Unique Delamination Issue

[CTsalt12]

Hi All,

I noticed some serious delamination in my forward casting deck when I took out my front hatch for replacement.  The wood, although dry, has totally separated from the fiberglass layers around the hatch, and is just hanging.  It appears to be attached to the fiberglass farther towards the outside of the deck, closer to the gunwhales.  The deck isn't really soft either, but I figure it's just a matter of time.  Pics to come, before you ask.  

I wanted to get your input on this.   My initial thought was injecting epoxy between the wood and fiberglass, maybe even brushing it to get an even application.  Then clamping and letting it dry.  Drilling holes and letting the epoxy seep down before clamping is also a possibility.  Any ideas from the pros here?  

Thanks,

Jim

[gran398]

Can you get to it pretty easy? Some West with adhesive filler, if you could get some good clamps on, would at the least stabilize it.

[dbiscayne]

sounds like you're on the right track, make sure it's really dry too.
I'd thin the resin & get it in there first, it'll soak into the wood real nice, then before that completely dries do as you described whatever way it takes to get resin into the delaminated area, might even want to thicken the next batch of resin a little to get a little more bite.
Don't put too much clamping pressure on it, you don't wanna squeeze the resin out, just enough to avoid any air bubbles.

[gran398]

To add to db's good thinking, you could squirt it in there with some pressure...something like a pastry bag, etc.

[seabob4]

To add to db's good thinking, you could squirt it in there with some pressure...something like a pastry bag, etc.

Leave it to Scotty to bring food into the discussion...

[fitz73222]

Interesting,
I was under the impression that there was very little wood core on the bow decks on our boats. At least on older 70's models anyway. Typically, it was the only area on the boats that didn't have rotten core.

[seabob4]

Farley, my guess, if it wasn't the hull or stringers, and it got cored...it got wood.

[CTsalt12]

I'm just flabbergasted as to how it hasn't gotten soft underfoot yet.  Same thing with my deck, wood was rotten under cooler seat but deck felt solid.  

Another funny fact, the fiberglass where my gunwhale rod holders are is cored with some seriously thick wood.  I should take a picture of it.  Absolutely no point in that whatsoever.

[seabob4]

I'm just flabbergasted as to how it hasn't gotten soft underfoot yet.  Same thing with my deck, wood was rotten under cooler seat but deck felt solid.  

Another funny fact, the fiberglass where my gunwhale rod holders are is cored with some seriously thick wood.  I should take a picture of it.  Absolutely no point in that whatsoever.

Thicker than 3/4", Jimbo?

[CTsalt12]

Na not quite that thick

[RickK]

I cut the casting deck out of mine during the rebuild and I can tell you it is cored with wood (and heavy).  Remember that this is a 70/71 but I think they would core them with wood because 1) it's cheaper 2) there wasn't composites back then.  Problem with composites is if you want to put in a seat or something like that as an owner and don't understand that the floor is a honeycomb composite they will not be very happy with the result or not realize the problem until they stop real fast and the tower or chair rips out   .  Maybe with coosa it'll be fine but it probably still isn't as good as wood at holding a screw.