Cockpit sole construction and fix (1961)

[PenokeeBlue]

Okay, last one, I promise,

The cockpit sole on the boat I'm considering is spongy and has the gelcoat cracks to prove it. I'm thinking wooden grate to take the stress off of it while I take care of more pressing items.

My original thought was to just re-core from above, then paint. A nice neat square, I thought, how easy! :-)

I couldn't get under the sole to look, but remembering something I'd read on the Ariel forum about planks, I stuck my camera under there and took some photos. There's a plywood brace that someone stuck in there at the rear (no wonder the rear felt okay), and yes, the bottom does look like a bunch of longitudinally running planks of some kind. No underneath fiberglass skin like the deck, I don't think.

So a re-core as I understand it probably wouldn't be the thing to do. What have others done? Did they change construction methods over the years? I'm still wondering if I should be inherently favoring a later model Triton.

Oh, by the way, a long time ago I posted something (here?) wondering how Bristol 27 construction compared with Triton. Well on this Triton compared to that B-27 (as I know they all vary), the bulkhead tabbing is much more substantial. The B-27 was more like one layer of fiberglass tape, whereas the Triton had what looked like many layers of tape, spreading out further.

Also, since the icebox had been removed, I was able to see the hull/deck joint up in behind there. Again, numerous layers of glass up in there joining the them (not a direct comparison to the B-27 since the styles are completely different in the hull/deck joint).

I have this worrying feeling that I'm asking too many questions... I hope not!

--- Rachel

[Tim]

I have this worrying feeling that I'm asking too many questions... I hope not!

You're certainly keeping me busy!

There's a plywood brace that someone stuck in there at the rear (no wonder the rear felt okay), and yes, the bottom does look like a bunch of longitudinally running planks of some kind.

Yes, that's typical of the Triton cockpit construction. However, some of the boats (mostly later boats) had cored cockpit soles. But most or all of the older and mid-range boats had the flimsy construction you describe. The plywood brace seems to be standard as well--all the boats I have looked at have it.

I had the same weak cockpit sole on Glissando and simply cored over the top of it. I ground off the gelcoat, installed 1/2" balsa, and fiberglassed over the top. Works like a charm.

http://www.triton381.com/projects/resto ... cture.html

...I was able to see the hull/deck joint up in behind there. Again, numerous layers of glass up in there joining the them...

The hull-deck tabbing does tend to be very thick. It's mostly heavily resin-saturated mat, so it isn't really as strong as its thickness might indicate, but it does the job.