The C-Brats Forum Index
HomeForumsMy TopicsCalendarEvent SignupsMemberlistOur C-DorysThe Brat MapPhotos

Caulking Cockpit Floor - LifeCaulk over Butyl Tape?
Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The C-Brats Forum Index -> Hull, Deck and Fittings
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
localboy



Joined: 30 Sep 2006
Posts: 4656
City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
PostPosted: Thu Mar 25, 2021 1:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I only repaired our steps. I did not remove the main hatch nor fuel tank. So far I have no need to.

You'll probably find rotten balsa in the step/hose covers. Also take the time to back-cut and seal the balsa core for the deck itself where the round inspection hatches are installed. If it's like ours, the balsa core was exposed there too. I used West Systems epoxy and 3M 4000 as you noted.

Pics in our album.

_________________
"We can go over there...behind the 'little one'....."
Wife to her husband pointing @ us...from the bow of their 50-footer; Prideaux Haven 2013
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Catch 22



Joined: 01 May 2008
Posts: 385
City/Region: Lynnwood
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2004
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Catch 22
Photos: Catch 22
PostPosted: Thu Mar 25, 2021 3:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I plan to pull the cockpit floor next year. Two ideas I was thinking about:

A rubber gasket with no adhesive, that could be tapped into place after the floor is in place. One that would compress when fit into the gap by tapping?

Also, could you apply wax to the two surfaces that any bonding agent my adhere to, thus reducing the strength of the bond significantly? Then you could use a product that would otherwise adhere and make a nice seal that could be peeled off with relatively less headache? Just some ideas...

_________________
Kevin Richards - Catch 22
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
thataway



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 20779
City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
PostPosted: Thu Mar 25, 2021 4:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

LesR wrote:
I'm looking at performing this same process of removing and re-sealing the cockpit steps/hatch over the fuel tank on our boat and have a few questions for those of you who have already completed it:
- Did you remove the fuel tank and check/clean under it also? If so, how heavy/unwieldy is the [empty] tank?
- Sounds as if 3M 4000 is the consensus sealer for this application. Are there any others I should consider?

Thanks in advance!

Les


The removal of the cockpit steps/access to the fuel hoses is far different than removing the center floor. All C Dory 25's with these steps should have the stops removed and checked. It is not necessary to remove the floor, unless you have soft places and want to rebuild it--even then you can rebuild the floor without removing the "removable" part of the deck.

There seem to be few of these tanks replaced. But with a 18 year old boat and fuel tank, if the boat is used in salt water, then it would be prudent to at least look at the bottom of the tank. Ideally the tank should have been properly prepared, coal tar epoxy coated and then laid on fiberglass strips with 5200 holding both the strips and tank in place. No rubber containing any carbon should touch the tank. (Silicone rulers are OK for straps)

_________________
Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
smckean (Tosca)



Joined: 18 Jan 2014
Posts: 974
City/Region: Guemes Island (Anacortes)
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Tosca
Photos: Tosca
PostPosted: Thu Mar 25, 2021 5:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

FWIW, my 2005 CD25 did have to have its fuel tank replaced (indeed there was gasoline in the bilge) in less than 10 years. Also, I used to get fresh water running down the inside of the hull and collecting on the cabin sole. The source of this water turned out to be (as Dr Bob suggests) leakage under the steps in the cockpit (from rain and wash downs). The steps had been poorly attached by the factory -- especially if you consider the flexing the steps are subject to as you use them. Removing the steps, cleaning up the old caulk, designing beefed up attachment hardware, reinstalling, and recaulking fixed the problem.
_________________
Sandy McKean
Purchased Tosca in 2014
Re-powered to Yammi 200 in 2015
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
journey on



Joined: 03 Mar 2005
Posts: 3593
City/Region: Valley Centre
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: journey on
Photos: Journey On
PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 1:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I took out the cockpit sole, mentioned somewhere before. I could not pull the tank because: one had to remove the fill and vent hoses, which are hard to get to; the tank is held in place by a rear stop (2x4) epoxied to the bottom and I felt if I removed those impediments, the tank would have a hard time coming out of the space allotted.

I did inspect the bottom of the tank with a inspection mirror to make sure that there were no obvious problems. Noticed the fuel tank cavity is open to the bilge and when there's water around the aft bilge pump, that water sloshes up around the tank.

Concentrated my efforts in preventing water from entering the bilge by installing watertight hatches and sealing the coaming pockets. Works well.

Boris
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The C-Brats Forum Index -> Hull, Deck and Fittings All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3
Page 3 of 3

 
     Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum



Page generation time: 0.0894s (PHP: 84% - SQL: 16%) - SQL queries: 23 - GZIP disabled - Debug on