Rigging Tunnel Repair

[Skip Berry]

I have a 1970 Katama. I would like to seal the rigging tunnel to insure no water intrudes. I'd like to do this without tearing up the floor. Perhaps a flexible tube of some kind. Any ideas? Thanks.

[Phil T]

Skip - The tube is originally sealed. Is there a problem?

[Skip Berry]

From what I can see looking down the tube with a mirror, the "lining" looks cracked.

[Skip Berry]

I am thinking of removing a 4" section of deck above the full length of the rigging tunnel. This would include the top half of the aluminum tube, or maybe the whole tube depending on its condition. I would then glass, barrier coat and paint the "rigging trough". I plan on using a mahogany floor board to cover the trough. Is there any concern that my plan would jeopardize the integrity of the hull or any other concerns.

[jimh]

The strength of a Boston Whaler Unibond hulls comes from the continuous bond between the (comparatively) thin laminate shells and the high-density foam that completely fills the space between the shells.

If the top deck shell is cut so there is a rectangular opening 4-inches wide and a few feet long down the center of the cockpit, my expectation is the structural integrity of the hull would be compromised and the rigidity of the hull would be decreased. Removal of such a large section should be undertaken only in circumstances of extreme need to access something inside the hull, and the opening must be repaired and restored to a strong, solid, and durable bond of the deck section back to one piece.

[biggiefl]

Yeah....I would not feel comfortable dissecting the floor like that. I personally would just do the best I could to keep the tunnel dry. Sealing the bottom of the tube is easy. If water intrusion was happening from a leak in the top of the tube I would suspect you would have a soft floor already. If floor is solid, let sleeping dogs lay.

[Skip Berry]

Thanks to both jimh and biggiefl for their info and advice. I'll be putting the saw away. Biggiefl mentioned "sealing the bottom of the tube is easy". How would you go about it?

[biggiefl]

From what I have read they simply mix up a batch of epoxy, pour it in at the console, tilt/lift the bow of the boat until it exits at the stern. That would be the bottom of the tube. To do the sides you would need to angle the boat either by using jacks or parking it on an incline and doing the same procedure. To do the top you would need to flip the hull but water would not be soaking in by the top unless you have the tube FILLED wil water to the top for a number of years.