That sinking feeling!

Back in August last year we mentioned that Lou was having to manually pump the port bilge out during a heavy weather passage. The faulty electric bilge pump was sorted out during our next visit to the marina, but the source of the problem, water intrusion, was more difficult to track down.

In fact it wasn’t until the winter layup that a thorough inspection, found the entry point.

The Culprit Revealed:
The centreboard inspection cover, which is in a storage compartment had become detached at one end, creating a gateway for water to infiltrate our bilges, gushing out each time the boat surged into a wave.

Further investigation unearthed the root cause of this malfunction: shoddy craftsmanship. The acrylic cover, intended to shield against the elements, had suffered severe bending during installation. This led to and compromised integrity, allowing water to spill in with ease. Moreover, the screws securing the cover had stripped out of their designated holes.

After using fibreglass and filler to create a flat surface for the new inspection panel to be fixed to. New securing holes drilled and a liberal dose of sealing adhesive hopefully this will solve our problem.

Not the most accessible item to work on!