Mariner 19 CB leak

[Gordon7910m]

My 1977 Mariner has developed a leak around the bolt head that holds the CB in its fiberglass housing. The boat had an accident prior to 1984 when I purchased it. The bold hold was reinforced with new fiberglass. Five rubber washers 3/16" were placed under bold head and before nut on other side of fiberglass CB housing. Brown sealant was used between washers and smeared over nut and bolt head. 24 years have passed with out a leak. Now when I heal 15-20 degrees for an hour I get a cup of water in the boat.

Two Questions. How could I stop the existing leak. How was the origional CB installed back in 1977? I appreciate your help. gordon

 

[Sunbird22358]

Is the leak definitely around the bolt? If so, the simple answer is to just tighten the bolt. 1 cup of water after an hour or so of beating to windward is not that much water, but it still is more than I would expect (but then I've never stayed on the same tack that long while beating). I don't have experience with the MARINER, but can try to offer advice based on my 13 years of sailing a DS II and 38 years with a CAL 21. I asked about whether the leak was definitiely at the CB pivot bolt because I was curious whether the leak might be elsewhere, like at the forward end of the CB trunk where it joins the bottom of the boat. Our CAL 21 developed a leak there and so that might be a place to look. A bit of fiberglass tape and resin after grinding out the crack will fix that (be sure area is dry!!). I still think you can cure the leak by tightening the bolt a bit, and if not.. back the nut off a bit and see if you can force some sealant betewwen the washers and the CB trunk, then let the sealant cure for an hour or so and re-tighten the bolt. I think that the MARINER, like the DS II(1971-79) uses a plastic bushing for the CB to pivot on and the bolt just holds this in place, so when you tighten the bolt you are squeezing the sides of the CB trunk against that bushing, not the CB (bushing is slightly longer than CB slot is wide). If in doubt, I'd call Rudy Nickerson at D&R Marine (508) 644-3001 he will know the answer, he was the Parts Dept. Manager for O'Day from 1973-89.

 

[SailAway1]

I just bought a 1978 O'Day Daysailor II and have been experiencing a leak around the centerboard bolt. The leak was much worse than 1 cup so I took your advice and checked the CB trunk where it joins the bottom of the boat. Well, there is a crack about 4 inches long at the edge of the housing. This is my first sailboat and I've never repaired fiberglass and I don't see how I can get to the inside to do the repair. Could you elaborate on the process you used to repair your CAL21?

 

[Sunbird22358]

The CAL 21 was repaired by grinding out the glass along the crack and laying up fiberglass across the repair area. On that boat we were able to actually access both inside and outside and glassed over the crack in both sides. On my DS II, I have created an access "hatch" inside the cuddy that allows me to reach the bilge, I needed to repair a hole in hull that had been poorly repaired by the previous owner, and also (don't let this scare you!) to replace the plywood under the maststep. I can provide a diagram that I made of where the "deckbeams" (foam-filled "beams" under the cuddy floor) are located if you wish to cut an access point on your boat.

I would use Epoxy resin and cloth made for use with Epoxy to repair the crack. All the Epoxy makers have excellent guide books for making repairs, and I'd recommend reading the instructions throughly to learn the process, it is easy once you have done it.
Unfortunately, we didn't take any pictures while fixing our boat, I have some showing that area on my DS II, but not of doing a repair.

Is the leak at the forward end of the CB trunk? Or along the area where the side of the CB trunk meets the hull? The DS II is a GREAT boat, but you are right, access to repair some areas of the hull and deck is miserable! If you were local, I'd offer to look at it..... but, oh well!

PS: I have created an expanded version of the original O'DAY supplied Rigging instructions for the DS II, let me know if you would like to purchase a copy.

 

[SailAway1]

Thanks for the great information! The crack is at the front most end of the the CB trunk. It looks like the previous owner made a poor attempt at fixing it. See the attached picture.

Based on your diagram, I don't think there is anything in the way. I hate the thought of cutting holes in the floor my boat but to do the job right, you gotta do what you gotta do. So far, everything that I've read makes this kind of repair sound fairly easy - even for a beginner. I'll do lots of reading and even practice a bit before I dive in.

What is the price tag on your expanded version of the rigging instructions?

 

[Sunbird22358]

I ask for $10.00 to cover postage and printing. That includes the expanded Owners manual plus scanned copies of several DS II sales brochures including the 1978 model. (1973, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985). Magazine ads from 1973, 1977.
If you click on my user name you can send a direct e-mail (spam prevention)

I found a picture of my CB trunk, I don't recall ever having a crack there, but I seem to have strengthened that area as a preventive measure?