How to Fix a Sailboat Deck, Repair it BEFORE the Windlass RIPS OUT!! (Patrick Childress Sailing #48)
September 20, 2019 · 16 min · 122K views · Richards Bay
What this video covers
Structural repair of a water-saturated balsa-cored foredeck on a 40-foot Valiant requires removing the windlass, excavating the damaged core, and rebuilding the laminate with fiberglass cloth and resin.0:04 After removing the windlass and deck hardware, use a diamond-tip blade to cut into the deck and a 90-degree probe to scrape out wet balsa.2:25 Dry the cavity thoroughly with a hairdryer before cleaning with a wire brush and acetone.3:55 To fill voids, use scrap fiberglass panels as structural filler to minimize resin usage and prevent excessive heat buildup during curing.4:40 Apply fiberglass cloth in layers, allowing time for cooling between batches to avoid smoking.8:21 Use peel ply over the final layer to minimize amine blush and reduce sanding.12:27 Finish the repair by fairing with S-Fair 600 two-part epoxy, sanding, and applying two-part primer and paint.13:31 Proper structural integrity depends on beveling the surrounding fiberglass to ensure a strong bond between the new laminate and the existing deck.9:08
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