J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment Core Issues - Cabin Top

While I had a moisture meter in hand this fall, I went over core repairs and continued to inspect the whole boat, and was surprised to find wetness readings on the interior of the cabin top
I had previously removed all deck hardware and had no visiblile wet core when I re bore and sealed
Has anyone had wetness in this area? or is the meter just reacting to the space between the cabin top and the sea hood?
(I was considering to make a small inspection hole this spring to be sure)

Taras
BreakAway

Yes along the slidding hatch track. Drying out the area over the winter. I am going to replace the track and recore if necessary this spring.

505 has problem as well ... I am thinking that the cleat/winch combination for the main halyard appears to be the biggest strain on the deck there and causes the problem re fatigue.

There is another thread on this part of the deck somewhere. Starboard seems to be the problem side.

This may be the #2 problem core area after the exhaust.

am scheduling those two areas for rehab off season. I am thinking instead of core to put a 1x6 strip of G10 sheet.

Thanks
And here I thought I was all done.....

Taras
BreakAway 532

recored the area from forward of the sliding hatch track to the small hatch in the middle of the deck.
If I recall it was half inch core,
pain to redo since it is the ceiling...
I think the sliding track was the where the water was seeping in...

Yes - My issue was the screws that hold the sea hood down. I took all the deck hardware off and over-drilled etc. and it was still leaking. I finally decided the only think I did not do was take the sea hood off and fill those holes. Well guess what there is a HUGE void that runs under those screws. I could blow in one hole and air would come out of every hole. I shot a tone of epoxy in the wholes and re-drilled and my penetration finally stopped.

Very topical for me. Was just replacing my jib halyard cleat and found some wet wood (although not yet rotted). Have it drying now.

I also just tried to pull the sea hood off (to mount some instruments to it) and found that it seems to be 5200-ed on.

Is the joint between the hood and the deck where it mounts flat? Meaning, would I be able to cut it off with a razor, or is it a curved joint (in which case, not sure I could get it off w/o destroying it).

I ran out of time and didn't get to inspect further after realizing it was not going to come off...sounds like either way, each screw hole is going to be getting a big dose of epoxy or caulk.

-dan

I took these thermal images of my deck yesterday. looks like I'll be re-coring around the chain plates and the fore deck next year.

While you're checking out the chainplates, Check the bulkheads too. I just got the surprise as I thought I was done with recoring. I did Transom, Starboard quater to the keel, Deck forward at bow, Chainplates, cabintop around mast and both sides of sliding hatch all the way to front of seahood, along primary jib tracks and starboard primary winch. Did i forget anything? Then the surveyor found the bulkhead. I tore the head apart to get to the bulkhead. That fix is in progress.
Can I just go sailing soon? This is costing real money
Look for the reveal soon!

While we're talking about the sources of the troubles, look only to the fact that J/Boats did not isolate anything at any penetrations. CAULK ?? was the order of the day. Then there were places in the hull where they ran wire and used screws to the hull for wire tie downs, Yes below the waterline inside the lower parts of the hull. I don't doubt that some wet areas came from inside.
Now that she's all rebuilt, I'm really looking forward to sailing my brand new boat.