As a first time keel boat purchaser, I recently had a 1977 CS27 (that I am supposed to buy in a week) surveyed by an accredited surveyor. He spent at least 4 hours gong through the boat, and hammer sounded the hulls, deck, and coachroof. He found no structural problems except for a few small voids in the cockpit floor. However, it’s been a few days since the survey and there has been some very heavy rain. Last night I checked around the boat and noticed some wet cushions and water stains below 4 fairleads and 2 cleats on the coachroof (all 6 items are fastened with the same type of screws). In the galley area, when I reached into the back wooden compartment (storage area without a door approximately 12” long by 12” deep by 6” high that abuts the fibreglass wall of the cockpit) the water there was at least 1” deep and amounted to a cup or two of water that I needed to scoop out. I’m assuming this water would typically run straight down, but the boat is angled back at least 10 degrees while on the hard causing the water to collect where it did.
I know the current owner used a power washer with some frequency, and I suspect that he has blasted any sealant material away in the process. I was away for 15 minutes of the survey so I’m not sure if the surveyor used a water meter. The surveyor is now in Europe and can’t be reached. Any help with these questions would be greatly appreciated:
1) If this water typically went straight down the sides (as it would when the boat was sitting level in the water) would it have just run into the bilge or should I check for an accumulation elsewhere?
2) Other than sealing all 6 of these fittings with marine adhesive sealant, is there anything else that I should do?
3) Is there a good reference book that a first time keel boat owner should read?
Thank you in advance for your advice.
Regards,
Owen
I know the current owner used a power washer with some frequency, and I suspect that he has blasted any sealant material away in the process. I was away for 15 minutes of the survey so I’m not sure if the surveyor used a water meter. The surveyor is now in Europe and can’t be reached. Any help with these questions would be greatly appreciated:
1) If this water typically went straight down the sides (as it would when the boat was sitting level in the water) would it have just run into the bilge or should I check for an accumulation elsewhere?
2) Other than sealing all 6 of these fittings with marine adhesive sealant, is there anything else that I should do?
3) Is there a good reference book that a first time keel boat owner should read?
Thank you in advance for your advice.
Regards,
Owen