Chainplates and deck core

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NelsonSF
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Joined: 12/30/24
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Chainplates and deck core

Hi - Does anyone know if 1986 Catalina 36 has a wood core in the fiberglass or is all fiberglass?  I have to remove and replace the chainplates. I'm preparing for the job and would like to know what I'm in for before taking it all apart.
Thnx
Nelson
SF Bay

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pkeyser
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Our 1986 C30 had a wood core as does our 2005 C36

Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B

NelsonSF
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Thanks Paul & Wendy
That's very helpful. I assumed balsa wood core, but great to have a second opinion before disassembling. 
Nelson 
"Crescendo"
SF Bay

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pkeyser
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Posts: 676

Nelson-
I could not see any wood  lamination indicating marine plywood, so I'm pretty certain the decks are cored with balsa. I was impressed with the overall thickness of the deck structure.

Some of the chain plate disassembly/assembly was blind work and required awkward positioning to reach. The most challenging was in the head vanity. The sink bowl restricted  wrench handle movement. The bowl was integral to the counter top, so it could not be removed for better access.

Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B

NelsonSF
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Joined: 12/30/24
Posts: 3

Paul - I know exactly what you describe. Thankfully, most water is around aft chainplates, where there is a little corrosion visible on the underside nuts (so will be the most difficult to disassemble), but that area in the cabin is much more accessible.

Thanks !

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KevinLenard
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Posts: 222

I believe, backed up with a pdf cross section diagram I've seen from Catalina sales brochures, that part of the reason that the C36 is well regarded as a "blue water boat" capable of ocean crossings (California ports to Calalina Island) is that the deck has a solid plywood core throughout. I believe there are some hydrophilic fillers that can be injected to reinforce spots that have been waterlogged.  A surveyor's moisture meter should allow you to 'map out' any problematic areas. 

Kevin Lenard
"Firefly"
'91 C-36 Mk. "1.5" Tall Rig, Fin Keel, Hull #1120, Universal M-35 original (not "A" or "B")
CBYC, Scarborough, Lake Ontario, Canada

sorosz
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Posts: 9

Here are photos I took in 2014 when I replaced mine.  I don't recall if any of that was wood but you can see in the photo there was a sandwich with some gaps in the layers.  I injected epoxy to wet it out and then injected increasingly thickened epoxy until I was able to fill the voids.

I also injected epoxy into the bulkhead that the chain plate sits up against - I masked it off so you can't really see it with the chainplate in place.

Steve
1984 Catalina 36 MK I #358

Steve Orosz
s/v RIngle
1985 Catalina 36 Mk I #358
San Francisco Bay
 

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