Water below

[Eric]

I am getting the boat prepared to launch, and while cleaning and polishing, noticed 2 things that I was hoping someone might be able to shed some light on:1. When I lift up the floor cover in the salon, there is water below- about an inch. I assume this is from rain from the starboard battery/fuel locker, or rain that leaked in through the main door to the cabin. Will this drain itself out through a drain plug somewhere, or do I need to bilge?2. On port topsides, right at the water line, is the blue Oday stripe painted alongside. In the paint/gelcoat, are tiny "pinholes" in some areas- they do not look too deep. How serious is this, and what is the best approach to repair?

 

[Eric]

Correction

In my first question, I meant to say PORT battery/Fuel locker in the cockpit.

 

[Mike Basham]

Thru The Window, Maybe?

I've got a 1972 O'Day 23. When I wash mine off in the driveway, or it rains, I notice that I get some water in the starboard side bilge. I'm pretty sure it's getting in through the window on that side, running down the inside of the cabin walls, through the storage opening under the cushions on that side. On mine, there's no place for it to drain out. I installed a small electric bilge pump for other/safety reasons, but the water never gets deep enough from washing or rain to activate it. I just use towels or a hand operated bilge pump. I've got to get around to re-sealing that window one of these days! Can't help you on the pin holes in the paint stripe. Good luck with yours!

 

[Stu Timm]

Accent Stripe

Hi Eric,My O'Day 22 also has the blue hull stripe that seems to be glassed into the hull. There's aslo a sheer line just above the water line that's also in the gelcoat. The upper stripe on my boat does well when waxed liberally with Starbrite. I advise two coats. I also have some very small pitting or holes as you described. I really don't know what they are, but after a couple of coats of boat wax, they seem to be harmless enough. They remind me kind of like the surface of an egg. Is that what you have?The stripe at the water line is prone to oxidation and looks worse that the upper stripe. I try to give that area as much wax as possible. My hull's a 1979, and I suspect that the gelcoat's worn in places, as I can see blue pigment come up on the waxing cloth when I am at the stripes.Essentially, a good wax job is a cheap protector to keep these blue stripes "blue". I reckon you can apply a sealer or gelcoat refinisher, but that's outside of my expertise.Good Sailing!Stu TimmKarakahl1979 O'Day 22 PS: Are you on the Long Island Sound?

 

[Hank]

After searching,for this type of leak, for years, I discovered that the small hose leading from the anchor locker had come loose.When the boat was washed, or it rained, water ran down the inside to the bulkhead,down the bulkhead, into the. bilge.So, you may want to crawl up there and take a look.

 

[Eric]

Thanks

Thanks everyone for your responses- it's great having this site.Stu- I am sailing on the Hudson River, just north of Croton- haven't made it to the Sound yet. And yes, the pits in the accent stripe do remind me of an eggshell. I will add another coat of wax, per your recommendation.-Eric