Downeaster Yachts.com

Gracie Emmett DE 32 is for sale. Email: de32ge@gmail.com (see following link for extensive photos and detailed boat inventory):

http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/boat-profiles/de32-gracie-emmett

REINFORCING SIDEDECKS: s/v Gracie Emmett DE32

By: Duane Nealon

The side deck sections along the cabin area have clear spans with no bulkheads or built-in cabinets to give support to the underside of the side decks. These deck areas always flexed, a condition that was attributed to lack of support.

Recently, a prospective buyer was convinced that the flex in the deck was a sign of deck delamination and core deterioration. Within days, a fiberglass expert was called in to assess the situation. Several core samples were taken on each side of these areas, which concluded that there was no delamination or core deterioration.

However, the thickness of the fiberglass and core on these sections of the side decks was relatively thin, approximately ½”, which was surprising because when installing a cabin top head vent, chain deck pipes, and the cockpit hatch, the core samples were much thicker (3/4” – 1”).

The approach taken for this project was to remove the interior layer of fiberglass and reinforce the side decks from the underside. This approach was made much easier as the result of the removable Spectropile headliner that was installed (see recent Gracie Emmett headliner article), and the fact that there were no interior built-ins that had to be dismantled. Step one was to cut and remove the interior layer of fiberglass below deck.

(Another possible option would have been to cut the interior layer of fiberglass on three sides to inspect the core and signs of delamination or determine if there was any latent moisture, thereby, allowing the forth side of the fiberglass panel to remain intact and provide a convient hinge to reattach the fiberglass […]