Deck re-coring

grampianman · Post by **grampianman** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 2:44 pm

Well gentlemen,
I took the circular saw to the deck of my Grampian 23 this past weekend. The first cut was the hardest, but after that not a problem. Until.... I think I took too much of the top sandwich off. The foredeck was mush, balsa turned black and powdery, completely saturated. I surmised the rest of the deck was the same. So I cut back to the base of the cabin and over to the side. The deck layer gave me a great deal of trouble to get up and when I had finished pulling (crowbars) the top layer off, I was seeing golden coloured balsa that was moist but otherwise in good shape. The adhesion seemed good as the crowbar was actually cutting between layers of fibreglass and not the balsa.
Here is my question. Can I let the balsa dry out then just epoxy the top layer back on?
Appreciate any tips, comments.
Cheers,
Ian

Figment · Post by **Figment** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 2:55 pm

(kneejerk response)

yeah, I suppose you could, but why would you want to? You have the skin off, you have all of that glassing and fairing work ahead of you anyway, why not replace the wet core while you're there?

Post by **Tim** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 3:12 pm

I agree with Figment. You've done the hard part of removing the top skin (and learned a lesson along the way, since you probably only needed to do your foredeck, from the sounds of it), but now that the core is all exposed, it only makes sense to remove it and install new. You could easily live to regret any other decision. Core is cheap.

grampianman · Post by **grampianman** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 7:52 am

Thanks for the input.
Yes, I figured since I was there already, I might as well dig out the old and replace with new, but once a lazy man.....

I'd like to take the time to thank Tim and the merry bandits of Triton forest for a most lively forum, both graphical and written. I've learnt a lot and laughed a lot as well.

Cheers all,
Ian
Grampian 23, Wing and a Prayer

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 12:20 pm

Tim and the merry bandits of Triton forest... Now that conjures up images of peaked caps, little green costumes and tights for me. How about a group photo?!

My imagination about what you guys look like in real life will be forever tainted.

-Britton

Post by **Tim** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 1:46 pm

No tights for me...ever! hehe

Now, Nathan routinely wears tights anyway, so if you can get him to wear the little hat we'll be all set!

Post by **dasein668** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 2:31 pm

Riiiiight. You'se guys is all ill, I think! hehe

Post by **dasein668** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 2:49 pm

Ok, ok.... Here you go.

As Tim said, he doesn't wear tights....

Post by **Tim** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 2:51 pm

NIIIIIICE, man! Now that's funny. I love it.

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 5:09 pm

Remind me to never mess with Nathan... That was good, very good.

-Britton

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