Bow rail exploded!!!

[Jack in Alaska]

After 22 years the bow rail on my C-Dory exploded due to water in the vertical and freezing/expanding enough to split the tube open and almost tore it loose from the mounting plate. I have no idea how water got in it.
I have drilled an 1/8" hole at the base of the other 3 low points on the railing.

 

[dogon dory]

Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author

 

[Fairbro]

Ok I'm a cynic! Whenever anything like your mysterious bow rail incident happens I look for a coverup. Is your bow rail exposed to any passing boat traffic? Do you have teenagers who use the boat? Did anyone borrow your boat recently? Was it parked on a trailer where anyone could back a truck into it? My devious mind just goes on and on. Lets just bend it back and no one will ever know. Sorry to hear about it though 'cause I live just a little bit south of you all. Later, Gary on Minnie Swann in Wisconsin.

 

[Sea Wolf]

Hey Jack-

Sounds amazing....never heard of this happening before! How about a picture or two for the armchair sleuths who want to second guess the expanding water theory?

Is the bow pulpit / rail open at any other point? Could air going in and out with the daily heat cycle condense water in the tubes at night and accumulate at the bottom of one of the posts? Was there water in any of the other three you drilled out? How cold was it the night this happened?

Inquiring minds want to ......ah, eh, uh,......speculate because it's fun!!! Joe.

 

[Fairbro]

I also would like to know if there are any other new marks on the rail. Any scratches, scuffs or perhaps paint rubbings? Check for symetrical alignment. Is it off kilter from a blunt force trauma? We'll get to the bottom of this! Let us not forget one other possibility, I recently read where 9 out of 10 unexplained phenomina are due to haunting. Later, Gary on Minnie Swann

 

[Jack in Alaska]

The boat set on the trailer untouched by anyone all winter. It is on the trailer always unless I am using it. The only previous hole in the railing anywhere(been there for 15 yrs.) is a 1/8" hole on the very front of the railing to hold my flag post straight.
The exploded vertical is on the port rear mounting. After drilling holes in all the other verticals at the bottom I had about 6 oz. of water run out of the starboard vert. rear mounting. Nothing in the two front mountings.
Where oh where did it come from.
It has never been hit/bent etc., has no marks on it . I beat it back together for now and will have it welded at the end of the season :amgry