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Memorial day surprise - cracked Capri 22 hull liner

289 Views 2 Replies 2 Participants Last post by uniexpany, 4 d ago

uniexpany

Discussion Starter · 5 d ago (Edited)

Hello -

Yesterday as I was about to install a new manual bilge pump I noticed a crack in the bilge underneath the starboard cockpit locker. Crack extends from near the stern almost all the way to cabin top bulkhead. Crack is quite deep but also seems dry (will check with moisture meter). Pictures are attached.

The crack is deep and appears to involve the hull liner and any material below. As per Catalina features: "Hull of Hand-laid Fiberglass with Hull Liner bonded to the Hull". Pulling on the material on the sides of the crack it appears the liner remains bonded to the hull.

As per source of the crack, I really have no clue. I did notice that there was some fresh water in the bilge in the back of boat so I think it is possible that maybe some water got into the boat and froze in the wrong place. The boat has not been grounded or otherwise damaged since I have owned.

My current repair plan is:

-confirm no moisture in the crack area,
-sand the bilge floor in the area around the crack
-affix one or more long strips of fiberglass using epoxy across the length of the crack
-once epoxy cures apply a layer of surface paint.

Short of removing and then reconstructing the entire floor of the boat does this look like a reasonable plan?

Thank you! Chris

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22catcapri

· #2 · 5 d ago

uniexpany said:
Hello -

Yesterday as I was about to install a new manual bilge pump I noticed a crack in the bilge underneath the starboard cockpit locker. Crack extends from near the stern almost all the way to cabin top bulkhead. Crack is quite deep but also seems dry (will check with moisture meter). Pictures are attached.

The crack is deep and appears to involve the hull liner and any material below. As per Catalina features: "Hull of Hand-laid Fiberglass with Hull Liner bonded to the Hull". Pulling on the material on the sides of the crack it appears the liner remains bonded to the hull.

As per source of the crack, I really have no clue. I did notice that there was some fresh water in the bilge in the back of boat so I think it is possible that maybe some water got into the boat and froze in the wrong place. The boat has not been grounded or otherwise damaged since I have owned.

My current repair plan is:

-confirm no moisture in the crack area,
-sand the bilge floor in the area around the crack
-affix one or more long strips of fiberglass using epoxy across the length of the crack
-once epoxy cures apply a layer of surface paint.

Short of removing and then reconstructing the entire floor of the boat does this look like a reasonable plan?

Thank you! Chris

We have the same issue with our Capri 22. We discovered it two years ago. From condition of the delamination, we surmised that it had been there quite a while, possibly even before we took possession. What I did was mark the length with a Sharpie, and examine before every sail. We have sailed 49 times under this condition, with no water issues and no increase in the delamination. We are lake sailors, so the hull rarely takes much pounding. My plan, however smart, is to wait for a worsening of the delam, and or keeping vigilant for water issues. (And always in a PFD.) BTW, hull #642.

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uniexpany

Discussion Starter · #3 · 4 d ago

Thank you so much for your input - I see there is no need to for me to go overboard

.

I will add some fiberglass mat and epoxy on the top and then monitor the situation. Since we sail on Long Island Sound and sometimes it gets a bit windy/wavy maybe I will tow my dinghy behind the boat - until I get a little more comfortable or at least the water temperature gets a little warmer. I believe we are hull 287.

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Memorial day surprise - cracked Capri 22 hull liner

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