Sealing hull and mast

cbaum

New Member
I capsized yesterday and took on a lot of water. It took two hours to drain all the water out of the drain hole. There is a large opening (not in the fiberglass but in the seam between deck and hull) at the location of the starboard stay. There is no caulk there, whereas most of the rest of the perimeter of the boat is pretty well caulked. We were not really sailing all that hard but the rail did go under water. When that occurred, the boat became an unsailable scow and filled with water. Then it capsized and turned turtle. Two of us on the centerboard could not right it. I was frankly surprised that it didn't sink.

I need to caulk that crack. Also, a friend suggested I seal the mast to help keep it from turtling. Does anyone in this forum also recommend sealing the mast? Also, has anyone found a good source of gunwale or rub rail molding? Mine is very brittle and breaks when removed. I would like to replace all of the molding when I recaulk the seam.

Suggestions? Thanks!

Chris Baum
 
It appears the proven method of not turtling is to add either the Capri mast float or a Hobie Baby Bob.

Were you able to see the problem from outside or did you have to get into the cuddy. And how will you get to the area to seal it?

Ed
 
Many have filled their mast with foam (I have done so), but it seems no one has ever reported if it made a difference. Those who bought a mast bob have reported it made a difference.

So I guess the mast bob is proven and filling the top of the mast with foam is not (yet :)).

Paul
 
Chris,

I am concerned. What year is your boat? There should not be a gap between the deck and the hull. On my 87, it is seamless as if the seam was completely sealed by an overcoat of glass and gel. If yours is coming apart, the rub rail may be the least of your problems.

Ray
 
accessing the crack between hull and deck

The crack is readily visible from outside. Almost all of it is caulked.

Mine is a 1981 and I was surprised too to see the construction. There is at
least a 1/4" gap between the hull and the deck where they meet. This is
caulked all the way around. The place where the caulk was missing is close
to the starboard stay. I would think that fiber glassing the two together
would be a good solution, if time consuming. I do not know how the
deck/cockpit fiberglass is connected to the hull. The current rub rail is a
narrow U shape and attaches only to the deck. The caulk is behind it,
sealing the crack between the rub rail and the hull. I am concerned that the
two flex differently and that it may not be a good idea to solidly connect
deck and hull.

Thanks for the input.

Chris
 
you have a serious problem with the joinery between the hull and deck... caulk isn't going to do it.

Epoxy and clamps MAYBE...

Sorry, I don't want to be the negative Nelly here, but I think you need to get a boat repair place to take a look.
 
> Two of us on the centerboard could not right it.

Perhaps you forgot to release the main sheet during/after the rollover.
 
Fixing gap between deck and hull.

I think you are correct. In the flail, the sheet got cleated.

We are probably going to put bolts in the deck along the edge to squeeze the hull and deck together. A good layer of caulk will be put in between before we tighten things up.
 

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