Robbin: I did something similar on my 1978 M17. There was a blog about it on the short lived Montgomery Owners website, which has since been shut down. Anyway, taking off the toe rails and working with that hull/deck joint was not nearly as bad as I feared. The old caulking between the hull and deck had given out, but was easy to dig out and replace. There are a lot of things you could use for that (3M 4200, 5200 or maybe even Boat Life, but I went with the assumption the deck would never be removed from the hull........either on purpose or by a big wave......... so I went with thickened epoxy for the joint, and bedded the toe rails with 3M 4200. No leaks there since. On May 14, 2012, at 4:15 PM, Robbin Roddewig wrote:
Thanks Bones, I cannot really tell if my leak is major but man it must have been at one point. At first glance I thought there had been a fire alongside about a 1' x 1' section of the ash slats. Upon closer look it was mold. And at least two of the slats are butter from the rot. So it may have been worse some time in the past but it is still there if I am getting water under the cushions. Initial problem is getting that shelf outta there to see what is back there. We are having a couple inches of rain over today and the next few days so I will check again soon. After I mailed out it occurred to me I had not looked in the book according to Casey. He has a good section on repairing hull to deck joint but it looks like a bit of work. Nothing compared to prying out a 350lb center board and getting that refinished and put back in mind you. All in the line of keeping a maritime legacy going eh?
Thanks Robbin
On 5/13/2012 11:21 PM, bownez@juno.com wrote:
Hi Robbin, I have a small leak in that same area on my M23. It does seem to be below where the water pools next to the toerail.I'd like to solve the issue too, but I have yet to address it. My leak is not major (yet), but the only way I can see to remedy the situation is to remove the aluminum toe rail completely, clean, check deck to hull joint, and rebed the toerail.Not an easy job to say the least.Perhaps Jerry will chime in on this topic. I seem to recall Theo has a similar issue on his M23. On a brighter note, I went for my first sail of the season today and it was fabulous. Bones ____________________________________________________________ 60-Year-Old Mom Looks 25 Mom Reveals $5 Wrinkle Trick That Has Angered Doctors! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4fb07a4f9bf6711dc82dst01vuc