Limber Me Timbers

[osprey]

I keep getting water in the bilge after I launch my 89 23ft cc. It's dry when I launch and then when I haul out, I find 20-30 gal. in the bilge. Refitted the forward hatch drain thinking it was the culprit. Still water in the bilge. Pulled up the rear deck hatch to check for drains between the stringers (limber holes). None found. What the customer can't see, saves the company money.
So, I notice moisture weeping thru the woven roving at the base of the stringer both port and starboard and decide to bore a couple of holes. Yes, water came pouring out!! I enlarged the half inch hole I drilled with a dremel so I could get a feel for whats in there. Seems like it is just foam. Wet foam that is. Helps explain why my transom needs attention. My question is how thick are these stringers ? my drill bit is around six inches and it wouldn't hit the other side. I can guess that the bulk of my h2o problem lay on the other side of the stringer. Did they build these boats without any wood in the stringers? I would be greatful if someone could direct me to any threads on my problem or post a solution. I don't really want to chop into those babies unless I really have to. Thanks

[Capt Chuck]

What the customer can't see, saves the company money.

How about an answer for this SeaCrafter NTRAIN2K !!!
I know your lurking out there

[FELLOW-SHIP]

Ha Fish On

I have been trying to follow your thread but the picture on you post keeps distracting me. I start reading and then glance again and again to that picture. It’s keeping me from thinking about boats, bilges, and foam.

SORRY

FellowShip

_______________________________________________

My motto: Just for the Grins

[SECF3114M73J]

I'm not sure ,I think the stringers are about 6" thick, someone who has had their deck off would know. No wood in the stringers, just foam. Next question, how is water getting outboard of your stringers? There should be limber holes in the stringers just forward of the transom.

[osprey]

No limber holes were found in front of the transom. I drilled a couple and the water came pouring out.This water was just from the stringer, I'm sure more will come when I punch thru. I was a little nervous that I would drill thru a step in the bottom, so I started high and ground my way down to the bottom suface. To get thru the other side I'll have to drill blind and hope I don't hit the last step. (I've been blind since birth.) Thats why I was asking for the thickness. If it is in fact only around six inches, I should be ok. It sucks, because there seems to be no way to fix this correctly without pulling up the floor. It would have been so much nicer if the guy who probably smoked a big fat joint on his lunch break would have put them in before the stringers were sealed. Can you say Quality Control. I can't see how I'll be able to seal the outboard hole in the stringer after inserting pvc. Unless I do cutouts and install more hatches. Any ideas??? Actually, I'm only blind in one eye and can't see out of the other. The only cure is Hieniken. Thanks!

[Capt Chuck]

fish-on

20-30 gals of water seems excessive. I have heard from others that the live bait well might be the culprit? If the top underside is not glassed or sealed in some fashion the water weeps over and into the bilge. Some thing you might want to check.
Now, water in the foam in the stringers tells me there is a crack or an opeaning somewhere that water is getting in.
Q. Are BOTH stringers wet and can you tell if it is salt or fresh water that is coming out when you drilled the holes? I hate to say it but these problems you are experiencing sound serious

[osprey]

well due to the fact that there were no drain holes in the stringers, I would guess that it is mostly fresh water that has been trapped on the out side of the stringers. when I launch the boat , I think that the water goes foward and makes it's way around the front of the stringer and get to the middle via the gully under the tank. the hull seems sound,no cracks or holes noted. The good news to me is if there is no wood in the sringers,just foam, then the structural integrity should not be compromised. the stern is another story. that will have to be replaced at some point. I was thinking that maybe i should dremel out a 6x6 hole in the stringer, dig out a chunk of foam so that i can see the out ward side of the stringer, drill it, let it drain/dry and then epoxy a pvc pipe in the hole and to the deck. refill with foam and then reglass the inside. at any rate I think I'll have to do some exploration. hope to get some threads on this problem. I'm sure I'm not the only one in this boat....

[FELLOW-SHIP]

Ha Fish On

Here are a few suggestions for ya.
1. Seacrafts have a variable dead rise hull design so water Will accumulate at the bottom of the boat in front of you CC area. You can look at the bilge on the trailer on flat ground and think you don’t have any water in the bilge but you just simple did not see it. If you put the boat on the ramp with the plug out all that water will run out. Maybe water is accumulating in the bilge after it rains and is running forward in a pool up there???
2. Check all the through hull fittings like live well pump, intake line valves and possible low bilge pump exit holes, all hoses, etc every screw and hole in the bottom and sides of boat for possible entry. Some times a hose or hose clamp is the problem. As Capt Chuck said could be water in the live well leaking out or over the top.
Good luck

FellowShip

_______________________________________________

My motto: Just for the Grins

[beaus316]

u-online?

[NoBones]

Ha Fish On

I have been trying to follow your thread but the picture on you post keeps distracting me. I start reading and then glance again and again to that picture. It’s keeping me from thinking about boats, bilges, and foam.

SORRY

FellowShip

_______________________________________________

My motto: Just for the Grins

Come on Ken, Admit it! It is an out right stare! Not a glance
I confess, I'am staring

See ya, Ken