I was having a problem with the trash can cover for a 95 Islander. The gelcoat was popping off around the pull up handle and the underside was hollow. (separated from the core) I started cutting away the underside coating and discovered a product like Masonite (or pressed board) used as the core. I thought it would have been plywood but the MASONITE just crumbled away. The culprit is the pull up handle with a rubber washer underneath. It appears that water worked its way down the hole for the handle and saturated the masonite core.
Solution: recore with qaulity plywood and overdrill the hole for the handle and fill with epoxy, re-glass the underside then off to the fiberglass guys to re-coat the textured top. (it is like an abrasive substance under the gelcoat, not the blotchy coating anti-slip) I do not know how to apply this type of texture. It looks like something you sprinkle and spray gelcoat over it.
I did discuss this issue with a factory rep at the NY boat show last week and he said the newer boats have a solid fiberglass strucure. He did not know when the change happened.
Solution: recore with qaulity plywood and overdrill the hole for the handle and fill with epoxy, re-glass the underside then off to the fiberglass guys to re-coat the textured top. (it is like an abrasive substance under the gelcoat, not the blotchy coating anti-slip) I do not know how to apply this type of texture. It looks like something you sprinkle and spray gelcoat over it.
I did discuss this issue with a factory rep at the NY boat show last week and he said the newer boats have a solid fiberglass strucure. He did not know when the change happened.
