Thanks Capt Dave, I have been googling gelcoat to try to understand the issues, and your synopsis help immensly. Can you share some of the specific deadends that you took, and we can watch out for?

As to dead hulls, in particular, I have understood that delam is due to water in the core, and have been glad to think that regluing is a good solution, and leaving open to dry out. Now it sounds like you are saying that if there is moisture in the hull, and delam is occurring, that it is already too late. That does not sound good to me. At what point is to much water, too much, beyond repair?

When I got my Cat, there was water standing in the hull after it had been parked for a long time. I have thought that was due to condensation, and possible drainage down the tubes, since the boat was not covered. Apparently this water had been in there for quite awhile, and I would suspect that it definitly would have absorbed into the foam core. The hulls themselves do not seem to be soft, though the decks were.

Recently, having installed the ports, and glued the soft spost, I found water, 1 inch standing in the hulls after they had been closed up. I opened them up and they dried overnite, so I have to believe that with ventilation there is significant drying going on. So now you have me wondering, and hoping that it is not as bad as you say.

I did these procedures figuring that I could not damage the hulls any more than they were already damaged, and I would expect that I could still use them, so the question I have basically, is what is the prognosis. What is the downside of continuing to use the hulls if water has penetrated the fiberglass and the foam? Are they just heavier and not as responsive as nice dry new hulls, well I don't expect to do much racing? Should I expect to be out sailing one day and see the hulls melt under me and descend into Davie Jones Locker? TnT