[Rhodes22-list] main cockpit drain and laz bulkhead

Wed May 28 08:08:30 EDT 2008

Peter,

I always saw the unsealed laz as a safety feature built in by Stan.  I 
thought he did it on purpose, and I use it to intentionally drain water 
to the laz where it is easier to dispose of.

If your huge sealed laz fills with water it will raise the bow as the 
sealed rear compartment fills--like the Titanic in reverse.  The boat 
won't sink because of the floatation, but instead of remaining level and 
distributing the water over the length of the hull, you are 
concentrating all the weight at one end.

Bill Effros

Peter Thorn wrote:
> Mike,
>
> I just want to share a bit of information about the lazarette on my '88 R22,
> s/v Raven.  Last year I discovered that the laz was not sealed to the
> floatation area under the cockpit floor and that water in the laz would run
> forward, under the cockpit foam floatation, and wind up in the bilge near
> the inspection square by the compression post.  With this bit of data also
> came the epiphany that an unattended failure of the main cockpit drain could
> result in an all-out test of the unsinkable characteristics of the Rhodes
> 22.   Since I am the worrying type, this seemed unacceptable, so I devised a
> solution.
>
> I glassed in and sealed the laz bulkhead to the floor and sides of the hull
> to create a watertight compartment.  The top of the laz bulkhead, as most
> owners know, is open to the cockpit, so if the water level in the laz were
> to rise to the top of the bulkhead (unlikely I think), it would spill out
> and drain through the cockpit drain.  Now no water from the laz can enter
> the cabin.  If a total failure of the cockpit drain occurs, the laz and only
> the laz would fill up to the water line, but not run forward to swamp the
> boat.
>
> I've attached pictures of the laz sealing project done with WEST epoxy,
> glass cloth and roving over a foam angle filler, per instructions from the
> technical advisors at WEST.  Good luck with yours!
>
> PT
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
> [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Michael D. Weisner
> Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 5:37 PM
> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] NEWS ITEM *****FLASH***** Shanghai'd
> SummerFinallyLaunched May 25!!
>
> Rob,
>
> If I pull her to do repairs, I must completely pack up and bring her home - 
> there is no overnight parking at the town ramp area.  While it is only 2 
> miles journey, it seems so unnecessary.  I was thinking of finding a rubber 
> gasket for the through-hull that would hold until the end of the season when
>
> I would rebed properly.  If I pull out, I would prefer to make the repair 
> and relaunch immediately.  We only have a window of about an hour or so for 
> the entire operation due to the tide changes (7-8 ft).  I need all the water
>
> I can get under the hull to recover and a bit less to launch.
>
> Mike
> s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
> Nissequogue River, NY
>
> From: "Rob Lowe" <rlowe at vt.edu>Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 5:29 PM
>   
>> Mike,
>> Congratulations to being (back?) on the water!  As far as 
>> replacing/rebeding
>> your through-hull, is there any way to pull the boat while still rigged 
>> and
>> leave it on the trailer overnight and then relaunch in a day or two? 
>> Would
>> certainly make working on a through-hull easier if you're out of the
>> water. - rob
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Michael D. Weisner" <mweisner at ebsmed.com>
>> To: "Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 3:48 PM
>> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] NEWS ITEM *****FLASH***** Shanghai'd Summer
>> FinallyLaunched May 25!!
>>
>>
>>     
>>> 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
>>> __________________________________________________
>>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>       
>> __________________________________________________
>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>
>>
>>     
>
>
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