Bertram33 User Forum

While in the process of replacing my fuel tank, I'd also like to repair the soft spot in my cockpit sole. Where the flybridge ladder is screwed to the cockpit sole has become soft and spongy due to water getting into core material through screw holes. After flipping the sole deck over, and cutting a small square in the FG underside , I exposed saturated balsa core. Any suggestions on how to repair soft spots. Was thinking of getting some type of marine material(foam) and glassing it in in place of rotted and saturated balsa core. Any ideas, has anyone done something like this ???? Thanks Ken

This topic has been covered in detail on other threads, do a search and you will get all the info you need. Bill 1989 33 FBC Cummins 6BTA's > ~------- [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... a_Rose.jpg[/img]

Bill, I searched "core material", "soft spots", any idea on how to find this topic ??? Thanks Ken

When I repaired mine, I removed the deck. From the bottom side I cut the rotten blsa core out. Installed new coring covered the area back up with fiberglass matt. Let it dry, flipped it back over installed it bsck on the boat. No problems. It is really a easy fix. Buzz

Try searching for "cockpit sole". I pulled mine a few years ago and had a local fiberglass guy replace the rotten coring with marine plywood and then re-glassed.

Same with my, got the sole turned over, cut all the rotten balsa, and made a template in wood to cover the area. Then glassed over it, now it is stronger and I also added some sealant to the screws so the water does not get in through them.

Thanks guys, It looks like no one is replacing rotten balsa w/some type of foam....just wondering if water were to get into plywood (especially where bridge ladder base is bolted to cockpit sole) that I might have the same problem down the road. I don't want to over complicate this repair...but I rather do it right the first time, rather than do it again. Thanks again to all Ken.......p.s. Brain...I found the pics of "NSN" in PP's shed, let me know if you want me to email'em to you.

Ken, You can do it right the first time by making sure that the ladder is bedded properely when you re-install it. I don't think they came bedded very well from the factory.

Thanks Doug, Ladder mount into cockpit sole was loose when I bought the boat 10years ago... I'm going w/the plywood. Thanks.....U da' Bertram man !!!!! Ken

Ken, Go ahead and email me the pics at bdavin@optonline.net. Johnson's Boat Works had a great idea for fastening down bridge ladder to prevent future problems. He drilled a larger tappered hole where screws would go in the deck, then he filled them all with epoxy. After hardening, he then drilled and installed the screws, but now with an epoxy sleeve that prevents water from accessing the core. Brian '90 Bertram 33' FBC Yanmar 370's Never Say Never Guilford, CT (Homeport) Kinnelon, NJ (Home)

I ended up doing the same thing with my fishing rod holders. Some butthead (I hope it wasn't a factory install, but suspect it was) just drilled the holes right through the gunnels, which are sandwich of glass/ply/glass, and simply put them in the hole. No sealant or any other attempt to protect the bare wood core. When one rod holder came loose I got suspicious of them all, and it became a big tedious project to remove them all, dig out all the rotten wood coring between the glass skins (while working within the original rod holder hole). In some places the rot went in several inches. Finally, packing the gaps with thickened epoxy. They are strong as hell now though. I bet the same problem exists at the ladder, and at the no-slip teak steps on the gunnels, and with anything else someone just bolted onto a wood cored panel. Only a matter of moisture and time

Hi Brian....Just got back from Florida late last night...will email those pics in the next few days. Good idea about drilling out larger holes and then filling w/epoxy. Think I'll do that to all the screws that fasten the cockpit as well. Seems all those holes leaked and soaked the balsa core too. What a s****y job, once water gets to the balsa core its only a matter of time. New aluminum fuel tank should be ready next week...then that "fun" starts. Also, where is this place that you rented a mooring for the month ????? Thanks Ken

When I replaced the coring with form. It wasn't solid but but came in 1x1 squares attached to each other making one large sheet. I then filled the voids between the little squares with risen. Then enclosed the area with fiberglass matt. It was very simple and was very solid when I finished. Buzz