Waterlogged?

[PatJ]

Hi.<br /><br />Last winter we forgot to take the bung plug out of our 77 fiberform 18' runabout. This would have been our second season with this boat, it was great last year. The boat spent the winter on its trailer. Even though the boat was covered, the water in the boat was up to about the bottom of the harmonic balancer of the 350 v8. The aft ~6 feet of the boat were under a few inches of water above the floor. I'm not too worried about the engine at this point, it doesn't look like the water made it into the engine, but the starter and a few other things were part submerged and are no doubt ruined.<br /><br />Anyway...<br /><br />What are the chances the boat is waterlogged? Do all boats have foam in them? I took a hole saw and drilled just to the side of the engine under a fuel tank. I only drilled deep enough to remove a circle of the fiberglass to see the plywood. The plywood felt damp. Should I drill all the way through the plywood floor to see what's under there? Now that I am looing back there, there are a few assorted un-used holes in the floor of the engine compartment where previous owners had things bolted down, these holes were not plugged and were submerged.<br /><br />On a possibly related note, we have found about 4 small holes in the outside of the hull on the bottom of the boat. The holes look to be perfectly round as if drilled, not from damage. They are approx 3/16" in diameter. There appears to be a brown "goo" very slowly dripping out of the holes, leaving streaks on the boat. We aren't sure if the holes were always there or not, they would have been very hard to see without the "goo streaks." I assume holes in the hull of a boat are not supposed to be there. <br /><br />Where should I start looking? Should I just get it running, take it out and see how it runs? I'm reluctant to pour several hundred $$$ into the engine if the boat could be ruined. Should I plug those holes in the bottom or leave them open a little longer and see how much will drain from them?<br /><br />Thanks in advance for your help.<br /><br />Pat

 

[sloopy]

Re: Waterlogged?

Engine might be fine, but it sounds like you have some rot. Time to get out the epoxy and fiberglass, and fix it before it becomes a big problem

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Waterlogged?

Those holes sounds to me like a previous owner knew he had water problems under the floor and that's the way he dealt with it. Problem is that water does not come out of the foam to the extent that it ever dries out. Wet foam under the floor = Rot, either yesterday or tomorrow.<br /><br />Being an older boat, I'd be very suspicious of the integrity of the members below and that includes the motor mount stringers. How'd you like a 600 lb V8 roling around in the back of your boat. Could also have corrosion on the gas tank. How's the floor, any soft spots? I'd be cutting into it to find out.<br /><br />As for your starter, I'd find a local alternator/generator/starter repair shop and have them clean it out.

 

[PatJ]

Re: Waterlogged?

Thank you very much for the help. I have a feeling that I will be needing much more advice in the coming weeks.<br /><br />I took my 3" holesaw and drilled through the floor into the compartment with the foam right next to one of the stringers. The floor is wet. The foam is very wet. I can't really get to the stringer, but unless it is totally encased in fiberglass I'm gonna guess it is also very wet. When I stick my finger into the foam water squishes out.<br /><br />So that's where I'm at. Where do I go from here? I'm thinking that I should pull the engine and other gas tank. Do I just dive in there with a skilsaw and cut around the sides of the floor? Then remove the floor and old foam. Add new foam, new marine plywood floor, fiberglass over the plywood floor and add new floor covering? What should I do around the bildge, can/should I cut that out too or cut around it? Can you buy the foam? How are the stringers held in, just fiberglassed in? If so how do I remove them without messing with the outer hull? What other kind of floor structure should I expect under the plywood floor, and can it be replaced? Are there any websites that I could check out about this?<br /><br />Again, thanks so much for your help!<br /><br />Pat

 

[PatJ]

Re: Waterlogged?

Oh also, I have already exchanged the starter, it was new last year. I took it to the starter alt shop where I bought it and the guy pulled it apart while I was standing there. Rusty brown water puored out. Also, both gas tanks were new last year and still look great inside and out. Thanks for the suggestions Boomyal.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Waterlogged?

Here is where you are likely headed PatJ.<br /><br />

<br />

<br /> <br />I'm in the middle of such a project myself. Lots of fun. You will know your boat intimately when you are done.

 

[PatJ]

Re: Waterlogged?

Yippee!<br /><br />Thanks again for the help. I have been spending some time this evening reading up in the "project boat" section. Doesn't look like it will be TOO bad. I have the engine ready to come out, I will pull it in the morning. <br /><br />Thanks again!<br /><br />Pat

 

[Solittle]

Re: Waterlogged?

Pat - You're gonna make the Tool Man proud!!

 

[cowboy7104]

Re: Waterlogged?

some companys drill those hole to pour the two part poly foam in. if you have a water logged floor you need to cut all the decking back and let that foam get some air it may dry out. if not u'll have to rip it out. U.S. composite sells epoxy glass and two part foam. its a bit of a project. when cutting out the floor you need to find the depth of flooring you have I.E. 1/2 in or 3/4 in set your saw to that depth to avoid cutting stringers.marine plywood is expensive around 60 bucks for a 4X8 sheet but is worth it due to the extre glue used to hold it together makes it water resistant. hope that helps