Hi,

Westsail 32 Immamou is boat number 87 and has a teak batten holding the hull and deck mouldings together. Hard sailing causes the joint to open slightly just beneath the teak capping and water drips in by the chainplates and at the genoa sheet leads. I propose removing the old capping and placing a teak capping composed of a capping piece on top planed flush with the edges of the gunwhale then two lengths of teak sandwiching this so the joint is covered and the gunwhale is strenghtened. It has been suggested I fibreglass the joint on the outside then cap that. Another idea is a strip of stainless steel angle to mechanically bond the joint and cap over this. I need the joint seaworthy. Has anyone tackled this issue and what are the results? Any ideas suggestions please. The Bay of Biscay south of the British Isles is no place for leaky yachts!

John Pound

A description of the hull to deck joint you have on W32 #87 is in my Westsail Service Manual, Page D-2.  I assume you have a copy, but if not, send me an email and I will send the page by email.