Last fall I bought a 1989 Stuart Rhodes 19 centerboard model, fixed it up over the winter and sailed it for the first time today. It sailed beautifully but I was surprised to see some water splashing into the cockpit through the aft end of the centerboard trunk cap. In a one hour sail in pretty mild conditions I probably had a a gallon or so of water in the bilge. I’m used to water splashing in through the centerboard trunk in boats that don’t have a fully capped trunk but since the Rhodes 19 trunk is fully capped I was surprised. Is this normal for a Rhodes 19 or do I have a problem I need to address?
It is probably not normal. I have no experience with the Rhodes 19, but I own a Mariner 19 (O'Day), the trunk is fully capped and I would expect a Stuart Rhodes 19 or Mariner 19 to be the same.
It doesn't sound like a critical issue. JBWeld makes a marine quality 2 part epoxy putty called WaterWeld. It comes in a stick, you cut off a small amount and peel off the plastic wrap before kneeding the hardener outer layer thoroughly into the inner layer. I think you have about twenty minutes to work the putty into the gaps. It will set in 30 to forty minutes and be fully cured in an hour.
Of course, inspect the area with both a probe of some kind, a knife blade, slim steel wire, etc., and by eye, to get an idea of how big the gap is and to clean it out as much as possible.
-Will
It doesn't sound like a critical issue. JBWeld makes a marine quality 2 part epoxy putty called WaterWeld. It comes in a stick, you cut off a small amount and peel off the plastic wrap before kneeding the hardener outer layer thoroughly into the inner layer. I think you have about twenty minutes to work the putty into the gaps. It will set in 30 to forty minutes and be fully cured in an hour.
Of course, inspect the area with both a probe of some kind, a knife blade, slim steel wire, etc., and by eye, to get an idea of how big the gap is and to clean it out as much as possible.
-Will
I have a Stuart Mariner. The only time I have water coming in via the CB trunk is when I get up on plane and water squirts through the hole where the CB pennant passes. Since it's a small amount, and the Mariner cockpit is self-bailing, I consider it the cost of speed. That doesn't solve your problem, though. As Will said, probe the area to determine the size of gap you are dealing with before repairing.
Fred W
Stuart Mariner #4133 Sweet P
Fred W
Stuart Mariner #4133 Sweet P