whichwaysup Posted February 12, 2019 Report Share Posted February 12, 2019 So, I post this with full knowledge that many of you will laugh at me for NOT realizing this, but maybe good for other googans with the same brilliant idea. Way back when I was chasing down that little leak that turned out to be a stringer issue, I had the bright idea to fill the hull up with water, not all the way, of course, but enough to flood the likely culprits. It is asier to find water flowing out than flowing in, right? I have learned a lot about boats in the past year and a half (more than I wanted to) and learned why this wasnt such a good idea. The reason it was a bad idea wasn't intuitive to me, so I am passing it along. The problem with stringers is that, wood or no wood, when they get wet, they can get water inside of them. Foam core stringers are basically big sponges, and if there is a place for water to get in, which there will be with enough water in the bilge, you will get water inside that stringer with no way to get out. Raw (unsealed) fiberglass gets brittle when it stays wet. So filling the boat up with water basically introduces water into places it then cant get out of. I am sure there are a million other reasons this is a bad idea, but that particular reason was new to me. The bright side of this epic saga I have been going through is that my boat has had a year and a half opened up to dry out and the stringers have now been aired out, resealed, reglassed and reinforced. Again, I am probably the only idiot who would do this, but hopefully this embarrassibg post will keep another Einstien from repeating my mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulligan Posted February 13, 2019 Report Share Posted February 13, 2019 I don't think you are alone in the fill the boat with water to find a leak camp. Just think about how much less you are going to draft and how much faster you will be now that your boat is lighter from all the water out of her! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fin-addict Posted February 13, 2019 Report Share Posted February 13, 2019 It happen all the time, Evan at boat yards when trying to find leaks. You made a very good point, thank you. Fin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeviam Posted February 13, 2019 Report Share Posted February 13, 2019 I was under the impression that the foam core and injected foam in the stringers, below the water line in our boats, is closed-cell foam that does not absorb water. Is that not true? I know it is not good for raw fiberglass to stay wet - especially polyester resin, because it absorbs water and weakens or de-laminates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HewesYourDaddy Posted February 13, 2019 Report Share Posted February 13, 2019 This has the making to become a new thread along the lines of the "What did you do to your boat today?" thread! I say we start right here...... This might be an epic post. Let's try to keep it boat related. May be a lot to learn and avoid from other's mistakes. I'll go.... Dumb thing not to do..... NEVER look at that sandbar and think to yourself "Is that really a sandbar?" The last hurricane to roll through created a sandbar in a place that was always shallow, but not shallow enough that we couldn't run the river there at dead low tide. By the time I processed my thoughts, we hit the sandbar and came to a full stop from 28mph in a matter of an instant. Well, because of that very instant lack of reaction, I will be having a torn meniscus repaired in less than 3 weeks. Watch where you are going, even if you THINK you know the waters you boat in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whichwaysup Posted February 13, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2019 1 hour ago, HewesYourDaddy said: This has the making to become a new thread along the lines of the "What did you do to your boat today?" thread! I say we start right here...... This might be an epic post. Let's try to keep it boat related. May be a lot to learn and avoid from other's mistakes. I'll go.... Dumb thing not to do..... NEVER look at that sandbar and think to yourself "Is that really a sandbar?" The last hurricane to roll through created a sandbar in a place that was always shallow, but not shallow enough that we couldn't run the river there at dead low tide. By the time I processed my thoughts, we hit the sandbar and came to a full stop from 28mph in a matter of an instant. Well, because of that very instant lack of reaction, I will be having a torn meniscus repaired in less than 3 weeks. Watch where you are going, even if you THINK you know the waters you boat in. YYYEEEEOOOUUUCCCH!!! Reminds me of Nagjuice telling me once that birds don't stand up in deep water. As stupid as it sounds, I've caught myself doing exactly what you did - staring at birds that are clearly standing up directly in front of me and approaching them at 50 MPH wondering how they could be doing that . . . Thankfully, my brain kicked into gear before it was too late, but it is funny how you can deny the reality you are staring at because it doesn't fit with what you expect! And thanks to all the responders for the moral support. Good to know that I wasn't the only one not to realize this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whichwaysup Posted February 13, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2019 1 hour ago, geeviam said: I was under the impression that the foam core and injected foam in the stringers, below the water line in our boats, is closed-cell foam that does not absorb water. Is that not true? I know it is not good for raw fiberglass to stay wet - especially polyester resin, because it absorbs water and weakens or de-laminates. Oh, it absorbs water - or at least it holds it. When the first shop pulled my rear deck off, the sprayed in foam in the rear was so water logged and heavy it was apparently a bear to deal with. I am curious to see how the boat performs when I get her back without that weight back there. The current shop told me that this is a common issue in just about every boat they see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makomark Posted February 15, 2019 Report Share Posted February 15, 2019 I always tend to leave the trailer lock either on the bumper or on the trailer. Also, just installed a new power pole, after my first deploy of the pole I took off while it was still stuck in the mud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whichwaysup Posted February 15, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2019 14 minutes ago, makomark said: I always tend to leave the trailer lock either on the bumper or on the trailer. Also, just installed a new power pole, after my first deploy of the pole I took off while it was still stuck in the mud. Ouch. Just out of curiosity, how bad was the result?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makomark Posted February 15, 2019 Report Share Posted February 15, 2019 29 minutes ago, whichwaysup said: Ouch. Just out of curiosity, how bad was the result?? It seems to have a pressure relief valve to overcome this. It seems to go up and down fine, although I have not tried to sick it in the mud again. Its a little un-nerving seeing it bouncing on the water when looking back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunstone Posted February 16, 2019 Report Share Posted February 16, 2019 Always turn off your power switch. My power pole remote was in the leaning post and bouncing down the highway deployed the power pole. Something must have been on top of it. Needless to say it never slowed the boat or truck down and I ended up with half a power pole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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