Big Leak - Vee Berth - Anchor Locker / Hull Deck joint? Toe Rail ?
Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 6:24 am
Hello Chrysler Sailing Community,
I've set up a Facebook Page on SV Máire to help journal the restoration projects. I welcome your insights on this leak in the vee berth.
https://fb.watch/5o-kdJYV-o/
I'm trying to determine if the leak in the Vee Berth is from a prior gap between the anchor locker bulkhead and the overlying deck (it was not previously tabbed in) or if the water was coming from the stanchions, or from the hull-deck joint below the toe rail. The toe rails had been completely caulked in (I think with 3m 5200) along the top inboard line between toe rail and deck. I'm questioning whether this was correctly done, as I've seen recommendations to NOT caulk the toe rail, so that the water flows under it, to where it can exit.
Finding brown water inside the vee-berth, and leaks elsewhere led to removing all hull liner throughout The Máire and removing the interior cover to the anchor locker for further inspection. This showed that the aft bulkhead of the anchor locker was completely rotted out and that a leak was visible during rain, especially near the starboard side aft stanchion of the bow pulpit. The top of the anchor locker bulkhead was not tabbed to the decking. I couldn't determine if the leaking water was mostly from this unattached bulkhead, or the bow pulpit stanchion, or from the shoebox joint and toe rail area beside the stanchion, which appeared to have a pooling area on top. Most of the water would run down inside the hull to the centerline. From there, hopefully all runs back to the bilge (there are no inspection plates installed along the cabin sole). I removed the anchor locker bulkhead and grinded the previously installed tabbing area along the hull. Upon using my $15 harbor freight angle grinder with 36 grit disk, which works great, I found that the hull cleaned up nicely with only a light grind, but grinding the overhead - underside of the deck area revealed a fully rotted plywood core from the bow, all the way to the aft end of the vee berth. The widest portion of this plywood was less than six inches. A pink styrofoam grid core was found to be the core material further midships in the decking, but just the outer edge was cored entirely with plywood (for deck strength-reinforcement I suppose?). All of the rotted - or wet wood has now been grinded away. Only the deckside gelcoat remains now along this area. For restoration, I'm developing a plan: A template for the plywood will be made, then I'm thinking a single piece will be cut in a 1/4 inch sheet and this will be laminated below the gelcoat. I'm still reviewing that entire process. In general, I plan to bond the 1/4" sheet of plywood to the gelcoat with fiberglass between, (using West Systems Epoxy Resin 105 + 206 Hardener), then bond these two together using the deck hardware itself (with backing plates) as part of the strength for setting up the bond. Once cured, I would then wet in wider fiberglass sheets extending from a couple of inches down the hull to a couple of inches beyond the plywood to the adjoining foamcore area.
I welcome insights on this plan.
https://fb.watch/5o-kdJYV-o/
I've set up a Facebook Page on SV Máire to help journal the restoration projects. I welcome your insights on this leak in the vee berth.
https://fb.watch/5o-kdJYV-o/
I'm trying to determine if the leak in the Vee Berth is from a prior gap between the anchor locker bulkhead and the overlying deck (it was not previously tabbed in) or if the water was coming from the stanchions, or from the hull-deck joint below the toe rail. The toe rails had been completely caulked in (I think with 3m 5200) along the top inboard line between toe rail and deck. I'm questioning whether this was correctly done, as I've seen recommendations to NOT caulk the toe rail, so that the water flows under it, to where it can exit.
Finding brown water inside the vee-berth, and leaks elsewhere led to removing all hull liner throughout The Máire and removing the interior cover to the anchor locker for further inspection. This showed that the aft bulkhead of the anchor locker was completely rotted out and that a leak was visible during rain, especially near the starboard side aft stanchion of the bow pulpit. The top of the anchor locker bulkhead was not tabbed to the decking. I couldn't determine if the leaking water was mostly from this unattached bulkhead, or the bow pulpit stanchion, or from the shoebox joint and toe rail area beside the stanchion, which appeared to have a pooling area on top. Most of the water would run down inside the hull to the centerline. From there, hopefully all runs back to the bilge (there are no inspection plates installed along the cabin sole). I removed the anchor locker bulkhead and grinded the previously installed tabbing area along the hull. Upon using my $15 harbor freight angle grinder with 36 grit disk, which works great, I found that the hull cleaned up nicely with only a light grind, but grinding the overhead - underside of the deck area revealed a fully rotted plywood core from the bow, all the way to the aft end of the vee berth. The widest portion of this plywood was less than six inches. A pink styrofoam grid core was found to be the core material further midships in the decking, but just the outer edge was cored entirely with plywood (for deck strength-reinforcement I suppose?). All of the rotted - or wet wood has now been grinded away. Only the deckside gelcoat remains now along this area. For restoration, I'm developing a plan: A template for the plywood will be made, then I'm thinking a single piece will be cut in a 1/4 inch sheet and this will be laminated below the gelcoat. I'm still reviewing that entire process. In general, I plan to bond the 1/4" sheet of plywood to the gelcoat with fiberglass between, (using West Systems Epoxy Resin 105 + 206 Hardener), then bond these two together using the deck hardware itself (with backing plates) as part of the strength for setting up the bond. Once cured, I would then wet in wider fiberglass sheets extending from a couple of inches down the hull to a couple of inches beyond the plywood to the adjoining foamcore area.
I welcome insights on this plan.
https://fb.watch/5o-kdJYV-o/