD are cosmetic and only a few have serious problems. So I agree they are no worse than other boats.
A plus about a CD is that the hull is solid glass- this is not true of many boats particularly those who strive for minimum weight. Now if you want to talk about a serious problem how about when a cored HULL gets water into it.
So for buying any boat, have a good surveyor (if you can find a really good one) check it over. Problems you see may not be serious and problems you don't see could be serious.
A plus about a CD is that the hull is solid glass- this is not true of many boats particularly those who strive for minimum weight. Now if you want to talk about a serious problem how about when a cored HULL gets water into it.
So for buying any boat, have a good surveyor (if you can find a really good one) check it over. Problems you see may not be serious and problems you don't see could be serious.
-
DON
Re: Balsa Cored Deck Rot
TWO YEARS AGO I BOUGHT A 1980 TYPHOON WEEKENDER (SUBJECT TO SURVEY)
AND THE SURVEYOR FOUND THAT MOST OF THE DECK CORE WAS SOAKED WITH MOISTURE AND THE DECKS FELT SPONGY UNDERFOOT. THE ESTIMATED COST OF PROFESSIONAL REPAIR WAS $2000.00. I CANCELLED THE PURCHASE. TWO MONTHS LATER I BOUGHT A 1970 WEEKENDER ALSO SUBJECT TO SURVEY AND THE SURVEYOR FOUND NO MOISTURE PENETRATION OF THE DECK OR COACH ROOF. THE SURVEYS COST ME $12.00 FER FOOT AND IN THE CASE OF THE FIRST PURCHASE SAVED ME $2O0O.OO. ROTTEN CORES CAN BE REPAIRED BUT THE REPAIRS ARE COSTLY SO THE REPAIR COSTS MUST BE FACTORED INTO THE PRICE. I HAVE BOUGHT MANY BOATS IN MY LONG LIFE AND HAVE ALWAYS EMPLOYED A SURVEYOR AND THE SURVEYORS HAVE ALWAYS SAVED ME MORE THAN THEIR FEE !!!!! LASTLY, THE CAPE DORIES ARE FINE BOATS, MUCH BETTER THEN AVERAGE AND ARE WORTH GOING FOR AT THE RIGHT PRICE. GOOD LUCK
DONJOECAM@AOL.COM
AND THE SURVEYOR FOUND THAT MOST OF THE DECK CORE WAS SOAKED WITH MOISTURE AND THE DECKS FELT SPONGY UNDERFOOT. THE ESTIMATED COST OF PROFESSIONAL REPAIR WAS $2000.00. I CANCELLED THE PURCHASE. TWO MONTHS LATER I BOUGHT A 1970 WEEKENDER ALSO SUBJECT TO SURVEY AND THE SURVEYOR FOUND NO MOISTURE PENETRATION OF THE DECK OR COACH ROOF. THE SURVEYS COST ME $12.00 FER FOOT AND IN THE CASE OF THE FIRST PURCHASE SAVED ME $2O0O.OO. ROTTEN CORES CAN BE REPAIRED BUT THE REPAIRS ARE COSTLY SO THE REPAIR COSTS MUST BE FACTORED INTO THE PRICE. I HAVE BOUGHT MANY BOATS IN MY LONG LIFE AND HAVE ALWAYS EMPLOYED A SURVEYOR AND THE SURVEYORS HAVE ALWAYS SAVED ME MORE THAN THEIR FEE !!!!! LASTLY, THE CAPE DORIES ARE FINE BOATS, MUCH BETTER THEN AVERAGE AND ARE WORTH GOING FOR AT THE RIGHT PRICE. GOOD LUCK
DONJOECAM@AOL.COM