The lower edge of the chainplate bulkheads on our 1997 C36 are badly stained. I've read posts about rebeding the chainplate covers and am getting ready. I've checked the wood bulkhead with a moisture meter and found very high readings at the lower edges (see pic) but normal readings all the way down alongside of the chainplate. It seems very odd that if water was running down behind the chainplate, there would not be high moisture readings all along the chainplate. It does not look like there could be water coming from anywhere else though. Can anyone give me advice on this. Thanks
Sure looks like water to me. It's not too bad a job to re-bed the chainplates...maybe an afternoon to do one. Just loosen the shrouds equally on both sides, counting the number of turns so that you can re-rig balanced as before. A dremel helps. I used butyl rubber and have every confidence it will never leak again, provided no one pressure washes the deck.
Is there an article in the Tech Library on this job? If not, I do have photography of my repair (somewhere) and could do a write-up of the repair I did on mine. I don't have time to look right now so let me know and I'll try to find my photos if necessary.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
What does that bulkhead look like on the forward (cabinet) side???
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Larry, Inside the TV cabinet the back of the bulkhead is fine. I can't see at the bottom as there is the fiberglass it is bolted to. It does appear that some dark liquid seeped out of the lowest bolt hole in the fiberglass.
Alan Stein
Occasion
1997 C36
Yes it does look strange. Re-caulking the chain plates is a 4 hour job. I did that 5 years ago due to leaking and I have had no more problem.
I used 3M 4200.
You can try that and see if it helps.
If it leaks, you will see water drops running down the plate.
There appears to be water stain behind the bulkhead on the floor. What is behind there. I have the 99 model and there is a cloths hanger in that space.
Sail La Vie 1999 Catalina 36 MKII, M35B-17031, Coyote Point, San Mateo, CA
About Sail La Vie
The reason you see the water damage at the bottom is that it runs down the finished surface and pools at the bottom of the bulkhead. Then the unfinished bottom wicks up this water and rots.
Mast leak did this to the bottom of the forward bulkhead behind the table. Used GitRot and it's stronger than new. Now I have to make it pretty.
2000 C36 MKII 1825
Thanks, now it makes sense. The water runs down the surface of the finished bulkhead and is not absorbed till it gets to the unfinished bottom edge.
I found an article posted on 6/25/2006 by Bruce Landsberg detailing how to do the rebeding including nice pics. I ordered the new cover plates with the upstand and will have fun this weekend!
Alan Stein
Occasion
I have seen comments about that and figured I'd have to grind them to fit if necessary. Thanks
Alan Stein
Occasion
1997 C36
Some have discovered that those covers do not fit under the turn buckle
Sail La Vie 1999 Catalina 36 MKII, M35B-17031, Coyote Point, San Mateo, CA
About Sail La Vie
I used my Dremel with a tungsten bit to grind the cover plates and also to grind out the deck core around the chainplates. I then sealed the deck core and filled a small portion of the cavity with West System GFlex epoxy. I filled the remainder of the cavity and the new designed cover plates with 4200. I had a little bit of moisture penetration in the deck core around one of the chainplates. The GFlex works well for this and is also a flexible epoxy.I oversized the chain plate bolt holes and cover plate screw holes, filled with epoxy and re-drilled. I wanted to make sure I would have no moisture penetrating the deck core if the cover plates leaked again. It took a couple of days but it was well worth the piece of mind and the Dremel is a great tool for this job.
David Simpson
S/V Dolce Vita
Vancouver BC
2001 Catalina 36 MK 11 #2019 M35B. Add-ons: Leece Neville 90 amp Alt. Balmar ARS 5 Regulator, Digital Duo Charger, Smartgauge battery monitor, Webasto TSL17 Hydronic heater.
Thanks David. I've heard a lot of people say to use butyl tape instead of 4200. Has anyone had any experience with that method?
Alan Stein
Occasion
1997 C36 MKII
I used butyl tape. That stuff is so sticky nuthin' is going to leak, ever - UNLESS someone someday uses too much power with a pressure washer, in which case they might create a leak.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Did you use the new style cover plates with the upturn? If so, how did you place the butyl tape to fill the void between the upturn and the chain plate?
Alan Stein
Occasion
1997 C36 MKiII
Alan, you may have already found this article in the Technical - Maintenance library: https://www.catalina36.org/members/technical/maintenance/cleaning-and-re...
I used a dremel to dig out and clean the opening on the deck, and to 'bevel' the opening at the deck. This creates a small pocket that can take whatever sealant you wish to use, in my case butyl.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Thanks. 1 down, 5 to go. Then onto the stanchions.
I completed the rebed of the starbrd chainplate cover just before a week of rain set in. I did not have a chance to get the others. The one I thought I fixed seemed to be leaking just as badly as before. Bottom edge of wood bulkhead soaking wet!
It looks like the only path would be from the hole in the deck (which should have been sealed by my fix) down behind the chainplate. Does anyone know if water infiltrate from another location?
Also, how do I know if there is water in the deck core (I suspect there must be) and what do I do about it?
Alan Stein
Occasion
1997 C36 MKII
What about the opening port? Could be leaking there and following a path similar to what one may have thought to be the chain plate.
Gary Bain
S/V "Gone With The Wind"
Catalina 36', Hull #: 1056, Year: 1990, Engine: M-35
Standard Rig
Moored: Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Home: Auburn, Maine
At this point, I'm ready to try anything but it does seem unlikely that water could make it to the bottom of the bulkhead with out showing up anywhere else. My plan is to start with the seemingly obvious and proceed to the least likely.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts.
Alan Stein
Occasion
1997 C36 MKII
The stainless steel handrail on the coachhouse??? Look for drips on the handrail mounting screws.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Thank Larry. I will look there.
Alan Stein
Occasion
1997 C36 MKII