[Rhodes22-list] New to the List - Water in Centerline Bilge

[PBR]

Ken,
My experience was that removing the floor and step pieces to gain
access to the centerboard cap was much easier than expected.  Just
removing screws and lifting them out.

I had a similar situation to yours but never left the boat in the
water long enough to determine how bad it would get.  I ordered and
installed a bilge pump but it has never been needed.  I found that my
cap had a rubber gasket and all I did was tighten the screws.  They
had apparently loosened over the years and 1000 miles of my trailering
when I bought it.  Problem solved.  If you had professional work done
on your centerboard cap I would expect this to not be the case unless
they just used the step hole you mentioned for access and repair.

of course I have also discovered that heavy rain and melting snow can
result in water in my bilge.  The stopper balls and the ends of my
traveler adjust lines and motor lift are perfect plugs for the seat
drains as are many leaves.  Water then overflows into the laz and
finds it's way slowly to the bilge.  I also believe heavy rain or
melting snow comes in around my jib car and/or ports and ends up in
the bilge.  Havn't had the motiviation to try to seal those because
the volume is small.

-Patrick


On Wed, Apr 18, 2012 at 4:12 PM, John Shulick <jsbudda at verizon.net> wrote:
>
> Ken,
>
>  Welcome to " Da List " One way to find a leak is to dry the bilge
> completely, sprinkle some cornstarch or baby powder around the hull and wait
> 20 or so minuets and you should get an idea of where the water is coming
> from. It has been my experience that a very small leak might not show when
> the boat is empty, In the pool business it is common for a pool with pinhole
> leaks to drain down to about a foot or so of water then they seem to stop
> leaking. There is no longer enough water pressure to force it through the
> small hole. I have a similar leak in my 71 Rhodes I get about a half gallon
> of water in my bilge. Never any more or less even after 3 weeks of not
> sailing so I just mop it up and live with it for now but it is on the to do
> list.
>
> John S
>
> <
> Here is my issue that I bring to the list: source of water in the centerline
> bilge.
>
> When the boat is initially placed into the water with very little equipment
> aboard (two batteries, single fuel tank, minimal safety equipment) it rides
> high in the water and there is no water entering the centerline bilge.  Once
> we add on gear for cooking, spare safety anchor, lines, tools, emergent
> repairs, overnight stays, etc.; the boat definitely sits lower in the water
> despite great care to evenly distribute the carry-on items.  It is at this
> point that water fills centerline bilge.
>
> Add to this some background information that the previous owner shared
> regarding a few instances of the centerboard became “stuck” in the retracted
> position.  He addressed this by cutting a hole in the aft step and then
> further cutting another hole in the top of the centerboard cap.  We have
> since had this modification professionally repaired but the concern is that
> the integrity of the centerboard cap has been breached.
>
> Is it likely that the source of water entering the centerline bilge is due
> to a stress crack in the cap or a weakening of the seal?  I have read others
> posts that discuss the centerboard pennant tube as a possible water source,
> but that would explain occasional water in the centerline bilge, not the
> constant level I saw all last summer while docked in the South River.
>
> So we have elected to leave the boat out of the water for the season until
> we can get some advice and effect a repair that will solve this issue.  We
> were fortunate that we had a brand new bilge pump and float switch in the
> centerline bilge, but as I look back, I am sure we were floating on borrowed
> time.
>
> From the documents I have found in the archive, the centerboard cap removal
> is a fairly demanding job.  I am not certain what I may find once I get the
> boat opened up but want to get the advice from other owners on the most
> likely source of water intrusion before I plunge into what promises to be a
> task outside my comfort zone.
>
> I appreciate any insight that the list audience might offer….tear down of
> the interior begins in two weeks….
>
> Ken Szczublewski
>
>
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://old.nabble.com/New-to-the-List---Water-in-Centerline-Bilge-tp33672495p33711040.html
> Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
>
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