O'day 22 salt water under seat storage

[John300]

Just took my 82 o'day 22 out of the water for the winter. Upon taking my life vests out of the storage compartment under the seat cushions I noticed I had salt water in the storage area, about 1/2". There was also salt water in the center bilge under the floor. After bailing the water out, I waited to see if I can locate source of water. After a period of time I noticed more water in the same area and it seemed to be coming from a seam along the side close to the keel area. I have the shoal draft keel with a centerboard in the trunk. I was wondering it there is a crack along the keel where it meets the hull. Are these keels molded into the hull or are they bolted on and fiber glassed over? The one thing that has me totally baffled is that I am still getting a small amount of water in the storage under the seats, but the boat in on the trailer in my back yard!!!! Any ideas?

Thanks, John

 

[roddie1952]

Hi John
Water seeps through the smallest of cracks, especially if coming in below the waterline where it is under considerable pressure, and it will fill any voids it can reach. It is not surprising therefore that it is still appearing in the bottom of the storage locker, which is below the upper level of the void between the hull and the cabin sole which may now be full of water. With the boat on a trailer it will continue to appear in the lowest point until it reaches equilibrium.

I suggest that you now remove all the antifoul from around the area where the keel housing 'joins' the hull with wet and dry. If there is a crack then it may be visible. If not visible but nevertheless there, it will seep (so long as there is still water inside the hull, of course) and you should be able to spot it and repair with gel coat. I say 'joins' because it may be a single molding with no join. I take it you have not hit any underwater obstructions, hard, which may have stressed weak areas?

I am not familiar with the centre board keel on the 22 (mine is an '82 fin keel) but I did have problems where the keel joins the hull and had to remove the filler from the void to access the nuts securing the keel so I could separate the keel from the hull and re-seal (I was able to jack the boat up from the keel with the turn screws on the cradle to gain access). Maybe other owners with a centre board version can add something on the construction, and where any joins are, but you might try drying off external surfaces, including the void where the keel is (a paint sripper gun is ideal) and again if there is a crack somewhere, it should seep and show itself. May need a torch and maybe a mirror to get a good look around.

Good luck and hope you find it.

Roddie

 

[John 300]

Hi John
Water seeps through the smallest of cracks, especially if coming in below the waterline where it is under considerable pressure, and it will fill any voids it can reach. It is not surprising therefore that it is still appearing in the bottom of the storage locker, which is below the upper level of the void between the hull and the cabin sole which may now be full of water. With the boat on a trailer it will continue to appear in the lowest point until it reaches equilibrium.

I suggest that you now remove all the antifoul from around the area where the keel housing 'joins' the hull with wet and dry. If there is a crack then it may be visible. If not visible but nevertheless there, it will seep (so long as there is still water inside the hull, of course) and you should be able to spot it and repair with gel coat. I say 'joins' because it may be a single molding with no join. I take it you have not hit any underwater obstructions, hard, which may have stressed weak areas?

I am not familiar with the centre board keel on the 22 (mine is an '82 fin keel) but I did have problems where the keel joins the hull and had to remove the filler from the void to access the nuts securing the keel so I could separate the keel from the hull and re-seal (I was able to jack the boat up from the keel with the turn screws on the cradle to gain access). Maybe other owners with a centre board version can add something on the construction, and where any joins are, but you might try drying off external surfaces, including the void where the keel is (a paint sripper gun is ideal) and again if there is a crack somewhere, it should seep and show itself. May need a torch and maybe a mirror to get a good look around.

Good luck and hope you find it.

Roddie

Thanks for the info on the possible problem. I plan to have the hull sandblasted to remove all of the bottom paint to better help in locating the possible hairline or larger crack. Will probably wait to do this in the early spring or until I have the financial ability to have it done sooner. Again, thanks for the post and I hope to have her back in the water for the summer season 2010

John (Jersey Shore NJ)