Need to reinforce deck

[Freedom77]

After 35+ years of sitting in the Nevada sun Freedom is starting to show her age. I think the deck may be delaminating. Showing some cracks and possible structural damage I pretty sure I need to reinforce the deck near and around the mast step and mast raising deck fixture. I am thinking of removing step and raising fixture and putting an oversize backing plate, heavy aluminum or stainless, sandwiched between deck and plate with a piece of oak under the deck between the overhead and the mast post and drilling some holes to attach it at the outer edges thus spreading load and strengthening the area. This would, of course, involve removing the headliner to get to the area. I am a big fan of overkill when it comes to repairs. All advice would be greatly accepted. Any Thots. Bueller, Bueller, Sumner, anyone? Fair winds and full sails...Old Salt.

[RobertB]

One sign an old fiberglass boat is in trouble is if what once was solid structure easily deflects - this is a sign the fiberglass has started to break down. It can also be a sign that the core is disintegrating.

[mastreb]

I hate to say it, but the Navy stops fighting with boats at age 30. There's just no keeping ahead of the relentless arrow of entropy.

[THE CUSCUS]

Freedom, this is how I reinforced my mast step area for the larger tabernacle I had made. I didn't have any core/glass issues though, as those would have to be fixed first. I don't have no stinkin headliner! Makes access to deck hardware easy.

[topcat0399]

Exactly what issue are you having? Water leaking?
BIG cracks on the top thru the skin or hairline?
Any chance the sole beneath the compression post sagged?

I think your plan would definitely work fine and absolutely borders on - overkill.

Coming from a guy that also doesn't have a liner - why not just re-core
under the mast step or maybe the entire area ahead of the poptop
and forget about it for the next 35?
Of all the cores I've done under the mast step was the easiest

If I had a liner I wouldn't hesitate to cut it to fix the step. Since its all plastic there are lots and lots of ways
to make it look pretty after the repair - elbow grease being the main ingredient.

cuscus fix looks awesome. A 60 year repair. I assume he potted and bedded.

[Ixneigh]

Remove hardware. assess the core. saturate core with epoxy if needed. Grind deck area, laminate 2-3 layers of biax fiber glass. Go sailing for another 35 years.
Ix

[Freedom77]

Thanks everyone for all the advice. CUSCUS, did you remove the headliner or just didn't have one? I think you have the right idea about NO STINKING HEADLINER! I'm going to have to remove it anyway to assess the damage inside. Is the metal plate under the step aluminum or stainless? Ixneigh, What is BIAX fiberglass? Top Cat, damage is on top deck. Fair Winds and Full Sails...Old Salt.

[THE CUSCUS]

Lucky for me, that nasty carpet/weave headliner mac used was already pulled off my boat by the time i got her. I cleaned the ceiling real good, sanded the rough spots, filled the holes and painted it a lovely shade of yellow (the Admiral picked it out and at first I was skeptical, but now I love it....makes it super bright below). The plate is 1/4" stainless.

[bmxer]

Wow ... that looks clean. Looks like another line on the list: Remove headliner

[Ixneigh]

Biax fiberglass is a super thick laminate that's easier to work with. Buy it online for best prices
Ix

[kmclemore]

I hate to say it, but the Navy stops fighting with boats at age 30. There's just no keeping ahead of the relentless arrow of entropy.

Well, with the exception of...

USS Albuquerque
USS Blue Ridge
USS Bremerton
USS Buffalo
USS Carl Vinson
USS City of Corpus Christi
USS Dallas
USS De Wert
USS Denver
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
USS Emory S. Land
USS Florida
USS Frank Cable
USS Houston
USS Jacksonville
USS La Jolla
USS McClusky
USS Michigan
USS Mount Whitney
USS Nimitz
USS Norfolk
USS Ohio
USS Peleliu
USS Ponce
USS San Francisco
USS Thach

... and of course, the Navy also still has the USS Constitution in service, and it was commissioned in 1797.

[seahouse]

And the USS Missouri! The only one I know, and it isn't on your list, Kevin. OK- both from the movie Battleship and brought back into service in real life too.

-B.

(But they did more than reinforce the deck on it).

[kmclemore]

And the USS Missouri! The only one I know, and it isn't on your list, Kevin. OK- both from the movie Battleship and brought back into service in real life too.

-B.

(But they did more than reinforce the deck on it).

The USS Missouri (battleship, aka "Big Mo") is no longer commissioned in active service - it's a museum in Hawaii. There is, however, a USS Missouri (submarine) which was commissioned in 2010. The ships I listed are in active service, all commissioned prior to 1984.

[seahouse]

Yup - reactivated some 40 years after being built, then saw active service even after that with Desert Storm, I see (Wikipedia). Very impressive story, even compared to the movie! They got good service out of her… and still now as a museum. The spirit of recycling at its best.

So your list above is of vessels still in active duty then…

[Freedom77]

CUSCUS, Thanks for the info. What bit did you use to drill through the stainless? Pretty tough alloy. With the yellow interior you don't need any lighting