Watkins 36

[Marlen]

I am planning on buying my first boat and I need some advice. This boat I am looking at has deck rot. Is it worth getting despite this, or am I just asking for heaps of trouble down the line? I dont know the extent or the location of the rot as of yet.

[rpn59]

That question, 'to what extent is the deck rot', should be answered before procceding, unless their giving the boat away and even then.

[Marlen]

Because it effects the structural integrity of the vessel, right? I mean I am only deluding myself in cutting large sections from the deck with a miter saw, drying it out, and replacing it.

[bluetommy77]

having never done the project myself but living aboard beside several who have, i'm quite sure it's never, ever something people seem to think about tackling twice if they're not doing it for a living! not if there's a big, large area issue.

[camaraderie]

Right Marlen..it affects the integrity of the vessel. It is a huge, dirty messy job to replace the core of a deck and re-lminate. If you have good carpentry and fiberglass skills and time...it is not particularly expensive to do from a materials standpoint. If you need a yard to do it...you are talking about a very labor intensive propositions that may cost a significant portion of what the boat is actually worth.
The above assumes a widespread problem. If it is just a small area, you can just drill holes and inject epoxy for an easy fix.

[jnj]

There was an article in one of the sailing magazines within the last 5 years about a Watkins owner who repaired the foredeck by accessing it from the forward berth. He removed a large panel of fiberglass and tore out the moist filler material. I don't recall what he replaced it, maybe with some honeycomb product. Someone may have the technique on a website .