De lamination in floor between fuel tanks?

I

island park

New member
I have tried for hours to post a picture of my problem here with no luck so I hope that someone will help. I was cleaning under the dri-deck between my fuel tanks when I found an area that had the coating (gel coat?) flaking off. The area that was revealed looks to have wooden strips with the edges exposed. Could this possibly be the wood coring showing under a layer that is only the thickness of a couple of thick coats of paint? I have only had the boat since April and did not notice this before. Thank You, Paul
 
BrentB":29an3fep said:
sorry wrong guess

You need an album.

Do you have a Google email account? If so, post in your Google Photo album
Click to expand...

If you get it in another album (Google - Flickr), get the image up on the screen and right click on it (Apple, PC should be similar) and select "Copy Image address" or something like it. Then in the CBrats thread click on the "Img" box, past the link, then click on "Img" again. That should put the photo in the comment.
 
Paul wrote: "I was cleaning under the dri-deck between my fuel tanks when I found an area that had the coating (gel coat?) flaking off. The area that was revealed looks to have wooden strips with the edges exposed."


Paul-

Could it be a structure intended to box in the base of a battery box to keep it from sliding around?

Maybe someone didn't want to drill holes in the floor to attach the stainless strap fittings to cinch the battery box to the floor?

Probably 'homemade", and therefore not too durable, hence the delamination?

Just a guess, based on the description and the fact that folks often add a second battery in that location.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Joe, it doesn't appear as though anything was added. The area looks to be the same level as the rest of the cockpit floor. My inability to post a picture here is frustrating beyond words. Perhaps, I should try the Hull Truth or another site were I might be able to post a picture.
 
island park":1i8sxx6g said:
My inability to post a picture here is frustrating beyond words.
Click to expand...

Oh no, please don't be frustrated. Posting pictures is very easy. Most all the albums in the CBTech Library are set so any member who is logged in can upload pictures to them. Just choose the appropriate album and go for it. Now it is even easier for you - I made you your own album and linked it to your profile info. I also sent you the generic how-to PM about uploading pictures.
 
where in ft myers do you live Im in n naples area I could help you post pictures I could meet you send me a pm or e-mail Jim I sent you a pm
 
Well that is interesting. From the photo, it appears that gelcoat/paint is flaking off to reveal stringers under a clear glass top coat.

Can you physically touch the wood? If not, and there is a good layer of glass, my suspicion is that there is nothing wrong. I sure hope that is the case!!!
 
If this is level with the rest of the floor, I suspect that there was one layer of mat or even chopper gun material, and some sprayed on gel coat. The boats are laminated in the mold, with gel coat, mat, roving / mat alternate layers on the bottom outside. Then the end grain balsa core, finally it should be a few layers of mat and cloth, or even a layer of roving. But on my C Dory 25, there were areas which were just one layer of mat--and then gelcoat.

My suspicion is that what you are seeing is the end grain balsa. However, the red stripes are a little puzzling to me. Can you easily stick a tooth pick or even an ice pick into the wood? Is the wood wet?

There aren't any stringers in the bottom of a C Dory 22. It is also possible that there is clear resin, and a layer of mat and cloth--and that the bottom was gel coat/paint which did not adhere well.

First we need to find out what the composition is--and then probably you will need to add another layer, and re-paint. You might even consider truck bed liner as the finish coat for the cockpit. It is essential that the wood be sealed.
 
Not so sure this is delamination. It looks more like the gel-coat is flaking. Delamination typically describes a situation where the composite mat layers are separating or the entire composite assembly is separating from the substrate to which it was applied. Flaking is more cosmetic than de-lamination.
cruiserlessvinny
 
First, thanks to Tyboo Mike for setting up the album and to Jim for your generous offer of help. You can barely feel the brown ridges above the surrounding fiberglass. They appear to be wood. The area peeling is about 2 x 3 inches, although it looks thin and worn in a larger area. I checked with a toothpick and then with tip of a sharp wood screw and the entire peeled area is hard. Paul
 
On the right side of the photograph there are telgraphed shadows of the mysterious (to me) red stripes. My best guess for the origins of your problem is moisture/water/vapor causing the not-so-flexible gelcoat/paint to release its' bond and flake off. Anytime any paint/gelcoat behaves in this matter, no matter what surface it is applied to, always---always---always suspect some form of water. Always.

Zap
 
If this is hard, then there is still glass over the balsa core, and it is just superficial gel coat/paint peeling. The bond on this inner layer is not as strong as the laminate. I would just watch this area--I agree you want to keep it as dry as possible.
 
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