help my stringeres are full of water

[fred]

i have a 1988 43 ft motor yacht ,and i have hollow stringeres that run the lenth of my boat. they are always full of water anyone have this problem???

 

[Starman]

Fred,

These stringers are foam filled and absorb water like a sponge. So when your bilge gets too much water in there , it will find those very small cracks and crevisis in the glass work covering the stringers.

Depending on how much water is in there determines what you should do next.

first get the bilge dry

try drilling a few 1/4 inch holes where you see water seeping out ( bleed it )

If the water is continuos, enlarge the hole, put a shop vac to it and get as much out as you can.

You can also drill a hole and opposite ends of the stringers, and use the shop vac to blow the water out the other end.

The grind all the areas where it looks like water may seep in, including the new holes, and reglass thm. But use some west system with 404 additive first to pack the holes, then use a matt glss to fill those spots.

I also suggest painting the bilge with a durable 2 part epoxy paint.

 

[fred]

paul thanks for the response, i think that my water problem starts in the aft well ( the rudders do weep sometimes ) the strings run all the way to my bow well where the foward shower and a/c drain go into . why the stringeres are hollow makes no sence to me/ i will take you advice and drill some holes and let the water run out. thank you agian fred