Mid stringers rotten and water in cabin

[DoorCountyScott]

I am looking at a 78 F32. We took the cover off down in the cabin and saw some water there and stringers had some rot. Dealer will fix stringers but how is there water there if the boat has been out of the water since last season? I did notice the anchor chain cap was off but that is not a huge entry point.

[gettaway]

Hi Scott

First, any idea how much of the stringers are damaged and what the dealer plans to do to fix them?

Second, do you plan to have a thorough survey done before preceding, I would highly recommend you do that before going any further, and should you not be totally scared by something major like stringers, you'll have third party opinion and a starting point when the dealer says he has repaired the damage.

As far as water in the bilge, there are many ways for water to make its way to the lower bowels of a boat, I'd start by looking at any deck hatch, check the drain hoses from scuppers, deck drains and hatch drainage tubes, seals etc, stantions and open window....has it been raining where you are?

Has the dealer recently washed past sins away from the bilges?

just some thought

Good luck and welcome!

[ready123]

The design of the boat is that the bow is down at rest, so if blocked level the low point is the bow. Rain can get in side vents or aft deck and then into the bilge and then it heads for the bow.
Is the rot on the stringers the ones going bow to stern or the cross braces?

[DoorCountyScott]

Rot is from the cross braces and do not know how they plan to repair (although I googled it and there appears to be a couple solid methods). This came up in the survey we are having done.

[gitchisum]

Scott-

If this is a boat at Bay Marine in SB, that boat was blocked bow up, so water would have collected. If they are going to fix, I have heard they do good work. We are about 25 mile south of there.

Good luck

[DoorCountyScott]

@ gitchisum good catch, yes it is. We have an accepted offer still subject to sea trials. Compression tests started good but they got lower but the batteries were drained too which I understand can have an effect on the compression tests. Will re-test after sea trial and full charge.
We are hoping this all works out, she looks like a great boat just needs some love.

[DoorCountyScott]

We have her in the water (when it was out no water leaked out of the front from hull). We got lots of rain and the forward bilge has water again. Someone said something about a forward bilge pump...where would that be or how tough is it to add one?

[captainmaniac]

The F32 will also take on rain water through hatches in the cockpit.

[ready123]

Fwd bilge pump under step in V berth, center board lifts up.