Water in the bow compartment!! Help

[Don Macleod]

Ok I have 19' cuddy and I have just found out there is water in the closed compartment of the bow. I inspected the bottom of the outside hull and there are a couple of soft spots in the fiberglass where I believe the water came in through. The boat is out of the water and on trailer. I can't get to the water via cuddy. I am wondering if I should make a small drill hole into the soft spot so water can drain out, and patch up soft spots. Is this a fairly easy job one that I should tackle? The keel for the most part is in good condition and I believe there is no rot. Is this a relatively easy repair job, or can I even do a reasonable temporary fix?
Appreciate any feedback thanks

 

[A Little Nauti]

Re: Water in the bow compartment!! Help

Hey Don, I had the same problem years ago on another boat I owned. It was not an easy fix. Sorry for the bad news. If it is the same problem I had it was the fiberglass and gel coat that deteriorated away. To repair was to cut out all the watersoaked fiberglass and renew. Same as an old rusty car. Unfortunately if you aren't good with fiber glass and gel coat I would recommend taking it to a shop if you want it done correctly and Safely. Not sure how much you have to replace but I had a 1' x 2' section that we replaced for $600.00 dollars. Was well worth it. Sorry I can't help more but good luck with yours.

Cheers,

A Little Nauti

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Water in the bow compartment!! Help

I would personally gut, inspect, and repair from the inside. If your foam is waterlogged it has to come out and be replaced anyway.

You can probably just reinforce the hull with more glass cloth/mat and resin from the inside without cutting your hull. You'll also get a better idea of what's going on and what need to happen as far as repairs from the inside.

Do you keep your boat covered when not in use? Could this be storm water instead of lake water?

 

[Don Macleod]

Re: Water in the bow compartment!! Help

Hmmm this "leak" is very new possible last two weeks and I have had it on the lake about three times with this issue. The boat is stored undercover and no rain gets at it. It is only coming from the lake water. Sounds like it may be a bit more of a job than I thought hmmmm

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Water in the bow compartment!! Help

Yes, it'll be a fairly big job, and if it was easy we'd have a lot more women and a bunch of kids doing this stuff.

This is the type thing that can turn into much bigger problems if not addressed quickly. It'll waterlog all of your foam and cause your stringers to rot and you'll have a major below deck rebuild on your hands.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water in the bow compartment!! Help

Hmmm this "leak" is very new possible last two weeks and I have had it on the lake about three times with this issue. The boat is stored undercover and no rain gets at it. It is only coming from the lake water. Sounds like it may be a bit more of a job than I thought hmmmm

Ayuh,...... IF it's only a recent Leak, it might just be a quick, drill, drain, dig-out, replace, 'n refinish....

We're just preppin' ya for the potential Issues that may come to light durin' yer explorations...

 

[Don Macleod]

Re: Water in the bow compartment!! Help

ok should i drill a small hole from the outside to release the water before i get it in for repair

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Water in the bow compartment!! Help

Yep, the sooner the better. But you want to try & just pierce the fiberglass skin, no telling what might be on the other side behind the foam.

Find a site to drill into the boat that when you elevate the rear or lower the bow, it's still the lowest point.

Park bow down on a hill maybe. You want the hole you drill to be as low as possible in the area you're concerned about, and so that as much trapped water as possible is able to drain out of the hole.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Water in the bow compartment!! Help

Just curious, but aren't all boats required to drain from stem to stern. Unless the bilge is plugged, you should be able to get it to drain back by raising the bow. You might need to block it to get it high enough.

So here's the deal, if you have to raise the bow to get it to drain back there's more than a good chance that what's up front came from the stern originally. I've gone as far as to put a forward bilge pump in boats that do the same thing I think your's might be doing. I only do that if it's the easiest solution.

 

[Don Macleod]

Re: Water in the bow compartment!! Help

Thank you will do this when I get back home this eve

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water in the bow compartment!! Help

Just curious, but aren't all boats required to drain from stem to stern. Unless the bilge is plugged, you should be able to get it to drain back by raising the bow. You might need to block it to get it high enough.

So here's the deal, if you have to raise the bow to get it to drain back there's more than a good chance that what's up front came from the stern originally. I've gone as far as to put a forward bilge pump in boats that do the same thing I think your's might be doing. I only do that if it's the easiest solution.

Nope, 'n that's the Problem,... Oem's don't always to rarely do that....

Ya can't sell new boats if ole boats don't rot out, 'n die...

 

[Don Macleod]

Re: Water in the bow compartment!! Help

When I raised the bow up substantially no water went back to the bilge however some water went to the dry storage compartment just aft of the cuddy through small drain hole. The water it seems is contained in the bow and i do not want for water to necessarily spread through out the hull. When i inspected the soft spot on the outside of the hull (bow end ) i could see water slightly dripping from area and the ground underneath water stained

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water in the bow compartment!! Help

When I raised the bow up substantially no water went back to the bilge however some water went to the dry storage compartment just aft of the cuddy through small drain hole. The water it seems is contained in the bow and i do not want for water to necessarily spread through out the hull. When i inspected the soft spot on the outside of the hull (bow end ) i could see water slightly dripping from area and the ground underneath water stained

Ayuh,.... We're gonna need pictures Don,...

If it's drainin', Bow High, make it higher, 'n clean out that hole, so's it can drain, all the way to the bilge, 'n out the garboard plug....

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Water in the bow compartment!! Help

Just curious, but aren't all boats required to drain from stem to stern. Unless the bilge is plugged.....

If there is pour in or blown in flotation foam, it is unlikely that water, taken on from a small hole in the bow, will actually drain to the bilge.... So it sits against the hull, the stingers, or both. Causing the gel to blister. This is one of the main reasons that pour in foam is so strongly debated.

 

[Don Macleod]

Re: Water in the bow compartment!! Help

ok ill try to take some pics and drain some more through the small storage compartment. Considering that the fiberglass on the hull needs a repair job anyways is there any negative reason why not to drill small hole in fiberglass to release any water?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water in the bow compartment!! Help

ok ill try to take some pics and drain some more through the small storage compartment. Considering that the fiberglass on the hull needs a repair job anyways is there any negative reason why not to drill small hole in fiberglass to release any water?

Nope,... just keep it in or near the work area....

 

[Don Macleod]

Re: Water in the bow compartment!! Help

Thanks Bond-o

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Water in the bow compartment!! Help

Nope, 'n that's the Problem,... Oem's don't always to rarely do that....

Ya can't sell new boats if ole boats don't rot out, 'n die...

No kidding... Every rehab/resto I do, I clear a path stem to stern even if its just 6" wide down the center of the bilge. Some people say to block it at the head of the most forward fuel tank but I disagree and put in a bilge blower instead.

I'll stop right here because my glasser experience is zip..

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Water in the bow compartment!! Help

That closed compartment should be opened up from the inside.

Can you use a large hole saw in the V-Birth to access that closed off area ? ( you can always put an access plate in that location ).

Very much need pics though.

I personally would Bow Down the thing and put a small drill hole (1/4") where your dripping is located at.

YD.

 

[Don Macleod]

Re: Water in the bow compartment!! Help

Oh yes I have the bow down all the way and will take some pics and post later tonight i will drill small hole at drip location as recomended