This is the approximate size and position of the new port which will be delivered sometime this coming week. I still need to work out position because I am making the mounting piece of wood with a hinge and I want it to work seemlessly and simple while maintaining a symmetrical look on the outside. I will probably install another on the port side to maintain the symmetry and maybe mount the GPS on the same type of hinged piece of wood
I am removing all of the bottom paint from the rudder area while the rudder is out to get a good assessment. I was looking closely at the bottom of the rudder tube and noticed what appeared to be unsaturated cloth. My plan is to grind the dry cloth out with a dremel and flapwheel which has worked very well for hard to reach areas in other projects and then fill the gap between the glass rudder tube and the opening just below it with thickened epoxy. I'm not sure if water could get in from there, but the fact that cloth seems unsaturated there and that it is below the waterline this is a good preventative repair.
Tim, I think the tube itself is fiberglass pipe and looks fine.
It is all that sloppy Pearson work around it that looks dry.
The trouble is when you are working with polyester that it is an undependable glue. So if they stopped for lunch and went back later we get joins that have no strength in sheer.
You can find white fiberglass showing at times that was soaked at the time of laminating. Liquid plastic doesn't really soak into the fibers, just surrounds it. But it looks like you may have found another area that was not saturated when the boat was made.
It also could be a 'major' leak area. I would fair the hole, as I'm sure you are doing, and add some epoxy insurance inside where the tube exits the hull.
Thanks for the CSI photos!!!
I ground it out a little last night after posting and found staurated laminate which is good. I can imagine though water that slowly migrates through any imperfection there and finds its way in to the bilge. I'll post some photos tonight after further grinding and investigation. Shouldn't be a biggie, I imagine smearing some epoxy up there so that it is fair with the bottom of the rudder tube. That ought to do it. How did this boat stay afloat again?
BTW- My little cherub likes his Ariel. The indoctrination begins!
Tim
excellent job on the recruiting side of your refit team! He'll fit in all of the places where adult sized humans don't. Very handy when it comes time to rewire your boat.
cheers,
bill
Too bad that Hobbit's aren't for realI could sure use some.
hehe. Actually the boat was rewired prior to purchase so that department is all set, he did however come in handy when I emptied the keel void...
My new bronze port came in. The locations are approximate as I work out the fine details, but here is a preview of what's to come.
Cockpit view (I like these ports because they are almost flush so if you lean against the bulkhead it comfy)
Interior view. I coughed up a couple more bucks for the bronze interior finish ring. It will match nicely with my "someday ports" which will be 12" opening bronze beauties to replace the windows.
The fit is perfect as planned!
A-24 is slowly but surely gaining back her integrity.
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