1989 23' Seacraft.

[JohnB]

FYI,
My boat stays on the trailer 95% of the time, and when it is parked,
I tilt the nose way up in the air to make sure that any water anywhere
above or below deck drains out. I have seen some seacrafts that
when at rest, are nose down and this would allow water to seep into
areas that it shouldn't over time.

[Scott]

RSEGRETO

Your fortunate that you live in the NorEast as you can expect to pay top dollar to have it restored by a pro (that knows what he is doing)

Wow was that sarcastic....but seems to be true!!!!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

But anyway up here in the north it seems we premium for any marine service. I am in the same situation as at some point I want solid wood in the transom.....It's ok now but will need some help soon. I've tried to get a few quotes down here in NJ and they are all over the place from a couple grand to 4-5 [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] and thats for a notched transom.....Problem is that from experience something always happens and it ends up costing more!!!!!

Fellow…..I think that also answers your question on how the boat is coming……
Its been a less than Ideal summer for me …. With neck and back problems….I just look at the boat and my back goes out!!!!
HOWEVER…….I’m looking to float the little lady in the early fall just to play a little and maybe get a hook or two into some underwater creatures…..Time will tell!!!
[img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[ August 23, 2002, 01:46 PM: Message edited by: Scott ]

[rsegreto]

Hi Scott-

The water stopped a very short time afterwards and well before I put the hardware back on. As for the water line, I first noticed it towards the end of last year but didn't really think much of it and just attributed it to perhaps extra gear that was onboard. It seems to be the most noticeable on the starboard side though. About 3/4 of my scupper is under water as opposed to the other which is around a 1/2.
I suppose that my stringers may be wet but I wouldn't know the first thing about how to go about taking them apart to see if that's the problem though. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Rich

[rsegreto]

Hi JohnB-
I was surprised to see that when you used your moisture meter while looking at boats in Tarpon Springs that so many of them had wet transoms. I'm not sure if that makes me feel better or not but I'm glad to know that SeaCrafts aren't alone in "The Wet Transoms" Club. I guess that water has a way of getting into all kinds of boats no matter what name brand it is.
Rich

[Scott]

Rich

The water peeing out of the transom doesnt sound too bad ......when I took a transducer off the boat several ounces of water peed out under pressure......I think I invented a few new words that day [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

Hmmm.....That shift doesnt sound too bad either ... although I know it would bother me also...At least your not telling us one scupper is under and the other is 2" above the water line [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

If you really feel the need to check the stringers ... I think Fellow Ship suggested to me to drill a couple holes through the walls of the stringers in the bilge close to the floor of the hull. Nothing big ...just to see if there is any water in there..... to tell you the truth I think there is a drain in the stringer back next to the live well. Look at the lower left of the photo and you'll see a tube glassed into the stringer.

Oh yeah your looking at the transom starboard side and under the splashwell.

[FELLOW-SHIP]

HA SCOTT
THAT TUBE WILL ALLOW WATER TO DRAIN FROM THE HULL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STRINGERS WHERE THE WIRING HARNESS RUNS. IT DOES NOT DRAIN THE STRINGERS THEMSELVES. THE TUBE GOES STRAIGHT THROUGH THE STRINGERS THEM SELF.
FELLOW-SHIP [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[JohnB]

rsegreto,
Thanks for the compliment. Believe it or not, alot of people refer to my boat as the 'ugly boat', armadillo, and the turtle. Once the seas start to kick up, and that hull starts to work it's magic, they usually just stay quiet then, and follow me in.
Here's a couple of observations:
1. "water line is starting to go below the water level, not much but it's noticeable to me anyway. I would expect this maybe when I have a full tank of fuel but at half? Does this seem possible? I have a Merc. 200 hp. outboard hanging off the back which adds some weight as well."
The difference in the water line can change quite a bit between an empty tank and a full tank. That could be as much as 840 pounds, (4 pretty good size guys). When you say 1/2 tank of fuel, how do you know it's half? I havent been on a boat yet, that the gas gauge dosen't vary between 1/4 and 1/3 of a tank. Mine says 1/2 a tank when it has 90 gals of gas in it at rest. Than under way it say 3/4 to full. Is the water line low in front and back, or just in the back? The 2 things you want to look for are the water line, and the distribution. If it is low in the back, is it high in the front? or is it low all the way around. If it is low all the way around, maybe you picked up water, or maybe just have alot of gear in it. If it is low in back and high in front, maybe it's just the distribution of weight. Try removing all the gear on board and see if that helps. Dive gear is especially heavy. 2 batteries or 2 heavy anchors on the same side of the boat will make it lean that much.

2: "I'll have to stand on the engine when I take it out for the season this year to try and determine what the heck's going on."
Look for cracks around the corners of the cutout of the transom. Mine has 1 crack on each side, about 3/4 of an inch long. They have not grown in size, and I believe they have been there for years. Gelcoat is pretty brittle and likes to form hairline cracks. Keep an eye on them though. If something is flexing they will grow.

3. The moisture meter would be a good tool to check the stringers with. Drilling a couple of small 1/8 holes would be a good idea to, just make sure you seal them up when you are done.

4. If the boat is going to be out for the winter, in a dry place, you could remove all the screws from the top trim to the bottom transducer and try to dry it out. I used space heaters, dehumidifiers, and hairdryers on mine (be careful). You could use a moistuer meter to check the progress (it took 3 weeks for mine to dry out to less than 15% moisture). Then in the spring you could seal it all back up. If water ran out, that only means that water is getting in there. Find out where it is getting in, check for rot, dry it out, use some West marine expoxy/repair materials, and seal it back up. I like the moisture meter to just check the thing out about once a month to determine if I have any problems coming back.

Good luck.

[Scott]

Hi Fellow Ship

I guess If anyone knows the answer to where that tube goes you do!!!!!

My only question is why is the drain there ...... that wire "race" opens to the stern of the boat there...if fact there is a wire coming out of it in the pic Does that "race" have a dip in it....hence the need for the drain????? [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

Thanks

[FELLOW-SHIP]

HA SCOTT
THERE IS A CUT OUT AT THE BACK OF THE STRINGER LIKE YOUR PICTURE SHOWS BUT IT DOES NOT GO DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HULL. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STRINGER IT IS ABOUT 4” HIGH. WATER CAN GET TRAPPED IN THERE THUS THE DRAIN TUBE. THE REASON FOR THE CUT OUT OF THE STRINGER IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS FOR WIRES AND HOSES FROM THE BILGE TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THE BOAT.
FELLOW-SHIP [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[FELLOW-SHIP]

HA SCOTT
THERE IS A CUT OUT AT THE BACK OF THE STRINGER LIKE YOUR PICTURE SHOWS BUT IT DOES NOT GO DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HULL. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STRINGER IT IS ABOUT 4” HIGH. WATER CAN GET TRAPPED IN THERE THUS THE DRAIN TUBE. THE REASON FOR THE CUT OUT OF THE STRINGER IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS FOR WIRES AND HOSES FROM THE BILGE TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THE BOAT.
FELLOW-SHIP [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]