Rainwater in the Bilge

[Victor]

is a fact of life. No rot yet but it's expecting a lot to think it won't happen. She's getting wet/dry regularly and I don't think there's anything I can do to keep her completely dry all the time, except maybe shrink-wrapping, which is a little awkward on the river. Surely there must be SOMETHING I can put in there to help. Salt? Baking soda? Kitty litter?

[ssor]

rock salt, copper sulphate, borax all are biocidial. all are soluable.

[Paul Silverman]

In a couple other threads, a few people have proposed that antifreeze is essentially the same chemical that is used to replace the water in thousand year old ships to preserve them. The theory is that in a modern wooden boat, pouring sufficient antifreeze into the bilge may preserve the wood and prevent rot...

[Victor]

Antifreeze?! Well, that's worth a try!

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

A canvas cover?

[Gary E]

If the decks are above the water line by enough, install scuppers so all rain flows overboard.

If that is not possible use Cuprinol to treat everything in the below deck area. Easy to do with a hand pump spray tank used mostly in gardens. Cuprinol can be found at your local Sherwin Williams Paint store. I would use the Cuprinol even if the boat has scuppers, as it seals the wood a little more with each treatment.

It seems that there now are many flavors of Cuprinol. The following from their description sounds closest to what I remember...

"Cuprinol Clear Wood Preservative seals, penetrates, and preserves against rot. Contains a penetrating oil-based formula specially engineered with an effective wood preservative to provide protection against decay and rot as well as mildew. Use on bare wood above ground—wood siding, decks, roof shingles, outdoor furniture, and fences. Contains powerful water repellents to keep water out and protect against cracking and splitting."

[ 07-05-2005, 12:56 PM: Message edited by: Gary E ]

[Stiletto]

International's everdure works well, pricey though.

[Gary E]

Originally posted by ian scott:
gary,

does cuprinol effect the adhesion of a finish applied over it?I have no idea, never painted over it. It's only used as sprayed on or brushed on with a big brush. Idea is to soak the wood, like you would treat the deck in your back yard. Wonder if any info from Sherwin Williams web site would help.

[Bob Cleek]

Yes, cuprinol will affect adhesion, but not by much if applied to bare wood. I suppose cuprinol works, but the problem is that your boat will REALLY smell like cuprinol forever. If you don't know what cuprinol smells like and don't want to buy it, just take a sniff of some new pressure treated fir and that will give you an idea. I suppose that it is harmless, but it smells like you are getting toxified.

Let's talk about rot, shall we? Rot lives somewhere BETWEEN dry and wet. If your bilge is full of water, it will not rot because it is TOO WET. If your bilge is dry, it will not rot because it is TOO DRY. So water in the bilge is really not a big problem. What is a problem is when that water evaporates and condenses on your cabin top and whereever else and creates a moisture content which is JUST RIGHT. Therefore, a decent ventilation arrangement is the essential ingredient. First, do what you can to stop the leaks. That is often easier said than done, but when all else fails, a proper cover works wonders and also prolongs the life of your finish. Second, let her breathe. Get ventilators in her and make sure there's lots of air flow. That will keep her fresh and dry.

[Victor]

Let me get this straight: water alone will not cause rot unless it contains fungi or bacteria?

Right now I've got her tilted so that very little water remains in the hull, and I've been toweling that out after every rain. But I find it hard to believe this cycle will not eventually cause rot.

[ 07-06-2005, 08:54 PM: Message edited by: Victor ]