Swim Platform delamination(Fixed)

2

27boat27

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Joined
Apr 13, 2011
RO Number
32563
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73
I surveyed a 1999 Carver 356 and the report shows delamination and high moisture in the swim platform. The soft spot is about the size of a plate near the steps and the high moisture continues to the starboard side. Has anyone had a similar problem and what was the outcome? Any cost estimates or actuals for repair would be great. Thanks
 
I was curious what you did with the swim platform, I have the same problem with mine.
 
At this point it just continues to get worse and is winter stored. I have asked the marina to get their fiberglass guy to look at it. I just can't decipher where the water is coming from, but it must be the deck box connection nearest the steps. I am going to remove and reinstall the deck box to see what I find. I guess it could be the window. A soon as it warms up, I am going to remove the panels at the the head of the bed and see if I can get into the area below the swim platform or at least get a mirror or cell phone to take a picture.
 
Do you have the plastic recessed grab handle in the middle of the swim platform in front of the swim ladder? If so that is probably the cause. I don't have the deck box but do have two grab handles recessed in the platform and my surveyer told me this was a common problem on these boats because the handles were not properly bedded and over time Hydrolic erosion sets in and causes failure of the core. We have four 355/356 at our marina and all but one have the same issue.
I was quoted $3500 to cut the skin off, replace with new core ( synthetic honeycomb core material) that will not rot and reattach top skin and glass it back together. That sounded high to me but not sure.
 
image_zpsac98f746.jpg
 
I do have the plastic handle and I rebedded it as soon as I got the boat, but the problem was already there. I did not see any evidence of water intrusion when I rebedded, but the design is terrible. I hope to get somethng from the glass guys this week. I will let you know.

quote:
Originally posted by Nomad69

image_zpsac98f746.jpg


Click to expand...
 
Yuck, that doesn't look pretty.
As a point of $$comparison, I removed and delivered my MUCH simpler swim platform to my fiberglass guy, had him recore it, and put it back together. I then picked it up and reinstalled myself. Cost was $1500.
 
So I was able to get to the boat last evening and was able to remove the deckbox. Once I was able to break the seal between the two pieces, I was able to lift out the inside portion and expose the method of attachment. It had a total of 6 self tapping screws 1.25 inches long tapped into the aft bulkhead on each side of the box. There were 10-12 .5 inch screws tapped into the deck of the swim platform. There was not a single shred of evidence that any type of adhesive or sealant was used for any of these 16 punctures. Once I had the box removed I began tapping the deck with a wood handle to identify voids and delamination. Fortunately it looks like there was no intrusion around the screws except for one. This happenwd to be almost right underneath the interior drain hole on the inside of the box. So all water that gets in the box drains out through this hole onto the deck below where the unsealed screw goes into the swim platform. Delamination started there and radiates about 20-24 inches from the screw hole toward the back of the boat and a couple inched forward. I have often noticed a little trail of water coming from that spot. I believe this happens because the water tank in a full state causes my boat to have a slight list to the port side. This means all water from the deck box runs to the port side of the deckbox and out the drain hole on that side. I tapped all around the grab handle in the swim platform and detected nothing but solid taps. I think I will remove it anyway as it looks like a problem waiting to happen as others mentioned in other threads about soft spots on swim platform. Anyway, this weekend, I am going to cut the platform open and dig out the rot. Since this involves cutting through the non-skid pattern, I think a factory looking repair would be tough to achieve. At this point once the rot is gone, I am going to ask the fiberglass guy to get the platform flat again and then order a synthetic teek cover for the entire platform. It will dress the boat up a bit and avoid a very costly attempt to reproduce the patterned non-skid on the platform. I took a few pictures of the removal process and will try to upload those and a few more as I go completely through the process.
 
I found on my '86 Mariner that Carver felt it was not necessary to seal the vent holes for the propane locker nor the underside support struts on the swim platform. My purchase of the boat in 2001 confirmed that their decision was not a good one. I ended up cutting out several areas of my swim platform-locker area and strut support bolt areas and re-coring and refinishing. Carver's lack of proper attention to swim platform attachments is my only pet peeve.
 
FYI, your mariner never came with a propane locker or any swim platform mounted deck box. That was an owner added item. The 355 was definitely Carvers oops by not sealing those holes.
 
