bow cleat

[NCboater]

The last few days have been very hot and I've noticed a brown spot or streak at a crack near the bow cleat elevation.  I've got rotted core underneath the cleat don't I?  I've never done any glass work before.  Can I let this go until I take her out in the fall?  Is this something I should do or have someone else do it?

[TJ]

Check with Matthew Hutchins at Com-Pac.  They are good people and willing to answer any questions you have and are usually prompt.  Not having seen the cleat I don't know how severe the problem is but shouldn't be hard to repair.  tj

[NCboater]

Thanks.  I'll take a picture next time I visit the boat and try to post it.

[mikew]

That area under the cleat is built up with a thickening mixture of micro balloons and resin. This makes a strong lightweight non rotting core. The micro balloons are made from glass or phenolic, and may be reddish brown in color. The only wood on the Compac 16 is a band of plywood glassed into the transom to back up the motor mount and rudder bolts. I have a 1983 cp-16 with a bronze cleat but have had no problems in that area. Maybe remove the cleat, dry the core, caulk and add SS fender washers and epoxy that crack. Of course as TJ mentioned run it by the great folks at the factory, too.

Mike

[NCboater]

That's great news Mikew.  I was hoping it wasn't a wood core.  The cleat is bronze like yours.  I'll talk to com-pac first before I try what you suggested.  Filling and sealing a crack is a lot less daunting than significant glass work, although I suspect I'll get  to that point eventually.

[philb Junkie19]

Compac does makes a wonderfully solid non rotting deck. The raised area under the bow cleat on my 19 is about 1 inch thick. No skimping at all. Why they used dinky little washers on the bolts is a puzzle.  Mike is right about the fender washers. I just put my 19 is on a mooring so I re-fastened the bow cleat with longer bolts and additional 1/2 in ply wood backing along with larger washers.  Maybe overkill but I'll sleep better if the boat is bucking in storm waves.