New Owner ?

[peter75]

Hello all, very excited about my new to me 1982 16.  The outside looks great, but I am attacking the normal interior problems like paint, mildew and and cushion update.  

I have a couple of questions on working on the inside.  The big styrofoam block in between berths to start.  In some of the pictures on this site there is one, some without.  I realize it is for flotation, can it be replaced with a closed cell foam piece?  The one in mine is disgusting brown and dirty.  Anyplace I can get a big piece?  How do I get it out?

Also, I realize this is a big topic, interior paint on a budget.  Will any latex from home depot do the job?

Thanks in advance for answers and advice, glad to be here.

[TroyVB]

Hello and welcome aboard.  I have been working on my interior as well and I did take the big block of foam out but I had to cut it in half the log way to gain enough room to slide it out.  It looks as though the factory actually places it there before the deck is attached to the hull.

I ran a hank of three strand 1/2" rope around the block from the cabin to the lazarette and back to the cabin and used it as a saw to cut through the block by pulling on each end.  Once I had done this I could remove it quite easily.  I kept mine out for a long time trying to decide whether or not I needed the storage space.  There has been a lot of discussion about whether it is a good idea or not.  The truth is I think that the CP16 may have enough bouyancy to sink slowly if swamped this may give a person enough time to bail and save the boat from sinking.  Without the foam and swamped she will just sink faster.

I put the foam back in and used the same piece by just poking the nozzle of a can of expanding foam into the cut that I had made it expanded to fit the block tight in the space again.  I like the idea of closed cell foam.  I do think that your cockpit floor might feel a little "spongy" by using it.  I noticed when I had my block out that there was alot of flex in the floor.  I do not know where you would find a piece that large.

I painted the inside of a Venture 17 once with the same latex paint that they use on basement walls and it held up fine.  The trick is the prep beforehand.

[sawyer]

Just a welcome to the Com-pac group and the 16 sailor group too.  No ideas on the styrofoam, just left mine in place.

[Craig]

The one thing the block does is give support to the cockpit sole. I do not have the foam block, but I do have a bulkhead about the middle of the sole.

Craig

[peter75]

Thanks guys, appreciate the welcomes and info.

Next project, new rub rail.  I have read the accounts of installing a new one.  Mine is very loose and weathered.  Is it worth it to replace or just pull, repair the boat seam and return the old one?  

Thanks again

[Craig]

Some reported the new rub rail from Com-Pac is a different size than the original and the corner pieces no longer fit right. I had mine off to repair and recaulk the leaking hull to deck joint. I put the old back on. With a little Armour-All it doesn't look too bad.

Craig

[TroyVB]

Check out William Swart's website from when he owned "Grace Period".  He gives some really good info about this repair.

http://faculty.augie.edu/%7Eswart/CP-16/HullDeck%20Repair.html