succes with a question

[repawn]

Hi all,

Well I purchased my O'day 22 July 2014 - finally went out sailing over the weekend. While the boat isn't completely done - it was done enough for my wife and I to take out. I only flew the main - but it was enough for us to have a pleasant sail.

On to the question - we picked up about 1-2 inchess of water in the bilge while sailing - this did not come from the topsides - no water was found anywhere and even after a serious rain storm the boat is dry (on the trailer) Could the water be coming up through the keel - the only other option is the transducer - though I think I would be able to tell if water was coming in from there (it is about 6 inches forward of the keel (where the water tank would be if I had one.)

Basically as soon as we take the boat off the trailer we get maybe 1/2" of water in the bilge - after sailing for a few hours and the boat being in the water for maybe 4 hours we had about 2" water in the bilge.

As a history - the boat has been on a trailer for about 10 years - 1 week or so ago we took it off the trailer for the first time - this weekend we took it sailing for the first time.

Thanks all - I couldn't have gotten it out without the advice from this forum.

 

[scotmcpherson]

Hi all, Well I purchased my O'day 22 July 2014 - finally went out sailing over the weekend. While the boat isn't completely done - it was done enough for my wife and I to take out. I only flew the main - but it was enough for us to have a pleasant sail. On to the question - we picked up about 1-2 inchess of water in the bilge while sailing - this did not come from the topsides - no water was found anywhere and even after a serious rain storm the boat is dry (on the trailer) Could the water be coming up through the keel - the only other option is the transducer - though I think I would be able to tell if water was coming in from there (it is about 6 inches forward of the keel (where the water tank would be if I had one.) Basically as soon as we take the boat off the trailer we get maybe 1/2" of water in the bilge - after sailing for a few hours and the boat being in the water for maybe 4 hours we had about 2" water in the bilge. As a history - the boat has been on a trailer for about 10 years - 1 week or so ago we took it off the trailer for the first time - this weekend we took it sailing for the first time. Thanks all - I couldn't have gotten it out without the advice from this forum.

Sounds like a leak. If you don't see anything obvious while it's on the trailer, then perhaps you want someone to crawl into the bilge to see where the water is coming from before it's wet.

Alternatively, if the leak is below anything of importance, while the boat is on the trailer and dry, fill the bilge up with water and see if you can find where it is running out.

2 inches within a few hours should be readily visible.

 

[agprice22]

If the leak is in the keel, you may have some weeping after you pull the boat, so look for that around the outside of the keel. Also, is this a transom hung rudder? If so, check your lower gudgeon. It can leak. Is there a centerboard? If so, check the volcano where it attaches to the hull in the bilge.

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[repawn]

Hi,
Thanks for the suggestions - the gudgeons have just been rebedded - and there is no sign of a leak there - the water is coming into the bilge area only - not under the cockpit. Unfortunately it has rained today - so telling if any water is weeping out of the keel will be a chore. The bilge is so small that it probably doesn't take much water for an 1-2 inches to fill it.
There is a little bit of water in the bilge yet - I will wait to see if it drains out the keel or there about.

 

[agprice22]

Ok. How about this: condensation. Are there keel bolts in your bilge?

When I launch my 272, the keel bolts sweat like crazy, and several inches of water accumulate only in that section of the bilge. I dry it out, run my solar fan constantly, and it stays dry for the rest of the season.

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[repawn]

Hi - No keel bolts - as far as I can tell the keel is molded into the rest of the boat along with a bunch of lead - I wouldn't be surprised if there were cracks in the keel that are leaking.

I plan on going out at least one more time this season - as long as the boat doesn't take on too much water. After that it will be on the trailer for the winter and I can dry it out and look for any holes in the keel - will have to remove the bottom paint from it - but that shouldn't be a problem.

Does anyone know if pouring epoxy into the bilge would work to Fill any small weeping cracks?

Thanks

 

[RichBone]

Thinned out epoxy or polyester resin, which is cheaper, should work as long as there weren't any large voids.

 

[scotmcpherson]

Before you pour any epoxy (which I assume you mean brush on otherwise you are talking about a $&@?-ton of money), you might want to wait until spring so the inside of your keel has a chance to dry out, if there is any wood structure in there at all that the boat is counting on to hold itself together, you don't want to trap water in it. Winter is a nice few months of dry air to let it draw as much moisture out as it can.

Additionally if there is a stress factor, plain old epoxy won't cut it. It'll just crack right in the same spot. You need to glass it.

 

[Brian S]

In my experience, it's easier to see where water runs OUT of a hole/crack in a boat, than it is to see where the water is running INTO the boat.

On my old GP14, sure, there was water coming into the bottom. But from where, exactly? Hauling it out, it was plain as day that water was leaking out of the joint between the centerboard case and the hog. (wooden boat) And that's pretty much the most common failure point in a 60's wood GP14...

 

[agprice22]

If there is water-soaked wood in the keel-hull joint, you might need to drill some small holes in the fiberglass to open up the core and inject a drying agent. You can look at videos and other forum posts for drying wood cores. You can then determine the condition of the wood. If it is rotted, you may need to reinforce or rebuild part of the joint.

You could also see whether a moisture meter would accurately detect the amount of moisture in the joint. It is thick, though, so I don't know.

Thanks,

Andrew.

 

[Brian S]

As far as I know, O'day built solid hulls, with no coring. Decks are a different story.

If there is water-soaked wood in the keel-hull joint, you might need to drill some small holes in the fiberglass to open up the core and inject a drying agent. You can look at videos and other forum posts for drying wood cores. You can then determine the condition of the wood. If it is rotted, you may need to reinforce or rebuild part of the joint.

You could also see whether a moisture meter would accurately detect the amount of moisture in the joint. It is thick, though, so I don't know.

Thanks,

Andrew.

 

[repawn]

hi - I have seen pics of the keel - it is all glass - no wood - essentially it is glassed in lead at the bottom and fiberglass the rest of the way up - all one with the hull - but seeing as it is mostly hollow it may take a lot of resin to completely fill. I need to look for the exact location water is getting in and make the repair there. I am still taking her out this weekend - hopefully the bilge won't fill any further than it did last time.

 

[agprice22]

You could try sprinkling talc powder in the dry bilge and see where it gets wet first. If it is leaking in the bilge, it will probably start as soon as you launch it.

 

[Windtherapy]

Actually I am a new O'Day 26 owner and decided to buy a slip on Lake Huron but waiting to launch next spring due to redoing everything from bottom up however, my biggest worry now is just this. I could see myself launching the boat, sailing for that first weekend, pull it in my slip and come back the following weekend having water in the bilge or worse. I am installing a whale gusher in the bilge but we all know that most sailboat that sink....sink at the dock.

 

[agprice22]

Actually I am a new O'Day 26 owner and decided to buy a slip on Lake Huron but waiting to launch next spring due to redoing everything from bottom up however, my biggest worry now is just this. I could see myself launching the boat, sailing for that first weekend, pull it in my slip and come back the following weekend having water in the bilge or worse. I am installing a whale gusher in the bilge but we all know that most sailboat that sink....sink at the dock.

I think that is a common fear. I know I am nervous every year as I launch that I remembered to seal up everything. You will launch, spend hours on the boat on the water that day, and you will check the bilge and thru-hull fittings several times. You will know before you leave that day that all is ok.

Take care.

Andrew