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

[Michael D. Weisner]

Rummy,

She seems to have stopped leaking since I tightened the fitting.  My guess 
is that the sealant is mostly gone at this time and it is just plastic 
against fiberglass.  That might account for the loose fitting.  I am just 
afraid to put too much torque on a 27 year old fitting for fear of failure.

The interesting this is that at anchor, she took on only about a half gallon 
overnight, even when leaking.  My thought is that the water will only flow 
in until the height of the water inside equals that on the outside of the 
hull.  Since the stern barely sits in the water, the level probably will not 
rise much even with a leak.

I wonder if Peter's concern and glassing in of the laz is warranted, unless 
the water came from another source such as rain water.  In that case, a leak 
to the sea might permit the laz to drain down to a reasonable level.

It is still better to sail and watch the leak than to be on land - went 
sailing this morning before work and had the best breakfast in years.

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

From: <R22RumRunner at aol.com>Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 7:39 AM
> 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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