1976 F36 Tri-Cabin Keel Construction

[mike0469]

F36 Tri-Cabin Keel Help

I purchased a 1976 Tri-cabin last fall. It has been in the water for the past 6 years. Over the past several months there has been a small amount of water in the front bilge area. The generator had been removed by PO, due to blown engine. I had noticed oil/dirt residue in the bilge area, so I decided to remove the bilge flooring/framing and properly clean it. Figured out why the Gen blew up; looks like all the oil run out into the bilge! I spent all day Saturday scraping, degreasing, and scrubbing. Sucked out all the water Saturday evening when I finished. Came back Sunday morning to find 4" of water in the front bilge; way more than I have ever seen! The bilge pump had been pumping out overnight. I pumped out all the water to find that there were several small leaks above the keel in the lower center section directly under the salon area….none forward of that. It appears the dirt and grime had sealed the leaks! Someone had put some putty over part of this area long, long ago. I am guessing, the cleaning dislodged the repair putty. NOW, I am very concerned! I am assuming that there is a Wood Keel within the fiberglass hull ? and if so, I am 100% it is rotted! Does anyone know for sure if there is a 2x12 or similar size located in the keel or could there possibly just be fiberglass filler joining the hull together in the keel area? Does anyone have any pictures of repairs? I am guessing if there is wood, I am gonna be cutting out the lapping glass and digging out the rotted wood and replacing the keel in sections. There is obviously a crack or hole somewhere on the outside of the keel. I repaired the leaks with more fast set putty Sunday. It has been bone dry for 24 hours!.... Any help is greatly appreciated.

[prowlersfish]

The keel is hollow and made of glass .

[rickalan35]

Mike,

Don't know where you're located but a haul out is probably in order. You'll probably need a surveyor or competent fibreglass consultant to take a look at the bottom of your hull. The glass in my former 1974 tricabin hull was solid and wherever wood was used, the fibreglass surrounding it was apparently built to be stronger that the original wood sills.

I'm sure there will be some very capable comment from forum members shortly.

The fact that the leaks are "above" the keel could have resulted from a host of possibilities and you will probably never find out what exactly happened. A yard may have accidentally dropped your boat or it could have been the victim of improper blocking. Perhaps the PO rode her up onto a shoal etc. Either way, it's not good news and something you really need to get some professional help with imo We all need a good bottom under us when we're under way.

Take care and let us know what you find out.

Rick

[captainmaniac]

If I read this right, you said the boat has been in the water for 6 years, and you have seen some water in the forward bilge for months prior to your cleaning, but not as much as after the cleaning... A few questions/thoughts:

- did you just scrub / clean, or use a power washer or any chemical cleaners?
- did you clean out limber holes that had previously trapped water, but now allowed it to run forward?
- have you moved any equipment or stuff in storage, that puts more weight towards the bow?
- have you had any rain or wash the boat between cleaning out the bilge and looking at it again?
- did you top up fresh water tank after the cleaning?
- did you make any adjustments to stuffing boxes or do any other mechanical work between cleaning and seeing the additional water?
- did you go our for a run, or has the boat sat in the slip the entire time?
- did you hook it up to dockside water when it wasn't before?

Water can come in for a zillion reasons, or relocate for another zillion reasons. Hopefully we can track down most probable cause based on any clues from the above checklist...

[mike0469]

The keel is hollow and made of glass .

Whew!!!! Glad to hear there is no wood !....It appeared to just be glass joined together at the keel, but someone told me today, they thought it would have a wood core. Still gonna bring her out and find out what is going on outside to allow it in! Thanks!

[mike0469]

If I read this right, you said the boat has been in the water for 6 years, and you have seen some water in the forward bilge for months prior to your cleaning, but not as much as after the cleaning... A few questions/thoughts:

- did you just scrub / clean, or use a power washer or any chemical cleaners?
- did you clean out limber holes that had previously trapped water, but now allowed it to run forward?
- have you moved any equipment or stuff in storage, that puts more weight towards the bow?
- have you had any rain or wash the boat between cleaning out the bilge and looking at it again?
- did you top up fresh water tank after the cleaning?
- did you make any adjustments to stuffing boxes or do any other mechanical work between cleaning and seeing the additional water?
- did you go our for a run, or has the boat sat in the slip the entire time?
- did you hook it up to dockside water when it wasn't before?

