Leak at stringer

[Hooper]

Recently, the fellow who is tied up next to me at the slip told me that my pump had come on four times in the last hours or so. Based on thier reputation for going down at the dock, I have become concerned.

I have found a small trickle of water running from a corner where the stringer meets the transom. It's not a lot of water but just enough to get me worried. If my pumps failed, I think I'd be screwed soon. I am also concerned now b/c the transom is fairly thick and I am obviously concerned about a wet transome. Anyone seen this before?

Thanks, Hoop

[tmtmv]

Hello Hooper:
I just took the transom out of my inboard and found that the 2 pieces of plywood ran all the way down to the bottom of the boat. In the in boards they glassed in a level piece of foam to
form a support for the bottom of the gas tanks.
This created a deep pocket, where the plywood was trapped and as in my case if it gets saturated with water, it swells and it did crack tha glass at the very corner of the hull,where the inboard edge of your tab is, or the first
deadrise in the hull. I couldn't believe it when I found it ,the glass is thin right there, I quess they figured that with 2 pieces of plywood
and just 1 layer of woven roven over the inside it was strong enough. I'm around all weekend
call if you like 508-627-8941
or cell 508-612-1768
Tom Taylor

[JohnB]

Hooper,
I'm a southern seacraft owner, but I grew up on, and I mean on the Great Lakes. If water penetrates wood or foam coaring, and then freezes, it will crack something for sure. I saw alot of boats with leaks in them when they were brought out in the spring. Usually they crack around the corners, not on the flat areas. Even if you fix the leak, if the stringer/transom is wet, and it freezes in the winter, you could have the same problem occur again.

[ September 01, 2002, 02:33 PM: Message edited by: JohnB ]

[Billybob]

Hey Hooper - I'm curious about this too, since mine's a 73 and I'm not one for looking for trouble. So stringers are something I haven't even looked into, because I've had no reason. When you say where the stringer meets the transom, what do you mean? Where's the water coming from, did the outer hull crack and allow water in.To me, this seems important becuase it implies that an outer skin had to be compromised,and knowing exactly how and where should point to the problem.If somehow the bond between stringer/transom broke loose and allowed a flexing that cracked the skin, then it may not be rot,they say that the glass around the wood is the strength of the system, and the wood the form.Anyway - describe the source of the intrusion,because I haven't heard of this one before.

[Hooper]

Hi Guys-

I appreciate your insight, very much!

Here's what I think is going on and if I am right, I am grateful, but embarrassed at the same time. I hauled the boat today fearing a slip sinking b/c when I peered into the inspection hatch, I saw what I thought was increased water flow from the drainage port where the stringer connects to the transom. This allows water to flow from the outboard side of the stringer to the keel bilge pump as I have learned.

A good friend who knows much more than I said start with the simple stuff. "Are your seacocks closed that lead to your bait well and washdown pump" I wasn't sure. I checked and sure enough they were open. He believes that water from the baitwell is seeping over the top of the baitwell and spilling just enough to trickle into the keel thus activating the bilge pump.

Sound reasonable? Does to me and I will splash the boat asap to test the idea. It sounds more reasonable than cracks in the hull b/c I looked real hard at the inside and outside and could not find an area that looked even slightly bad.

Thanks again guys, I appreciate your thoughts!

-Hooper

[Hooper]

I confimed it,.... embarassed, but happy in yarmouth....Hooper:-)