TomCat construction details

[dhstewart]

Does anyone know whether the Tomcat employs plywood or other type of wood stringer? Any experience with glass over wood problems?

 

[journey on]

You will probably get a knowledgeable reply from a Tomcat owner. However, why not contact the factory and ask the guys who build them? They seem to be willing to talk, and could give you detail that an owner might miss. Their web site is on the home page.

Boris

 

[rogerbum]

No plywood in any C-Dory (except perhaps for some of the very early ones) - Tomcat included. There is glass over end grain balsa in the deck, hull and cored sections of the cabin roof and earlier models in the transom. More recent TomCats have a foam cored transom.

 

[cruiserlessvinny]

Preventing water from (eventually) getting to wood that is encased in fiberglass is difficult if not impossible. The closer to the bilge you get the more likely this is to happen. When it's in the bige it will happen. So whats a boater to do? Go to rotdoctor.com for information on what to do to wood prior to glassing or painting. Look for their product CPES.
CV

 

[Captains Cat]

FACTORY CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS AND INFO HERE

Charlie

 

[rogerbum]

Preventing water from (eventually) getting to wood that is encased in fiberglass is difficult if not impossible. <stuff clipped>

Not really. It's the holes that people put into the fiberglass without properly sealing them that's the big issue. Also, end grained balsa is a much different beast than plywood. This topic has been discussed to death on this site. A quick search will find lots of info, pros and cons.

 

[thataway]

There is no glass over plywood in the Tom Cat- Some of the laminated cabin ate materials in the "furniture" interior are a plywood, with a laminate exterior, but not structural.

The penetrating epoxies have very limited use in the C Dory (and only occasional use in other boats).

If one uses plywood and then glasses over with polyester resin, this is not a very good construction technique. Plywood, with epoxy and glass is a far better technique.

As for screws and cored structure--use a Dremel tool and remove the core in an area where you have drilled a hole for a screw, undercut the glass, and then fill the hole and under cut area with thickened epoxy--then re-drill the pilot hole and put the screw into the epoxy, with sealant.