Water can come in for a zillion reasons, or relocate for another zillion reasons. Hopefully we can track down most probable cause based on any clues from the above checklist...

Just scrubbed with Simple Green and hand scraped the oil/dirt grit with 2" putty knife ( did NOT gouge anything). Once I pumped out the water, it was obvious it was coming up from the bottom. Thus, the fast set putty over the old putty repair....Just left the boat...DRY as a bone. I know the keel has to be full of water. That is why I wanted to know if it was wood core or glass. Got a previous response that there is NO wood in the keel area.

[mike0469]

Mike,

Don't know where you're located but a haul out is probably in order. You'll probably need a surveyor or competent fibreglass consultant to take a look at the bottom of your hull. The glass in my former 1974 tricabin hull was solid and wherever wood was used, the fibreglass surrounding it was apparently built to be stronger that the original wood sills.

I'm sure there will be some very capable comment from forum members shortly.

The fact that the leaks are "above" the keel could have resulted from a host of possibilities and you will probably never find out what exactly happened. A yard may have accidentally dropped your boat or it could have been the victim of improper blocking. Perhaps the PO rode her up onto a shoal etc. Either way, it's not good news and something you really need to get some professional help with imo We all need a good bottom under us when we're under way.

Take care and let us know what you find out.

Rick

THANKS Rick ! Gonna pull it out and find that leak !

[mike0469]

Thank you all for your input ! I have only owned the boat for 6 months; it is under cover and in the water. Nothing has been done in the past few months; this water started coming through immediately after cleaning. When I commented on dirt/oil build up; it was about 1/8" thick, hard and tacky. I really do believe it had the bottom sealed up tight enough to stop the leak from coming through. Never would have that could happen...seeing is believing! The epoxy putty definitely stopped the leak, but this is temporary until I can get it pulled out to find the crack/damage or whatever is allowing the water entry.

[P-Dogg]

A great feature of this forum is the search function.



http://www.trojanboats.net/wforum/viewt ... eel#p81567

There are other keel threads too.

[mike0469]

Thanks for the link and info...this is VERY helpful ! My Keel opening has been glassed over. Now that I see how the hull was joined, can get it properly repaired. I hope to get it out of the water over the next couple weeks and find the leak. There has been mention of a Keel Drain. Is this standard on these boats? If not, sounds like it would be a good idea. I am in Nashville...don't plan on dry docking in the winters, but seems like a drain is a good idea when/if it gets pulled out and moved.

[P-Dogg]

has been glassed over

They all have been, from the factory.

Is this standard on these boats?

Nope.

don't plan on dry docking in the winters

I have an '85. My manual (you can get one from Beacon if you don't have one), say to winter in the water.

Three years before I bought my boat, when I was just window shopping, I decided on a tricabin. When it came time to buy a boat, I started my search from scratch. I again decided on a tricabin. They are really nice boats. Wide, flat, one level side decks. No ladder for old knees. No way out of the boat without going by the helm (except emergency hatch in aft cabin) -- which is great is you've got small kids. No flybridge that moves 12 feet side-to-side with each wave, yet has a helm high off the water. Two heads. A BATHTUB. A guest cabin far enough away that you can't hear what they're doing at night. A useful-sized fridge. 20 gallons of hot water. A stand-up engine room (if you tip-up the hatches), with otherwise easy access to everything below. And priced less than a decent car.

I also spent over a boat dollar in tools before I even had the boat (purchased near Father's Day, and tools were on sale, you know). I also bought a case of my favorite pale ale, and read EVERY SINGLE THREAD from the inception of the forum. Took about four nights as I recall. You will learn a lot if you do that. You can also PM Aaron Bocknek, who hasn't been on the forum enough lately. He went with his dad to Niagara-on-the-Lake and saw their tricab hull popped from the mold. How's that for corporate knowledge! You will find great help here. Pay it forward by documenting your work with pics and description of your work for the future readers of this forum.

Some of my epic threads:

http://www.trojanboats.net/wforum/viewt ... ust#p81909

http://www.trojanboats.net/wforum/viewt ... lit=p+dogg

And somewhere I have a fresh water tank install thread that I can't find now.....