Merit 22 Trailer Repair, Water in Cabin, and Repair Fiberglass Around Trunk

[albakers]

I picked up an almost free Merit 22 last weekend (had to pay for gas for 1,000 mile round trip), and it's far from perfect but shouldn't take that much work to get on the water. There are few issues that need to be addressed:

1. The keel support rusted out, and as a work around for moving the boat, we put in slotted channel held in place with threaded rod. I can't find any pictures of how the support is supposed to be fabricated, but this needs to change - we almost had a catastrophic failure of the temporary keel support after a tire blew out and the threaded rod grabbed the asphalt. Does anyone have any photos? I can't find enough details online.
2. I know the boat is too far aft on the trailer. The person I got it from couldn't pull the boat far enough forward, so instead he moved the winch stand aft. That required putting significant weight in the bow to keep the trailer from fishtailing. There is some oil canning around the rear support, so I'll be replacing the bunk boards and moving things forward. Does anyone have a diagram of how the trailer should be setup with dimensions?
3. Water in cabin... Are there common entry points? It's spent the last year or so under an awning until I brought it back. We had rain a couple nights ago, and there probably is around 2" of water in the cabin. I've dealt with this on other boats previously and realize it's hard to find where water intrusion is occurring, so I'm hoping for some guidance here.
4. There are some cracks both forward and aft of the keel trunk on the hull. Any recommendations on repair? I have plenty of 12 ounce fiberglass and epoxy resin. I figured I'd have to cut out part of the sole to gain access. Does the hull have any coring? I hope not.

Thanks for your input.

 

[dlochner]

Some photos of the trailer keel support and the keel showing the cracks would be helpful and necessary.

 

[albakers]

I do have photos of the keel support but will have to head back to get photos of the cracks. Regarding the cracks, they are within an inch or two of the open, and they are leaking water, so they are significant.

 

[dLj]

I don't know for your boat, but other boats I've seen on trailers similar to that have a pan welded to the frame of the trailer. Looking at the pictures - I'm not surprised you had a tire blow out - I'm surprised they both didn't.

When you get a chance, take better photos of the trailer, my first impression is you may need to add some rollers to get the boat better positioned on the trailer.

dj

 

[Project_Mayhem]

I don't think this trailer was made for this boat. I would try to raise the boat and bunks to provide better clearance. I would probably run a couple of metal beams and boards width wise between the trailer frame rails. Raising the boat makes it easier to get a solid connection between the frame and the wood and beams. That v shaped beam makes it a bit challenging to bolt to

 

[albakers]

Project_Mayhem, you are likely correct. I was surprised at how low the keel is resting, and it is pulled all the way up. Great idea, and I'll spend some time considering how this can be done. Thanks all for your input.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

I just finished replacing a beam on my trailer so the techniques and hardware are still fresh in my head. Feel free to ask questions or give us your thoughts on what you might do

 

[Jnovva]

I've been working on my trailer. Maybe this photo will help.
Good luck!

 

[albakers]

Jnovva - you rock! The photo is fantastic. Would you by any chance be able to send the rough dimensions of the keel caddy (not sure exactly what to call this)? Thank you for sending this.

 

[Jnovva]

Here are some dimensions to get you started. The tray is deeper forward than aft, about 6 1/2" vs 3".

Height from top of bunk, that may vary depending on your trailer setup.

Have fun!

 

[albakers]

I greatly appreciate the photos and the effort you put into this. You did a great job with this. Take care.

 

[Jnovva]

Glad to help, I've also received a lot of good advice on this forum.

 

[albakers]

This brings up another question. The keel on the boat I just got is too low compared to the photos above, and I'm certain it's because there is some oil canning of the hull around the rear support of the bunk board. The bunk boards are around 10'4" in length. Is there any problem if the bunk boards are extended to 12' or even 14' so that (possibly) the oil canned area will eventually pop back out and more of the hull will take the load? I think extending the bunk boards would also raise the boat enough for the keel to clear the trailer on the aft.

After hearing more of the history of this boat, I believe too much water was allowed to accumulate on the inside of the cabin, and the weight of the water is what caused the bunk boards to deform and cause the oil canning. This might be the easiest way to raise the hull over the trailer. Thoughts?

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

You may have a trailer for smaller sailboats , not for a 22 foot sailboat. Hoe about a picture complete with your boat and trailer before any further responses please.
Former retired sailboat dealer

 

[albakers]

It took me a while to grab a picture, but here it is.

We've had a lot of rain for a few days, and I went out to the boat and discovered there was 15 gallons or so of water in the storage areas in the aft of the cabin in the storage compartments and under the sole. The water should have run out the drain in the cockpit, so I'm thinking there is a leak in the tubing from the cockpit and out the hull. I still trying to figure out how to see what's going on, because the area is too small and out of the way. Holding my phone back there doesn't show much.

 

[Jnovva]

Yikes! That one is a tough fix because it's so hard to reach.
This is a photo from another Merit.

 

[albakers]

That seems to have a lot more space around it than what I could see. I literally couldn't get my phone around the bend to take a video for inspection. I appreciate the photo and can at least see what I'm dealing with.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

What is the load weight reading on the tire? How many bunk board supports each side as I only see two?

 

[albakers]

Tire says 1820 pounds, and there are only two bunk boards.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

You can buy an inspection camera for around $30 these days. Check for hairline cracks in the thru hulls as well as anything stuck inside the tubing that could cause poor drainage. Lastly, take a hose to it and inspect for leaks. Spend a good 45 minutes or more. Sometimes it takes a while for leaks to show. If you decide to flood the cockpit, be sure the put a jack on the rear of the trailer to prevent tipping. A cockpit full of water weighs a lot!