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Core Repair

T

TimSki$

Active member
I have been slowly working on my Enticer for the last two months or so, when I pulled the floor and foam there was standing water under the foam. After everything was cleaned up I noticed the core was a little dark, it had me worried. Last night I took a small drill bit a took a few samples, and I have some rotted core. I will replace this. The rotted core is in the center line of the boat on the front part of the pad. On the Enticer/Predictor hulls there is a bigger flat piece of wood there. I'm guessing that this piece is not balsa. The question is, can I piece new core into this area the same way I would anywhere else on the boat and use the same materials? I really don't feel like pulling the whole piece of wood, so I'm hoping I can piece in new wood.
 
that piece of wood is plywood, I ended up entirely replacing mine after I had already done all my core work, it was wettish, but not rotted yet, unfortunately the wetness was able to run through most of the plywood. I would think you could piece in just part of it if you want, just cut away till there isnt any darkness in the plywood and Id replace with plywood. Having a two part pad wouldnt make a huge difference as long as you glass it good, i dont think, and if you put in a solid stringer over it, I think that would put you straight. :surf:

have you looked at the transom good??
 
As of right now I have only poked at my transom, but from what I have seen it is wet too. Id' like to leave the transom in there until the core is replaced so I dont get any flexing going on, although the deck is still on and it's sitting on a bunk trailer. From what I have seen the wetness stops about half way down that plywood piece. I'm guessing I would piece in another piece of plywood? And yes, I plan on running a full stringer.
 
Sounds like a plan to me, I did all my core before i tore into the transom as well. I think youll be fine just replacing the bad part of the pad, that plywood isnt offering anymore stiffness being a solid piece than youll get with two pieces glassed with a solid stringer over the top. Good luck!

if youre transom is anything like mine was, itll be a breeze to remove :D
 
We will see how easy the transom is to remove. I think it may be a real pain in the you know what, but I will find out soon. And I'm going to try to remove it without removing the deck. I have seen a few pics on here of a guy doing his without removing the deck, I really don't feel like drilling out all those rivets, but if I have to I will. :thumb:
 
yea its a toss up for which way is easier, drilling the rivets isnt too bad, with a new bit i went through mine in under a half hour, keeping the deck on will keep the transom matched to the deck though, which i had to modify before my deck would go back on. pulling the deck makes the removal easier im sure.

When you get to it I can give ya some tips, but the checkerboard cut with a circular saw and then a hammer and chisel make quick work of the transom if its soft at all. Another job I was not lookin forward too, but Me and my brother had mine out in a few hours. None of its as bad once youre doing it as it seems
 
I tore into my core last night, and like teamhart said, a good portion of that center piece was rotted. About half way down the length of that piece along the port side where it starts to angle up. So when I put in new core I will have to miter one of the pieces for a nice fit. Hopefully it will go smoothly.
 
Well I finally got the balsa in and the area filled between the old and the new. My question is, do I really have to put the many layers of heavy roving or biaxial as posted in Coops core repair blog? Or could I put a few layers of 3/4oz mat followed by a layer of 1-1/2oz mat going past the repair area? I have some lighter roving I could put on it too.
 
i followed coops recommedation, figuring it being the hull i would want it strong, if you have some heavy roving i would use that, otherwise you could prolly get away with some extra layers of lighter roving and matt, I would layer cloth, mat, cloth though.
 
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