Source of Weeping leak into bilge? maybe?

[GlacialEratic]

Rather than sending the full six photo file,which didn't work for some reason, I sent one photo to this photobucket site. I think it gives a good idea of what's wrong. Also, yesterday I opened up the shrinkwrap enought to go aboard, to check out the bilge interior again, and only have a small hairline crack apparent (half inch long) as evidence of damage at the weeping site just where the aft bilge space and hull meet.

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[sailingdog]

Did you ground the boat hard or hit something recently? That looks much like what would happen in the case of a hard grounding. Is there any damage to the front of the keel??

In any case, the repair will have to be done much as described by Mitiempo in his first reply to you. It would probably be worth having a surveyor or fiberglass repair person come look at the boat as the keel-hull join area is a fairly highly stressed area and making sure the repair is robust enough to take the loads involved is key.

[GlacialEratic]

Based on the advice from more experienced hands than I, I've got three fiberglass repair services on the case now, with two fellows planning to inspect the exterior/interior and provide guidance and a quote to effect the repair. The marina staff highly recommended one of them who I left a message for this AM and who called back, planning to inspect and call back tomorrow, if the weather isn't an absolute downpour. So I should have at least two feedbacks/quotes in the next 48 hours or so. I'll post what I find out here.

As for the source of the injury? if not the transport 60 miles over the roads in the spring? One fellow I sent photos to said it looked like prior damage not well repaired. Its a 25 year old hull. I didn't ground it or hit anything during the course of the season. A survey done four years ago when owner #2 bought it (at least #2, I'm at least #3) advised no evidence of a prior grounding, but who knows?

[davidpm]

As Mr. Dog implied a hard grounding will often cause damage at the front of the keel where the keel is pulled down and at the back of the keel where it is driven up. Besides the crack which is visible often glass is delaminated, where layers of glass separate from each other so it looses a lot of strength and absorbs water and is not easily visible.
The encapsulated keel is most likely penetrated so I would like to know what water is where inside the keel.
How to block the boat while the repair is done may be something to investigate, it can make a difference.

Old damage is very possible as the 12 to 1 grind out is a lot more than many people are willing to do.

[davidpm]

Most of my experience is with bolt on keels. They have their problems of course but if you have an encapsulated keel and it gets water intrusion how do you dry it out.
Drill a lot of holes near the bottom?
Seems like a big problem to me in the north country where the moisture will keep seeking smaller and smaller places then freeze and make them bigger.

[GlacialEratic]

Ok, now I have two estimates for the repair, and yes, it surely sounds like NOT the appropriate time to do my first fibreglass repair. A low overhead fellow is highly recommended by the marina I'm in. Learned his trade supposedly with the owner of the highest price pro shop in town. His quote for repair inside (bilge space) and out (keel area) is $1080. Another shop I don't know anything about but found thru their website caters more to trailered boats but also is quoting repair inside and out at $540, $100 for materials and six hours labor. Sounds a little light on the time to me, but provided a written estimate with the caveat that surprises would halt the work for consultation. I've emailed this fellow back for references and asked a few questions (how far back he intends to grind, strength of the area when completed). So now I have to make a selection.

[mitiempo]

The biggest problem I see with that kind of damage is that you never really know how bad it is until the grinder is turned on. I think the guy with the low quote is being optimistic.

[GlacialEratic]

Yes, i also think he's being optimistic, but I just got back his email inviting me to his shop to see some of the fibreglass repair work they are doing. He's saying all the right stuff and yes he underscores that what he quoted may be quite different once the area is exposed. At least with him, there is a possibility of a somewhat lower cost.