Leaky Hull

B

bmcminn

New member
So I've had the boat in the water at the dock for a day. Camping with the tent on. Still got some rain in last night so I ran the bilge pump a little to see if it works and mopped up under the dry deck. No big deal, got it all pretty dry.

Later there was more water and when I tasted, it was salty!! So I dried everything off really well and noticed that some of the water was coming down from where the wall under the gunwhale meets the floor of the cockpit. Both sides have a seam there, but the port one has a slow runnel of water running along it and the going down the side to the bottom of the shallow V. Here are a couple of pictures. I'm a kinda worried that this is a big deal. It's a pretty steady flow that is noticeable within a minute or so of being dried off.

Right now it seems to be collecting from beside the co-pilot chair back to under the gunwhale step. That's where it's dripping down.

I'll be heading back to Bellingham tomorrow and putting the boat on the trailer. Regardless having a beautiful time and will post later tonight re: propane heat and electronics. Plus a couple more questions. Haha.

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In your second photo we can see what looks like white bilge pump tubing. You mentioned that you ran the bilge pump. Are you sure that all the connections, and the hose itself, are not leaking? Maybe when the pump runs some water is spraying back there then seeping out from that seam. Since the cockpit and bilge sump area will usually collect salt spray over time (and we can see your crabbing photos!) salt residue could lead to the taste that you mentioned, and not necessarily from a hull leak. Just some thoughts.

-Mike
 
That area inside the aft gunnels on my 19 is flotation. Leaking rub rails rivets filled that space over the years. I drilled a small hole just about an inch up from the cockpit deck on each side just forward of the fuel tanks & water flowed out of these spaces for quite awhile. Water can also enter those spaces through the rod holders in the gunnel top. Drill a small hole & see if the water squirts out. Reseal the rubrails too. Good luck
 
I think that seems likely. Especially as the boat has been out in the rain recently and it had previously been stored indoors. Still leaking and (maybe) smells a little like epoxy, so, yeah.

Maybe I'll pull them off on a dry day and take a look, use a little silicone, and then next summer pull the rails and do it right.

Current storage is outside and, soon, a blue tarp.
 
Generally silicone is not a good sealant to use on the boat. Once it is on gel coat, it gets into the pores, and it every difficult to get other compounds to stick in the future.

Are you planning on pulling part of the rub rail? It is put in with pop rivets--best to go back with bolts and washers /nuts on the inside.

I don't believe that your issues are serious.
 
I'm not sure if I followed the discussion, but if you saw water on-board after a rain, I would concur that a likely cause is the rub rail. As Dr Bob mentions, the rub rail is attached with rivets, and they tend to rot and fail over time. I pulled the rub rail off my 22' cruiser and resealed it. I was amazed at how much water accumulated in my cabin from a few rivets that failed, allowing water to enter from the rub rail. It seemed to work like a gutter, pouring water on board. This seems to be one of the common problems on C-Dories. I recall using silkaflex as a sealant, not silicon. I believe Steve Baum provided me that guidance at the time. Lots of great knowledge from folks on this site. As Dr Bob also mentions, use stainless steel nuts and bolts to reattach the rub rail. Worked out for me.
Jack Howell
 
Thank you Bob for reassuring me that it doesn't seem to be a big problem. As the water didn't accumulate through the next day (which was dryer) I think you're right about the rub rails. I am confounded by how to get to the attachments though. I haven't removed the rubber yet, but will at some point. All of the leaking seems to be coming from the stern and the rub rail attachment points there are behind whatever you call the wall below the gunwhale. I can see that it is attached in the cabin with screws, but what about in the cockpit? That part is under the place where the gunwhale rolls over.

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How would I go about getting to the backside of the rub rail there? Do I use a rivet or something? SoBelle, is that bead on the place where the metal rail meets the fiberglass or the rubber? That sounds interesting and I'd love to see a photo. Couldn't see anything in your album that was close enough.
 
Don't have a photo and not near my boat, but the bead is for the joint between the metal part of the rail and the fiberglass side of the hull.

3m stuff in red in this image:

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The rivets inside the hull over the V berth are covered inside by either epoxy, or some sealant--like Bostik (whose sealants C Dory used for some time).

I don't know enough about the aft part of the rub rail fastening to know how they are faced on the inside. But sometimes replacement is done "blindly". I use museum putty to stick a nut on my finger and feel to get it started on a machine screw (two person job). Then I put a socket on the nut once started.

I doubt that there is leaking right at the chine in the cockpit--I suspect water is flowing from some other place--maybe aft.
 
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