I am not sure if it was a good day or a bad day. Good because all the wet balsa is now gone, but bad because the wet balsa was never ending. Once I opened the platform, it was soaking wet near every screw hole that was created when the deck box was installed without sealing the holes in the deck. Here are some photos of what it looks like now:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/r12lzql7ge002tz/2014-05-03 13.17.08.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/x1lfgrvox0aaqz1/2014-05-03%2015.09.17.jpg

Removing the box:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/pi6n7o1h40r4oip/2014-05-01 19.41.07.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/i4g7mmqna6h13d2/2014-05-01%2019.48.33.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ezfqt0jybkxv5s6/2014-05-01 19.48.46.jpg
 
Well the swim platform is now complete. Here is what it cost to repair with the teek upgrade:

Marine Plywood (1 4 x 8 x 3/4 and 1 4 x 8 x 1/4) 180.00
West System Epoxy (105/206 and 404 filler) 190.00
Flexiteek 900.00
Marina Fiberglass Charge (final at 1750.00)
Maybe 30 hours of my time.

I used the 1/4 plywood to make the pattern then laminated it to the 3/4 to make a 1" replacement for the balsa core.

Here are the finished photos:

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/ijdbdtohrf694js/AAAI9CXF0-doKHvrOVYPNnXNa
 
That looks great! I am now worried about my drain holes, screw holes and handle. What was the symptom that made you realize you had a problem to begin with. I'm going to start by opening that handle and sealing it. Thanks
 
My symptom was a very spongy spot on the swim platform that was getting progressively worse. I would rebed the handle every couple of years as matter or maintenance to make sure it is sealed.
quote:
Originally posted by Carvervirgin

That looks great! I am now worried about my drain holes, screw holes and handle. What was the symptom that made you realize you had a problem to begin with. I'm going to start by opening that handle and sealing it. Thanks

Click to expand...
 
Wow, that looks fantastic. Inspiring work. Thanks for sharing all the photos.
 
Looks great. The marina Fiberglas charge, I am assuming you had someone layup the fiberglass? Did they peel the old skin off and reuse the skin or cut top off and lay new fiberglass over marine ply.
I ask because I was told I could take a dremel tool with thin blade and cut skin around perimeter of platform, gently pry it up in one piece and reuse after replacement of wood. I will tackle mine this fall and trying to get my game plan together.

Where did you order you teek if you don't mind me asking. Thanks for any pointers. I do not have the box on mine.
 
27BOAT27,

Hi John, I also have a 1999 Carver 356 with an added hard top over the bridge and flexiteek on the swim platform and upper patio area. Unfortunately, with the flexiteek installed there is no grab handle available from the swim ladder. I also have a weaver davit system blocking the original swim platform location when the dinghy is installed so re-boarding (especially in an urgent situation) is very difficult. I've been thinking about adding an aftermarket dive ladder but the mounting bracket would need a backing plate and I still haven't figured out how to gain access for that. Have you given any thought to re-boarding options now that the handle is covered?

Thanks!

Jim Nelson
1999 Carver 356
Portland, OR
 
So I did all the tear out work myself and thought the damaged area was smuch smaller, so I took the skin off in pieces as I chased the rot all the way across the boat. I think it would be possible to remove the skin in one piece and replace the wood. Also, I ordered the teek from http://www.isiteek.com/.
quote:
Originally posted by Nomad69

Looks great. The marina Fiberglas charge, I am assuming you had someone layup the fiberglass? Did they peel the old skin off and reuse the skin or cut top off and lay new fiberglass over marine ply.
I ask because I was told I could take a dremel tool with thin blade and cut skin around perimeter of platform, gently pry it up in one piece and reuse after replacement of wood. I will tackle mine this fall and trying to get my game plan together.

Where did you order you teek if you don't mind me asking. Thanks for any pointers. I do not have the box on mine.

Click to expand...
 
This may not be the most elegant solution, but I just tie off one of my spare 5/8 dock lines where I can reach from the water.
quote:
Originally posted by jimcnelson

27BOAT27,

Hi John, I also have a 1999 Carver 356 with an added hard top over the bridge and flexiteek on the swim platform and upper patio area. Unfortunately, with the flexiteek installed there is no grab handle available from the swim ladder. I also have a weaver davit system blocking the original swim platform location when the dinghy is installed so re-boarding (especially in an urgent situation) is very difficult. I've been thinking about adding an aftermarket dive ladder but the mounting bracket would need a backing plate and I still haven't figured out how to gain access for that. Have you given any thought to re-boarding options now that the handle is covered?

Thanks!

Jim Nelson
1999 Carver 356
Portland, OR

Click to expand...
 
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