[c350ia] [Fwd: Swim Ladder Treads]

[skip7@verizon.net]

>From: skip7@verizon.net
>Date: 2008/03/28 Fri PM 05:33:17 CDT
>To: c350ia@catalina.net, c350@list.sailnet.net
>Subject: Swim Ladder Treads

Hi Fellow 350 owners,

I think I had an error in my original mailing of this note so this is a re-send.
 
>I contacted Catalina and obtained the following information on the evolution of the tread installation on the swim ladder:
>
>On some of the early 350s the treads were fastened with stainless steel through-bolts and locknuts. 3M 5200 was used in the installation but as we all know, that product does not adhere well to non-porous surfaces such as stainless steel and starboard because it?s more of a sealant than it is an adhesive. Therefore it was used in this application not as an adhesive, but rather as a sealant around the through-bolt holes in the starboard and the ladder bars.
>
>At some point in the process, it was decided that the appearance of the ladder would be aesthetically cleaner if stainless steel rivets were used instead of the through-bolts and nuts. 5200 was still used to seal around the rivet holes.
>
>Finally, in order to make the ladder look as clean as possible and to lower the maintenance by eliminating the rivet heads and the holes through the treads and the ladder bars, the use of rivets was discontinued in favor of a specialty adhesive from a major manufacturer. However, it was quickly determined that the adhesive, which was pre-tested and recommended by the manufacturer (which was NOT 5200) was quite strong, a newer and better product became available and that was Lord?s Acrylic Adhesive 663/6. (This is an industrial-use product that is not available in stores).
>
>Catalina does not have a record of when these incremental changes occurred, although they do keep fairly rigorous records on all the critical facets of lamination, propulsion systems, etc.
>
>Carl and Liz Beckmann?s boat is hull #223 and I believe it to be a 2004 model. It appears that the early type specialty adhesive was used during part of that production year and that likely explains why the tread on their boat separated. 
>
>Catalina has indicated that there is no need to try to remove and re-glue treads on the ladders of boats of that vintage since they have had few, if any other reports of treads coming off. 
>
>Skip Penizotto
>c350 Technical Editor
>Mainsheet