Centerboard trunk on Sun Cats

[passagesfromtheheart]

Hi again, folks!

I have read somewhere on the forum, here, that Sun Cats were previously made with stainless steel centerboard trunks. I believe a forum member had suggested, if in the market for a Sun Cat, to try to go with a model that has a fiberglass centerboard trunk.

I understand, from what I read, that folks talk about how the stainless steel centerboard trunk is prone to corrosion and so it was, again, recommended to seek models with the fiberglass version. (Please forgive me if I have the facts incorrect — I'm just trying to convey what I thought I understood from what I read, but perhaps I am misunderstanding things.)

The above all said:

1) Does anyone know what year Com-Pac made the switch from SS to fiberglass with respect to the centerboard trunk?

2) If you own a model that has a SS centerboard trunk, have you had any issues with corrosion and if so, were you able to successfully rectify things?

3) I realize this is not the Picnic Cat section, but wondering if the same phenomenon is true for the centerboard trunk with respect to the Picnic Cats as well. If anybody has insight, I'd be so grateful!

Thank you so much!

[bruce]

Here's a couple of threads that pertain.
https://cpyoa.com/forum/index.php?topic=11734.msg88430#msg88430
https://cpyoa.com/forum/index.php?topic=5080.0

Bottom line, some had problems with the original SC CB trunk design because they didn't maintain the zincs. Gerry was clear that he felt the design was OK, if maintained properly.

I know of only one PC that has had a significant corrosion problems with its SS CB trunk. He was in a saltwater FL marina with serious stray current issues. Sections of his CB trunk flange mounted on the keel corroded away entirely. Zincs would last a few weeks, if that. The relative scarcity is probably a matter that more PCs are trailered routinely, rather than staying in the water. I doubt the original designs differed much.

Not sure how access between the different SC designs varies. I have heard that the fiberglass trunk is difficult to access. We dry sail our PC with a SS trunk, but, as I said, few have had problems, kept on a trailer on in the water. SS in contact with water is not an unusual situation. I'm guessing it's 304.

[passagesfromtheheart]

Here's a couple of threads that pertain.
https://cpyoa.com/forum/index.php?topic=11734.msg88430#msg88430
https://cpyoa.com/forum/index.php?topic=5080.0

Bottom line, some had problems with the original SC CB trunk design because they didn't maintain the zincs. Gerry was clear that he felt the design was OK, if maintained properly.

I know of only one PC that has had a significant corrosion problems with its SS CB trunk. He was in a saltwater FL marina with serious stray current issues. Sections of his CB trunk flange mounted on the keel corroded away entirely. Zincs would last a few weeks, if that. The relative scarcity is probably a matter that more PCs are trailered routinely, rather than staying in the water. I doubt the original designs differed much.

Not sure how access between the different SC designs varies. I have heard that the fiberglass trunk is difficult to access. We dry sail our PC with a SS trunk, but, as I said, few have had problems, kept on a trailer on in the water. SS in contact with water is not an unusual situation. I'm guessing it's 304.

Bruce, you are amazing with how much you know — you should write a 'how to' sailing book and even a book which focuses on Com-Pacs — your knowledge is astounding!!! That said, THANK YOU so much for the information re: the centerboard trunk questions I have — it is  extremely helpful!

RE: the Picnic Cat on Lake Geneva — I don't have a sense of its history prior to the current owner, but I believe it to be a freshwater only boat. It's an earlier model, I think, a 1999 or 2000 or 2001. I can't remember specifically. I'm going to assume that if it's that early of a model, it likely has a stainless steel centerboard trunk. I don't recall what year your boat is, but I think it's an earlier model in the same era, correct?

Forgive me, but I am not sure what you meant by 304? Do you mean hull number?

[bruce]

Just to be clear, the production PCs always had a SS trunk. There was an earlier prototype that had twin boards in the Port and STBD lockers, in an effort to avoid a trunk in the center of the cockpit, but that version never was offered commercially. If interested, I can come up with a link, but it's not relevant in looking at what might be available. The SC did have the three versions on the CB trunk I referenced. All SC CB trunks were contained in the stub keel, so no trunk in the center of the cockpit. Certainly in the cabin version, that saves valuable space. In the more open cockpit versions it may not be as necessary. The CB pendant cleat is on the sole of the cockpit. I'll let others speak to their feelings about that.

The earliest PCs did have a mahogany CB trunk cover in the center of the cockpit, which was replaced with a fiberglass trunk cover in later versions. I can provide a date the change was made if it would be of interest, it was about 2003-4 as I recall. Again, this is just the cover over the CB trunk where it protrudes in the cockpit, the trunk itself is SS. Hull #1 was first shown at the Annapolis Boat Show in October 1997 shown here.

Yes, we have hull number 308, built in January of 2011. About 500 were built. I would not hesitate to buy a PC that was used in saltwater.

[Jon898]

304 would refer to a grade of stainless steel, not a hull number.  304 is an austenitic stainless steel that is reasonably resistant to saltwater corrosion, but not as good as some of the higher grades (e.g. 316) although typically lower cost.

My centerboard trunk is SS covered in a mahogany casing.

Jon 

[bruce]

Thanks, Jon. Reading the posts again I think you're right about the 304 reference. Didn't mean to confuse things!

What's your build date, Jon?

[passagesfromtheheart]

Jon & Bruce — thank you!