Assessment
Water is getting into the boat at different locations:
Starboard traveler. This is attached to the deck with 28 6mm stainless steel through bolts. At some point the deck had gotten a new anti slip coating, it appears that the travelers were not removed for that job. So it is basically 40 years old. There are some visible cracks in the gelcoat, but most water probably enters through the bolt holes. This is one of the reason for the electrical system being so bad. The water entering through the starboard traveller dripped on the electrical switchboard and electrical components.
Fixing the Leaks, Step by Step
Starboard Traveller and Port Traveller
The starboard traveller was the most urgent one since the water entering here dripped on the electrical component compartment at the chart table. No point in starting with the electrics without having fixed the leaks first. Joel did that with the boat at the mooring. He removed the traveller, filled all gaps and the screw holes with marine epoxy, added a layer of fiberglass on top, primed and painted it and then re-attached the traveller with plenty of Sikaflex.
A few weeks later he also fixed the port traveller the same way.
Winches
The winches are also attached with through deck bolts. All of them were leaking too. In addition, the deck at the locations of the main winches had given way a bit to the permanent strain of the ropes and bent slightly forwards. One could also see the winches and deck move under load. We addressed this by removing all winches, sanding the secondary paint (the boat had been re-painted at some time – the paint and filler underneath is chipping off at some places), adding several layers of fiberglass reinforced laminating epoxy and then filling, priming and re-painting the area. In the process the holes for the screws attaching the winches, partially enlaged from the strain, were also filled, and then new holes drilled. The reinforment plates underneath the deck were also cleaned and strengthened. Then the winches were mounted back with Sicaflex as sealant.
Mast Boot
There is a big gap between the mast foot boot and the deck. Water is entering and running down at the inside along the kieled mast.
Instrument panels in Cockpit
Six holes where the instruments used to be.
