Last year's hurricane season found leaks where before none had been. I think this was due to permanently washed decks rather than anything seriously amiss.
The main problem was water coming down the chain pipe.
- Don't forget to put the cover back on the winch.
- Make sure the water that does come in does not drench the crew's bed!
This is an inside view of my added large capacity chain locker with the white pipe within which the chain runs.
It wouldn't take the full 60 metres of 8mm chain so it all came apart and the bulkhead was reinforced and cut out to allow the chain to fall into the space under the water tank.
There is now an up stand under the winch and any water that does make its way below is directed down the white pipe and into the chain locker, under which is a bilge pump in the forward well.
You may remember the sad demise of the original new water tank. A fine example of Air Cushion's work, it fitted like a glove in the awkward space under the raised front bunks. I failed the pressure test when I used the commercial water hose and filled the boat with water. I didn't know is was fresh at the time and I thought we were going down fast. I couldn't get anyone to make a replacement so I made do with a smaller flexible tank from Plastimo. That really needs a flat floor so I fitted one and this is what allows the chain to fall under in the enlarged locker.
Just waiting on the new hose. The old ones had gone really hard. Yes I will be sticking something on the hull sides to stop the tank chaffing on the exposed glass fiber. While I was in the front the rest of the foam backed vinyl fell of the hull sides. You know what it's like, the foam starts to crumble and the whole lot just falls off. Try and stick it back on and it just falls off again after an hour or two. So the old glue was stripped off using a wire brush on a grinder. A wipe over with some toluene and we have a fair finish for some more glue. This is what it looked like before attacking it.
I bought some sidelining from Kayospruce, with the high heat adhesive they reccomend for it. This is what it looks like on the port side.
The top has not been stuck yet as I thought I had enough to do just getting the bottom bit stuck. I would recommend using the liquid glue in a tin for the hull sides. For the overhead and fiddly bits one can use a paint brush. However the ribbed sidelining is more effectively treated with glue from the spray can. You can get a more even spread and an overall better job I reckon. I took the bulkhead trims off so the lining goes behind for a neat finish.
Another job that has been waiting since I first got the boat is the wheelhouse door. It sticks and jambs, sometimes at very inconvenient moments, like the time I tried to ditch a fire extinguisher that was going off. I had mended and adjusted the old sliding door track but the wheels had given up. Many years ago I bought a galvanised ball bearing track for a heavy door to replace the ailing track. I never got round to fitting it and it has been moved many times but I knew off its whereabouts and here it is in all its glory.
I would like to say it is brilliant but it is so easy to move now that I smashed the jamb and now I will have to reinforce the frame to take the new loading. Never mind, at least I can open and shut the door.
Of course there is still the starboard lining to do, and the engine mounts, and the new heater to fit, oh and........
No comments:
Post a Comment