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More Questions about 89 WK/SR

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Thunderheart
Deckhand

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11 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/26/2003 : 20:46:36

I went below today on the 89 WK/SR I'm looking at and was very encouraged. Besides a ton of Dirt Dauber nests it looked pretty good. There is a little water in the bilge (where the keel bolts protrude through), a little in the lockers under the port side settee, and a little under the v-berth where the holding tank is located. The locker under the pipe berth where the batteries are stowed was dry (good thing). Pop-Top mechanism works good (needs some new dogs), forehatch is original plexiglass and had some spider cracks around the bolts. Neither appears to be leaking *too* much.

However, there has been *some* leaking over the years and the cushions will need replacing. Anybody know the Catalina Direct price for a new set? I don't have a copy of their catalog though I think I'll go order it tonight.

Also, I noticed that the bulkheard on the port side near where it joins the hull on the settee molding was damp and slighly discolored. The wood *seemed* sound though. Any thoughts on that one?

I couldn't really tell where the water had been getting in but I don't think it was around the chain plates. No discoloration or anything. I think most of the water got in around the bottom of the companionway, one of the port side cabin windows, and a little in through the forehatch. The port side cabin window (forward flush mount or middle one) had that "milky" look that plexiglas gets when it has been exposed to UV for a long time. Strangely, none of the other windows displayed this condition. The port side is facing almost due south as she lies so it gets hammered by the sun.

Another thing I noticed was that one of the bow cleats has been damaged at some point in the past. Repairs were effected but I could definitely not live with this problem. Is this something that happens often on these boats and any idea how much to have professionally repaired? Looks to need some glass work.

Thanks for any advice/comment.

ThunderHeart
(Dallas P.)

Edited by - on

Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2003 : 09:54:56

Hey Dallas,

You are serious enough about this boat to have it surveyed by a professional marine surveyor. The wet bulkhead is the "giveaway". The surveyor will have a moisture meter to determine if the deck core has been soaking up water (a potentially very expensive thing).

As far as the bow cleat - those are set in about as strong a point on the boat as you could ask for. I got caught tied to a county marine park dock in a real blow one night. Everyone there knew that this storm was coming so we all prepared our boats and sat tight. I had double bow lines, double stern lines, as well as spring lines fore and aft, plus six fenders along the dock.

The storm hit with such strength that on one surge (and I was on the protected side of the dock) one of my 3/8" dacron double braid bow lines snapped in two......sounded like a 30-06 rifle shot. No damage to the cleat at all though. So damage to that part of the boat would make me want an explanation.

Again, time for the survey.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

BTW: During the storm, the Beneteau 38 that was on the exposed side of the dock put to sea. The Catalina 25 that was there was nearly flung up onto the dock by the waves before we could get her around into the relatively calm water near Snickerdoodle. What a night!

Edited by - on

Thunderheart
Deckhand

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11 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2003 : 12:18:52

Thanks for the response Bill. Many people suggest getting the survey even if I do it after the purchase, just so I'll know what all needs fixing. I'm at a point where I agree now, though I was skeptical at first as I will end up spending $1500 or less for the boat. I'd like to do it *before* I shell out a dime to the current owners, but I don't think its practical. The boat needs to be pulled for the survey and the marina (which is about to seize the boat) will not allow it to leave until the lien is satisfied. Could a "less-than-full" survey be done with the boat sitting in the water? Seems to me like such a thing should be possible.

I'm thinking that I will decrease my initial offer to an even lower number and use the moisture around the bulkhead and the possibility of damage to the deck core as a mitigating factor.

I've gathered a good deal more intelligence about this boat. From what I'm hearing, I doubt it has ever sailed more than 10 miles from the slip and I don't think it ever did that very many times. One member of the club said that in seven years, he has never seen the boat move and he sails every other weekend year-round. One of the founding members told me that the last time he saw anybody on the boat, it was the daughter who goes to school nearby and that she just used it as a floating condo. That was over two years ago.

Would the amount of stress placed on the rig have anything to do with the failure of the bedding? Or is it more a function of exposure and age? What would be involved with repairing the deck if the core has indeed soaked up some water. I realize this last might be difficult to answer not knowing the extent of the damage. Does anyone here have any experience with this kind of repair?

The thing is, I don't see how the moisture on the bulkhead could be related to leaking around the chain plates. The moisture is at the *bottom* of the bulkhead and only about a 2" x 4" section (I have pictures) and there is no staining or other indications of damage anywhere. It looks to me like water leaked from the window, ran down the hull (soaking the settee cushions) and pooled in the hollow of the settee molding itself by where the bulkhead joins the hull. Also, considering we've had one of the wettest Spring/Summer seasons in living memory here in NC, I would have expected to see more water in the boat if it had any serious leaks.

Am I being overly optimistic?

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2003 : 12:36:17

I recently had two 89 WK's surveyed. One surveyor used a moisture meter, the other used a plastic mallet to do a percussion test for moisture in the deck. You tap the deck and detect differences in sound. To check for moisture/dry rot in the wood bulkheads he used an ice pick and tapped the wood with it to detect soft areas.
I think the meter is the better method, but then again we all have a plastic mallet, or can get one really cheap, and an ice pick.
Each survey cost 250. Haul out varied between 180 and 120, which included cleaning the bottom so you could inspect it. The salt water boat was really barnacled up and had to be scraped. Both boats had cracked rudders. Catalina's new rudders are really improved. Both boats had leaky gudgeons. That was the only source of leaks on my boat. I replaced mine with new improved heavy duty ones.
One boat had a holding tank system which was leaking and the boat smelled of sewage.
The boat I bought had a porta potti, which I replaced. I want my own.
My boat had no smell at all
I checked on new cushions and they will vary between 1200 and 1400.
You cannot just order covers, you have to send in your old ones. If the cushions are smelly you might as well get new foam too. Check with a local boat cushion place too.
Good luck.
89 wings are really rare, and I suspect they will hold their value better than any other Catalina 25 model. That's my opinion, I may be wrong

Frank Gloss
89WK/TR

Edited by - on

Dave B
Admiral

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Mali
863 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2003 : 12:36:28

I'll offer the opinion that an in-water survey will give you 90% of what you need--particularly the interior and deck damage assessment. The surveyor won't be able to check for blisters, but he can do a pretty thorough investigation for hull damage including keel bolt integrity. Blisters are less of a problem in salt water, and the '89 used more blister-resistent resins. The surveyor may even give you a slight break for not having to sound the hull for blisters. I'd certainly do the survey! For another opinion, as a surveyor--they generally aren't interested in misleading anyone about what they can and can't do. (Most are brutally frank about it.)

BTW, without seeing that cleat damage, is it possible it was caused by hitting a dock in some strange way? Does the damage suggest a pull or a push against the cleat? Again, the surveyor can probably tell you what's needed, although they generally don't get into estimating repair costs.

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 #5032 "Passage" SR/FK/Dinette/Honda in SW CT

Edited by - dave b on 07/27/2003 12:41:29

Edited by - on

Earl Landers
Navigator

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USA
157 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2003 : 10:37:06

Dallas,
A new set of cushions with new foam from Catalina, not CD, was $1105 plus shipping (and another $50 for a box) for the traditional interior. I believe the dinette was about $200 more. They also require your old cushions for patterns which will be returned to you. Their price was competitive in my area

Earl Landers
'83 C25 SR/SK
"Gentle Spirit"
http://home.bak.rr.com/edlgs

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