Sun Odyssey 32 balsa cored decks?that

[mikebz]

Are the decks on a 2003 SO32 balsa cored?  We had a viewing today (ours is on the market, see the For Sale section) and the prospective buyer had read somewhere that the stanchion bases on some boats had worked loose or pulled out due to the balsa core in that part of the deck.  Has anyone heard of any issues relating to balsa cores on these boats?

[Charlie-Bravo]

The position of the stanchion base being at the very edge of the deck along the toe rail is a strong area, unsure how wide the balsa fill (if present) actually goes on a 32 though, and it is likely that the mounting of the base is going through solid grp.

 Usually stanchions get loose through mis use , lifelines guitar string tight and people using them to climb aboard, also the backing plates (if you are lucky) or washers under the deck can be a bit small, and not all that corrosion resistant, and in time loosen whilst they corrode away.

If your stanchions are loose and wobbly you could offer to remedy them in the interest of the sale, but if they are well fixed just declare that it isn’t a problem on your boat.

With the myriad of things a potential buyer might bring up as an ‘issue’ , if loose stanchions are the only worry, your boat must be a fine example.

Good luck with the sale

CB

[mikebz]

Thanks C-B. They aren’t loose on my boat but the potential buyer had heard of it as a possible issue somewhere, and it raised the question in my mind as to whether there is any balsa core in the decks.