Long Night ahead and need some collective thought

[Freestyle]

I am at anchor off of Key West Bight with two of my sons who would like to help but do not have the collective analytical skills of this forum.

We went snorkeling at Sand Key and got caught in a storm with reportedly 40 plus knot gusts. It scared the hell out of me but we stayed on our moor until it died down.

After sunset I made my rounds and discovered one of the swim platform lower supports was sticking out straight aft. The support fits the boat below the water line with about 3/4 inch screws. I could not go over the side due to darkness. We pumped a lot of water out of the boat but this could have been from pitching in the 6-8 seas on a moor. A 30 year old boat is not water tight.

Tomorrow when I go over the side I do not know what to expect.

First, is there any substance that I can adhere a patch to the hull and reattach the platform support while still in the water? (I also believe in the Easter Bunny).

Secondly, if there is no easy solution, does anyone have recommendations as to where and who to get this kind of work done down here?

I plan to wake up every hour and make sure the bilge is pumped dry if we really are taking on water. (The center line float switch is now on the questionable list).

Thank you for your advice. At least I got my Internet working onthe boat.

Bruce

 

[Genesis]

Those are not screws. They are bolts and through the hull. If you took enough slamming to pull one from the hull, you have a hole, and if that's below the waterline, you have a hole below the waterline.

If you can get to the inside easily (in the lazarette) it CAN be fixed wet, but shouldn't be. You really ought to come out for this.

 

[Banshee36]

3m 5200 will get you patched up enough to get the boat home, till you can get her fixed right as the above reply states.

 

[garyd]

Take another bolt about the same size maybe larger if it will fit use liberal amounts of 4000 as you are going to want to get it back out. Use some fender washers (large washers ) on both sides and tighten it down. You can then sleep tight and repair it whenever you choose. However if you take your time and can inspect the hole you could do this and not have to redo it. You could also put the swim plattform support back in place, so it is secure again.

have fun boating garyd

 

[Pascal]

i hope the night was ok... if the whole bolt is missing, that's a lot of water.

as an emmergency, undewater epoxy could be used to patch the hole outside. I used to always keep something called polypoxy, very easy to use and cured under water. Can't find it anywhere now... there are others but not as good.

putting in a bolt with washed and sealant woudl be best for now, does 5200 cure underwater?

 

[jim rosenthal]

5200 and 4200 are moisture-cured urethanes; they will cure underwater. What I am not sure of is whether they will stay in place long enough to help him. I agree with Karl- it probably pulled the bolt through and he's got a hole below the waterline. I would probably use a patch of scrap wood or metal or anything he's got that he can put a hole in, and a through-bolt to hold it, until he can get to a haulout, which I would do ASAP.

 

[Freestyle]

It's fixed!

Thank all who posted. It just feels great to get ideas from others when you are out here alone.

The bolts did pull completely through the hull and the wood block backing disintegrated. On a 43 DC, I had to dismantle the paneling in the strarboard aft locker to get a look at the leak. I thought it would be terrible but they made these boats right. Fortunately I have a 12 year old on board with long skinny arms to reach between the fule tank and the hull and hold a block of wood.

I then went in the water. I took the caps off of a 5200 and 4200 and filled them with their respective compounds. I let it driy then hammered the caps snugly into the holes.I then took two 3 inch stainless wood screws that were a little bigger than the holes and screwed them through the hull and into the wood block. I cut a bicycle tire to make washers and a gasket between the wood and the hull. I put duct tape on the back side of the wood just because I have never fixed anything without duct tape.

The leak stopped and the platform feels firm. I will replace my repair with proper bolts during the next haul. But for now my month lng trip to the Keys is safe.

Thank all of you again.

Bruce

 

[Traveler 45C]

Good for you, I’m glad you got the leak fixed. Just keep an eye on it and haul as soon as you can. I don’t know if I would wait ‘till next month though.

 

[Genesis]

Below the waterline the transom is solid glass - above it is cored.

Be careful with anything that could be/is cored. You definitely don't want to get waterlogged there!