DIRTY and LEAKY BOTTOM

[taitharris]

Last season I was forced to leave my boat in the marina for four weeks whilst a new trailer was delivered: the existing one having been stolen.

During the four weeks the bottom developed a thick crust of weed and barnacle giving the appearance of Desperate Dan's chin after a drunken spinach eating fest.

Also, water, in huge quantities, seeped in to the space between the hulls. This had to have pumped out at the boatshop (there was so much my maximum speed went from 35 to 25 knots, even after spending three days scraping). The fixer assured me that the water was ingressing via the D ring holes on the bow but I'm not convinced.

- What type of anti-fouling would be suitable?
- Is the water ingress normal?

Your advice upon my predicament please.

Jonathan

[Jelly]

Greetings Jonathan
Sorry can't comment on the anti foul type - just got covered applying it.
The water in the hull is an unfortunately common occurance.

The only time I have seen water get via the bow 'D' bolts were when they were loose, unsealed with silicon,etc or having been subjected to a good smack that damaged the glass.

The other most common fault is an incorrectly fitting bung plug or plug and socket. that lets water through. In sailing dinghies you don't seal the top bung untill ther boat is in the water; as a 'warm' hull and air, will contract when it meets the 'cold' water hence sucking some water passed the seals.
Also if the seal is not that good wave jumping with the sudden shock loads can cause the air in the hull to be forced out upon landing and as the pressure tries to equalise water is drawn passed the seal.

If the deck has lots of holes in it - old screw holes, cable ducts etc these are also paths for water to get into the hull.

Hope it helps
Jelly

[Garygee]

Hi Jonatahan

Have a look a week or two ago about antifouling their was a good thread on this subject.

As far as water in hulls.

I would be very suprised if the D was below the water when at rest.

I have a Ribcraft 4.8 and had a similar priblem when left aflote.

The water was coming in through the inner bung in the drain well. During rain the well filled up and due to a leaky bung it slowly seeped through the innder bung, also in the drain well.

When we used to boat we bailed the engine well but because the water only seeped out slow it built up in the innder hull over a few weeks.

Hope this helps.

Regards Gary

[chrisallse]

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Re: DIRTY and LEAKY BOTTOM...



And the boats a bit rough as well

[Keith Hart]

I was wondering where that bracket got to...

Keith (a joke for older [as in longer standing] members of the forum) Hart