[VAC] Re: Moisture problems

["Harvey Barlow" <harveybarlow@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jerry,

Lots of elderly Airstreams have rot (wet rot, not dry rot) in some areas of
their floor.  The cure is usually to caulk every single penetration in the
shell.  Seams, clearance lights, door, windows, roof vents, tv antenna,
awning, etc.  I would suggest caulking everything first with Vulkem, not
silicone lube ( I have already made that mistake, you can avoid it).  After
you think everything possible is caulked, get someone to apply water with a
garden hose starting down low, and slowly moving back and forth, and
eventually up to the roof while you stay inside and watch for the water to
appear.

The rotted area, if not completely rotted through, can be repaired by
cutting out and replacing a section with new plywood (the best but hardest
way) or by applying epoxy resin or polyester resin over the rotted area to
seal, strengthen, and essentially correct the rot.

Marc Weimers wrote an interesting article in an old issue of the Vintage
Advantage of how he repaired a rotted floor with a couple $$ worth of cheap
polyester resin.  An old retired boat builder named Jim Smith who subscribes
to the list encouraged me to use penetrating epoxy resin to repair a rotted
section.  Jim's thinking was that the penetrating resin flows into and is
absorbed by the rotted floor creating a substantial bond.  Either will work
fine and both have been used for years before I heard of the method.  Joy
Hansen just finished replacing several areas in his vintage Safari by
cutting the bad area out and reinstalling new plywood.  An excellent method
but more difficult.

Harvey Barlow
WBCCI 1171, WDCU, VAC