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soaking wet foam confirmed
Well I cut in and started digging out foam tonight and I only had to go down about 6 inches to hit wet foam. The inside ot the keel is all wet which you may be able to see from this photo.
My wife came out to see how things were going and I said so-so. I told her I was getting convinced I was going to have to get the keel dried out grind everything down and resurface the keel to make it water tight again. Then I came in took a shower sat down to post what I had found and saw Bill's post. Seems no matter what I find myself up against there is already someone here that has dealt with it previously. This forum really is a good resource.
So Bill how far up did you go? To the waterline?
Frozen Laminate and Gelcoat Freeze Crazing
5/16"?
I've just confirmed that hull thickness with a thruhull on A338!
So much for the OVERBUILT theory of early glass boats!!!
Keeping water from freezing not only in the bilge but IN THE LAMINATE is I think a new wrinkle in protecting our old gals. Have not come across any tests or experiments of water soaked plastic laminate and freezing. Haven't seen this mentioned befor in this way on the internet by anybody.
So here is the rule for when you decommission the boat for the winter;
Remove all sweet water from the bilge.
Make sure the boat stays bone dry in the bilge through the freezing cycles.
This means the owner must remove all foam in place constructions in the bilge even if they were factory installed. And do not put it back.
I've never liked the idea of water being present in the laminate. Water soaked laminate:(
Under the gelcoat freezing may be a culprit in the breakdown and weakening of the laminate throughout the hull!
In some way we don't know yet, just the presence of water inside the plastic could be bad for a boats health. It is certain that moisture can wick along glass fibers. The glass is merely encapsulated by the plastic. So "FREEZE CRAZING" need not be localized in the bilges only but anywhere in the hull!!!
It is easy to see now that when this water in the fabric is expanded by freezing that laminate can be mechanically broken down. In this scenario crazing in the gelcoat is evidence of a problem in the fiberglass.:eek:
Whether the water gets in the laminate through pinholes and imperfections in manufacturing or some aging phenomenon of the polyester itself would be good to know. Maybe it's a number of things. A number of events.
Never buy a frozen plastic boat.
Make damn sure you look for alligator crazing in the hull gelcoat.