A quick update since last summer. We originally used butyl tape to seal the screws and chainplate gap. This held up for most of the summer but when it started to get cold we noticed leaks that got worse over the winter. It’s finally spring time and warm enough for epoxy and 4200 to cure. So we just refilled everything with epoxy, re-drilled, and then used 4200 to seal everything up. It’s raining quite a bit here this week so hopefully we can see if this stops the leaking. Hope this helps someone out there!
Glad I stumbled on yalls channel, but bummed you e not posted more!! Haha. I appreciate this update though. I am looking at a 78 Catalina 25 this week & I know it's going to need some work.
On my Catalina25 (1986 fin keel, standard rig), I used Boatlife (polysulfide) caulk for securing my chainplates. Doesn’t shrink and never hardens, comes in white, gray and black. You all should join the Catalina-Capri-25s forum for more info on everything about these boats.
A friend just sent me an article from Practical Sailor magazine that confirmed reports that the 3M 4000 flexible bedding compound was failing after approximately 5 years. The article showed the black sealer becoming gooey and oozing down from their portlights. Before it failed, the material had been stable for several years.
Thanks for sharing! I appriciate that you showed all the problems. I plan to refinish or replace mine. I was not sure what to expect before watching this video. Also, reading comments from others should help too. Can't wait to get on the water!
About to look at a boat where the owner has openly said the bulkhead is delaminating on one side, glad I found this to see what I'd be getting myself into. Hope all is well on your sailing adventures! Was fun to watch your buying process and first sail.
i usually drill a hole then put in it a screw or bolt to keep the new pc from moving while drilling the other holes. the next hole on the other side, drill and again use a screw or bolt to keep them sandwiched together. helps insure the pattern will fit the holes in the boat
first thing that was good for a laugh was when you said we can do it in a day the next was saying ill get it off MY boat with Her standing right there ,You say OUR boat .
I ended up picking up a nice clean 1984 Catalina 25. One of those deals we could not walk away from. I found only two leaks so far, one from the hand rail and the other where the electric wires run to the outboard. I will use butyl tape to reseat the hand rails on top. We also plan on redoing the table with a custom table since we do not like that brown color. What is your Jib setup? Our Jib gets hung up on the lifelines and the bow pulpit. So far we love our boat, it floats and sails good. :)
I would have oversized the holes, filled them with epoxy, and redrilled them to size. Then I would have sealed the whole bulkhead with penetrating epoxy (x2 or x3 on the edges). I also would have considered tabbing the bulkhead to the hull with epoxy and fiberglass. Catalina may have just bolted it in place, but they aren't known for the quality of their manufacturing techniques.
Nope. On a boat that size, particularly one not intended to go off-shore, it isn't absolutely necessary to tab the bulkheads to the hull and deck. However, since the chainplates are bolted to the main bulkhead, tabbing the bulkheads to the hull and deck would distribute the loads and make for a MUCH stronger structure.
The bulkhead fit is pretty snug, especially with those bottom bolts that took a fair amount of hand work with some files. So I at least wanted to get a test fit with everything all together before we finished it. But the real answer is the two of us couldn't agree on how to finish - paint vs veneer vs stain and what color / style - and we were really impatient and wanted to go sailing! At this point we had bought our first boat but watched it sit in the slip for nearly a month because we didn't trust sailing with the bulkhead so badly rotted.
Just curious as you said you bought the boat sight unseen. Did the seller have the decency to let you know that the Bulhead had rotted. I hope they would have since that would have seriously affected the selling price .
We bought it from a charity auction. The posting was very clear that there was no guarantee of any condition. We were totally thrilled that the boat was in as good of condition as it was. Honestly, the bulkhead replacement wasn't too bad. The cockpit scupper leak.... That's a whole other story.
What you could have done was install wood first then drill holes using a self taping wood screw for hard to reach with a screwdriver you could try jacking the cabin top right below where mast step it might make it easier to slide wood back in I did this on a ranger 23 with a friend who got the boat for free just for removing it from a property owner sails mast cushions complete lucky him
Getting ready to purchase a 1982 C25, will be looking at the bulkheads. Did you find any damage (dry rot) around the lower shroud eyebolts on the deck? Maybe the water ran down the eyebolt onto the bulkhead causing the bulkhead rot.
I just bought one and am not looking forward to replacing all my plywood. Has anyone taught about Aluminium bulkheads? I am going to race her and the strength and weight savings would be a advantage. Send me your feed back. Thanks Bob.
I don’t see why you couldn’t use a reasonably thick piece of aluminum. Especially if you’re skilled working with aluminum since it definitely wouldn’t be as easy to work with as plywood. I’m not sure how much weight you’d really save. The bulkhead is ...bulky... but not that thick and actually didn’t weigh much. You may be better off removing the stove and fresh and black water tanks if you’re looking to save weight.
