Ice inside boat

[fifedog]

So, took advantage of the 60 degree (finally) temps yesterday, and journeyed down to the boat yard. Was expecting to get started on sanding off 3 decades of bottom coat on the keel. Climbed up the ladder to air out my Hunter 27, and when I opened the companionway, I observed 3 inches of solid ice on the cabin floor. So, spent the afternoon thawing out and pulling up slabs of ice. Then pumping out water, both by hand and bilge pump (surprisingly the batteries kicked to life). Determined the malais was caused by frozen stuck bilge float, and a weeping toe rail problem (hey, I put it off and came back to bite me).

Concerned most about potential water damage I might have to correct. There is still ice pushing up on the port side of the bilge hatch. Guess I have to wait and see how things settle first before I can truly access the problem.

Any words of advice?

 

[David in Sandusky]

Our h27 was frozen about 9 inches deep

Our h27 was frozen about 9 inches deep in the cabin according to a discussion with two owners ago. No long term damage. He got the boat as marina salvage, and restored it to sell to our P.O. You can still see a very light line on the paneling midships, but no other long term,issues! We have sailed Lady Lillie over 6,000 nm for 14 seasons, and have had no issues related to the freezing around 18 years ago. Fiberglass is tough, and there are ways that ice can expand to avoid structural damage.

Obviously, I would carefully check all systems, but there is a good chance you are OK!

 

[fifedog]

Re: Our h27 was frozen about 9 inches deep

Thanks, Dave. We in the Mid-Atlantic region got to experience a good ol' Great Lakes kinda winter. I hope we have the same luck that Lady Lillie had. Will be going back down to the boat yard tomorrow to check on the "healing". Spent this afternoon giving the sails a good washing. Forgot to mention, my sailbags were resting on the floor as well.

 

[fifedog]

Re: Our h27 was frozen about 9 inches deep

Update - discovered that the 5 amp fuse did blow, as some of you may have been suspecting. The flooring is still "wavy", but only in places where I can still feel a lot of dampness.