Need Help ASAP

[79TEMPEST]

OK everyone i have a 79 Tempest 18 Foot with a Mercruiser 120 I/O about 2 months ago i did the stringers, transom and floor. now i completly sealed the floor and bilge box, BUT when i got to excited (seen light at the end of the tunnel) i finished everything 100% sealed up perfect, i did not add drainage for the stringers or anything under the floor, because i figured no water should ever be there. OOPS well anyways i got excited and threw the seats in when i was done WELL i didn't seal the bolt holes for the seats, i have 4 3/8 lag bolts per seat. and now for the real problem. It rained hard this weekend when i was away and my boat was at home, (didn't pull the plug) when i got home the boat had water over the seats inside so i pulled the plug drained it out and now when i lift the boat up and let it down i hear water under the floor? wasn't there last time i got off the water so it defenetly went down under the seat bolts SO what do i do? drill holes in the side of the bilge and lift the boat? cut a section of floor? i really dont want all my hard work to go to waste for one stupid mistake. and i have foam under there! just the pink home depot sheets but WHAT DO I DO! HELP ME!!! Is all my months of work ruined? the water has been there for about 12 hours i would assume????!

Any opinions would be amazing help as i need this water out ASAP! thanks a lot in advance you guys are GREAT!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Need Help ASAP

You are going to have to cut open the deck Maybe not all of it..... you did the stringer's so you know where you need to cut.

Cut the deck with a circular saw only enough to penetrate the deck only and cut it with the blade set to the 45 degree angle. That will permit you to re-install that piece (or pieces) a bit easier.

Open it up....... drill the drainage passages and be sure to seal the newly exposed wood.

I doubt your work is ruined but I would take steps to dry it out best as possible before you re-seal everything.

 

[bailey]

Re: Need Help ASAP

You might try what we did. Bought at a local marina a device that sail boats use apparently, its a screw cap or lid that comes with its own ring. What we did was cut out a hole in the deck to take the ring (which is recessed) the hole was about 6" in diameter, epoxied the ring into the the deck, all we do is unscrew the top (lid) which gives us acsess to any water which we remove with a sponge. The hole was cut near the front seats, our driveway slopes away from our house,and garage, we just lower the tongue of the trailer to allow any water to drain forward.
Bailey

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Need Help ASAP

Ditto...and always park it with bow up and the plug out. Seal around your seat bolts with some 3M 4200 or 5200 marine sealant.

 

[jspano]

Re: Need Help ASAP

cut access holes to drill drainage to the back and seal with those plastic screw lids

 

[79TEMPEST]

Re: Need Help ASAP

ok guys well i guess its not to much of a nightmare i know everything is sealed up well under there i just wanted the best option to getting under the deck without completely tearing it up, so i guess i will be drilling some holes and getting all this water out, my next option i though of was drilling a 3/4 hole in the floor on either side of the bilge box and epoxying 3/4 hose into each hose and having them run to a second bilge pump, then i can run this pump until all the water is gone and i have that second pump there if this ever happens again which i hope it NEVER DOES as i will be sealing all my bolts tomorrow, so let me know what everyone thinks of this and if not i will just cut some holes and sponge it out.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Need Help ASAP

Did you put Cross bracing between your stringers? If not then the water will run all the way to the bilge so just drill the bilge holes. If you did then you are gunna have to get to the cross bracing to drill holes to all the water to driain to the bilge. Sorry dude.

Make a Plan to follow.
Follow the Plan.

I'm just sayin...