[Rhodes22-list] NEWS ITEM *****FLASH***** Shanghai'd Summer Finally Launched May 25!!

[Michael D. Weisner]

Art,

Are you thinking about the stern seat drains?  My problem is the cockpit 
drain (between the laz and the cockpit floor.)

Mike
s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
Nissequogue River, NY

From: "Arthur H. Czerwonky" <czerwonky at earthlink.net>Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 
2008 4:00 PM
> Mike,
> Re replacing the thru-hulls - was not a problem for me, although I was on 
> the trailer.  You have an idea where the waterline is.  One caution - the 
> stern will dip unless you can offset your weight with someone on the bow. 
> I used 1 1/8" thru-hull fittings from West with heavy duty white hose. 
> Obviously you will need 4 of these with the hose.  Check the hose fit onto 
> fittings before you leave the store.  I enlarged the hole diameter with a 
> Dremmel tool and the largest sanding fitting - be careful on symmetry of 
> the hole, but not really a problem.  Clear silicone worked well for 
> sealing.
> Have fun -
> Art
>
> -----Original Message-----
>>From: "Michael D. Weisner" <mweisner at ebsmed.com>
>>Sent: May 27, 2008 3:48 PM
>>To: Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] NEWS ITEM *****FLASH***** Shanghai'd Summer 
>>Finally Launched May 25!!
>>
>>On Friday I picked up the 2-1/2" square 1/4" thick steel tube stock that 
>>is now the new extension tongue for my R22 trailer.  After fitting a new 
>>coupler and drilling many holes in the steel on Saturday, I pronounced the 
>>trailer "launchable" once again.  Sunday morning I removed the winter tarp 
>>and checked out the boat.  All was as I had left it last September when we 
>>failed to launch due to a collapsed extension tongue at the ramp.  I 
>>purchased fresh gas and oil, ran the old Suzuki DT7.5 engine in a garbage 
>>can (started on 2nd pull!) and hitched up.
>>
>>We launched without incident.  Once I was happy that there were no major 
>>leaks or problems, I parked the truck and trailer.  We motored over to our 
>>mooring to get away from the busy ramp area.  Once safely anchored, we 
>>stepped the mast and rigged.  We went for a short sail (2 hours) and came 
>>back in to discharge passengers (helpers) and clean up.
>>
>>I noticed that we had a bit of water in the laz.  We pumped out about a 
>>half gallon, total.  We had been in the water for only four hours.  Oh 
>>well, she hadn't seen water in several years (I think 3 years of repairs 
>>and restoration), maybe some seals had shrunk and would swell when wet. 
>>Reluctantly, I boarded the dinghy and made for land, dinner and some well 
>>deserved rest.
>>
>>The next morning, Sheryl and I went back out and were pleasantly surprised 
>>that only about a half gallon of water was present in the laz.  The 
>>forward bilge remained dry.
>>
>>I mopped up the water and found the leak to be coming from the cockpit 
>>drain through-hull fitting.  I had suspected this and brought along a 
>>wrench.  It was fairly loose so I tightened it securely and the flow is 
>>pretty nearly stopped.  I am afraid to put too much torque on the nut 
>>since it and the fitting are from 1980 and failure would be catastrophic. 
>>I assume that the sealant (gasket, bedding, etc.) has deteriorated 
>>significantly over the years.  At this time, I am afraid to play with it 
>>any more than I have until she is safely on the trailer.
>>
>>Has anyone had experience with rebedding or replacing the drain 
>>through-hull fitting while in the water?  Is there a safe method of 
>>beaching to access the area below the cockpit drain?  I think that when I 
>>service it, I will replace the fitting, the hose and the clamps just to be 
>>safe.  Does anyone know the size of the fitting, the hose and the clamps 
>>(you needn't run out and measure them - I will measure mine in the next 
>>day)?
>>
>>Is there a way to seal the fitting (temporarily) without removing the 
>>fitting, so that it may be done while in the water?  I was thinking about 
>>using some duck-seal or similar putty or caulk.
>>
>>Somehow, while I was rebedding all of the portlights, deck fittings, the 
>>seat drains, etc. I forgot about the cockpit drain.  Word to the wise, on 
>>a 25+ year old boat, service and rebed everything, especially the fittings 
>>below the water line.
>>
>>Thanks to all on the list who provided information and links to 
>>information that helped me learn the art of fiberglass repair.  Probably 
>>the best information I received was to purchase Don Casey's books - I now 
>>have the entire set, I think.
>>
>>Even with the slight leak, it is much better to be in the water and 
>>sailing, finally ...
>>
>>Mike
>>s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
>>Nissequogue River, NY
>>__________________________________________________
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>
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