[Rhodes22-list] NEWS ITEM *****FLASH***** Shanghai'd Summer Finally Launc...

[R22RumRunner at aol.com]

Mike,
Congratulations on your launch. Ed has a great deal of experience in  dealing 
with the rear cockpit drain. If you don't want to take her out of the  water, 
simply put up with a slow leak for the time being. Only one of two things  
can happen. It can either self seal itself, or, become worse where you will want 
 to pull her and do a proper fix.
 
Rummy
 
 
In a message dated 5/27/2008 3:48:47 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
mweisner at ebsmed.com writes:

On  Friday I picked up the 2-1/2" square 1/4" thick steel tube stock that is 
now  the new extension tongue for my R22 trailer.  After fitting a new coupler 
 and drilling many holes in the steel on Saturday, I pronounced the trailer  
"launchable" once again.  Sunday morning I removed the winter tarp and  
checked out the boat.  All was as I had left it last September when we  failed to 
launch due to a collapsed extension tongue at the ramp.  I  purchased fresh gas 
and oil, ran the old Suzuki DT7.5 engine in a garbage can  (started on 2nd 
pull!) and hitched up.

We launched without  incident.  Once I was happy that there were no major 
leaks or problems, I  parked the truck and trailer.  We motored over to our 
mooring to get away  from the busy ramp area.  Once safely anchored, we stepped the 
mast and  rigged.  We went for a short sail (2 hours) and came back in to 
discharge  passengers (helpers) and clean up.

I noticed that we had a bit of water  in the laz.  We pumped out about a half 
gallon, total.  We had been  in the water for only four hours.  Oh well, she 
hadn't seen water in  several years (I think 3 years of repairs and 
restoration), maybe some seals  had shrunk and would swell when wet.  Reluctantly, I 
boarded the dinghy  and made for land, dinner and some well deserved rest.

The next  morning, Sheryl and I went back out and were pleasantly surprised 
that only  about a half gallon of water was present in the laz.  The forward 
bilge  remained dry.

I mopped up the water and found the leak to be coming  from the cockpit drain 
through-hull fitting.  I had suspected this and  brought along a wrench.  It 
was fairly loose so I tightened it securely  and the flow is pretty nearly 
stopped.  I am afraid to put too much  torque on the nut since it and the fitting 
are from 1980 and failure would be  catastrophic.  I assume that the sealant 
(gasket, bedding, etc.) has  deteriorated significantly over the years.  At 
this time, I am afraid to  play with it any more than I have until she is safely 
on the  trailer.

Has anyone had experience with rebedding or replacing the  drain through-hull 
fitting while in the water?  Is there a safe method of  beaching to access 
the area below the cockpit drain?  I think that when I  service it, I will 
replace the fitting, the hose and the clamps just to be  safe.  Does anyone know 
the size of the fitting, the hose and the clamps  (you needn't run out and 
measure them - I will measure mine in the next  day)?

Is there a way to seal the fitting (temporarily) without removing  the 
fitting, so that it may be done while in the water?  I was thinking  about using 
some duck-seal or similar putty or caulk.

Somehow, while I  was rebedding all of the portlights, deck fittings, the 
seat drains, etc. I  forgot about the cockpit drain.  Word to the wise, on a 25+ 
year old  boat, service and rebed everything, especially the fittings below 
the water  line.

Thanks to all on the list who provided information and links to  information 
that helped me learn the art of fiberglass repair.  Probably  the best 
information I received was to purchase Don Casey's books - I now have  the entire 
set, I think.

Even with the slight leak, it is much better  to be in the water and sailing, 
finally ...

Mike
s/v Shanghai'd  Summer ('81)
Nissequogue River,  NY
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