[Public-List] Oily weeping at the keel just forward of the rudder shoe.

[Michael Connolly via Public-List]

Jeffery, 
Stands to reason that if the seepage is oily that this comes from a bilge area where engine drippings can also accumulate. Isolate this area of the bilge and clean thoroughly and then seal as best you absolutely can. Epoxy would be best. 

Maurice. Water in the bilge surrounding the ballast is something to have major worries about. I have seen the ballast pig pop up out of its fiberglass shell, i.e., the lower keel section, after the water freezes in the winter. I have also observed fractures in the fiberglass shell surrounding the ballast pig where the pressure of freezing water bust through the hull. Very serious damage can result. This is particular serious in salt water as the pig is ferrous. 

There would be no way to effectively dry out the water saturated area surrounding the ballast pig. I don't believe I would suggest drilling small holes in the very bottom of the keel and/or using excessive heat to dry out the water. 

What I try to do is add enough RV anti freeze to -50 degrees F to mix with any water which might collect in the bilges over the winter to prevent freezing. I might advise that you attempt to introduce this RV antifreeze into your bilge in an effort to mix with the saturated area surrounding the ballast pig in effort to prevent that water from freezing. I would keep this up each and every year to assure that you have a mix that would not freeze. 

To the poor owner of the Frisco Flyer with the popped ballast. It would be nearly impossible to push the pig back in place. I would believe that the keel would have to be cut apart and the pig reglassed in place. Unfortunately she has ruined her very nice boat by allowing the water to freeze. 

Michael #133, Arcadia, Michigan the frozen north 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Jeffrey via Public-List" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> 
To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> 
Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2017 8:25:25 AM 
Subject: [Public-List] Oily weeping at the keel just forward of the rudder shoe. 

Hey everyone, 

The past few springs I've noticed Seagrass (no. 116) develops a damp spot 
every spring at the keel bottom about 10 inches forward of the rudder 
shoe. Usually, I look at it, do nothing, cover with bottom paint and the 
boat goes in the water. This spring, the spot is larger, wetter and more 
oily looking. My first though when getting to the boat was something 
catastrophic happened over the cold Maine winter. I expected a boat full 
of motor oil. Inside the bilge was clean, the engine dipstick read full 
as did the gearbox. Engine bottom normal. 

Typically, my engine will drip oil a little here and there, just enough to 
blacken any water in the bilge so I'm thinking that the spotting at the 
keel bottom is bilge water that seeped out through the boat. I am 
wondering why it looks worse this spring. Usually, when the boat comes 
out, we flush the bilge with soapy water, then pump and shop-vac out any 
remaining water. Last fall, the boat sat for two weeks when it came out, 
and the bilge was dry by the time I got to it...any standing water (pump 
leaves that last 1/2 inch or so) had drained into the keel ballast area. 
Maybe this was the difference. 

I've searched the archives of this group, and find lots of references to 
keels seeping more towards the bow under the water tank, but nothing at the 
rear. 

At this point, the boat yard can put the boat in the water, or I can fuss 
with it. I'm thinking now would be better then the fall when the boat 
comes out again since everything will be saturated, plus the colder weather 
makes epoxy work more difficult. 

My plan is to dig in a bit, find the longitudinal seam that others have 
mentioned and see if I can add a bit of fiberglass and epoxy, or even just 
some GFlex epoxy & fair. 

Anyone else have this issue, and successfully deal with it? 

Thanks, and hope everyone is doing well. 

Jeff 



Seagrass. #116 
Boothbay Harbor, Maine 
http://sailboatseagrass.com/ 

<http://instagram.com/jfongemie> 


-- 

______________ 

Jeffrey Fongemie 

<http://instagram.com/jfongemie> 
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