Subject: Re: 1951 18' ChrisCraft Runabout
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998Dr. Rot, thanks so much for you reply. Lots of very good stuff. Sounds like very sage advice. I know where the majority of the leaking is. I is mostly in the aft section. I the spring I always soak the bottom by watering the bulge. The aft of the boat would make a great shower bath in the beginnings. I tightens up after a few days but still leaks.
I will pull the floor boards and proceed per your advise. One question however, how is caulking accomplished? Does it require a product you supply? Some info regarding this operation would really be appreciated.
I agree, I don't want to spend the money to re hull the boat. Your products sound fantastic. With them why would anyone ever re hull.
Thanks again for you reply. I really enjoyed hearing from you.
Regards
Paul S.
Paul:
Well, if you know it's in the aft section mostly, then you could -- if you want -- start a re-caulk job back there before you launch the boat. What you do is define the area of the hull, say the aft 20 feet, and call in a man who KNOWS how to re-caulk. Basically this is reefing out each bottom plank seam of all material (cotton and caulking material), letting it dry, coating all seams (and any punky looking wood) with CPES, pounding in new cotton, and then finishing off the seams with a polyurethane sealant, such as 3-M 4200. The polyurethane will bond with the CPES and give you a good seal. Then paint the bottom and pitch her back in the water.
You should also take a good look inside at the frames. Make sure they are solid, no bad or questionable wood, and no big gaps between the frames and the hull planks. If it were my boat, I would at the same time soak all the inside frames with the CPES. This will seek out and help seal any bad spots you might not be able to see. Just slosh it on with a brush. Wear a mask capable of filtering organic fumes.
The real key here, Paul, is finding a good caulker. Wouldn't be a problem here in Seattle, but I just don't know about Idaho. A bad caulker can do a lot of damage by pounding in too much cotton too hard. Ask around. You could do the final sealing with the polyurethane yourself -- it's just a matter of gunning it in.
Yeah, our products are good and will do a lot, but sometimes .... Last time we hauled DELTA we wanted to replace the stb'd rub rail, a 2 X 6 inch beam. Should be easy, but in fact the plank underneath was so far gone that we had to pull the pieces that were left and install a new one (or at least my son and nephew did, while I, old man that I am, stood below and hoped for the best. They did a good job!).
At this point, the main product we sell that will be of interest to you is the Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer. Down the road you might find use for our Fill-It Epoxy putty, or resin, or adhesives/glues. But right now it's the CPES. We'll work with you to make sure it gets done right.
Come back if you have more questions.
Doc