Water Resistant?

Posted By: Ondine Brandon- Mac 26D - SeaQuell - Georgian Bay.
Date: 7/4/08 10:05p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Foam (Rod Mac26D Ottawa)

Foam under the V-berth does not ake up storage space. It takes up designed foam flotation space. Do yourself a favour and leave the foam in. Could save your life some day. Do yourself an even bigger favour; remove the blocks and strategically cut and place them (wihtout removing any). Viola! Storage space under the V-berth AND positive foam flotation. You are assuming the water loss in the ballast tank is associated with the water gain in the bilge. Could be too seperate issues looking coincidentally like one. First thing I would do to rule out vent/drain leak completely, is draw a circle around them with bright coloured water soluble marker. Go for a hard sail, on both tacks for some time. Go back to calm water, and check the circles. If water spilled from the drain valve stem or vent, you'll see the streak in the ink circle. Are there any below waterline through hulls for a sounder or knot meter? Check them first. Next thing I'd do is mount a fitting on the vent hole to make a real good seal, hook up a HVLP inflator by a long hose outside the boat. Stick you head down the storage compartment areas to listen for air leaks. If you do have a tank leak, you may be able to pinpoit where it is, and maybe avoid cuttng the floor. Fair Winds, Ramblin'