stop a seep

[steverino]

my homemade plywood sailboat, when launched, had a seep on one side along 2 ft. of the centerboard trunk log to floor right angle joint. The joint was mechanically fastened and bedded in 3M5200. With a Dremel tool burr,I have cleaned the paint back to bare wood for @ 0.25" on each side of the joint. I see intermittant areas of 1/32"-1/16" thick calk in the joint. Is it best to lay down in the joint a thick bead of 5200, or a fillet of thickened epoxy? I will also see what I can do with the inside the trunk/ floor joint, although this is much less accessible. Otherwise, the project was joyful! thanks

[Wild Wassa]

Without removing the CB trunk, and guessing without seeing the boat of course, I'd start by cleaning both sides of the crack, and remove any loose materials, which can be accessed from inside the CB slot and inside the cockpit. I'd give the moisture time to dry, probably at least 4 to 5 days at 20C(minimum) or longer if you feel it's needed. Then I'd use a thinned epoxy with a preservative added to it, like a TPRDA, and diluted to the maximum level. Make a small reservoir using paper tape and pour the epoxy into the reservoir, then wait for the thinned epoxy to seep out of the opposite side of the crack. This hopefully will expel trapped air. When you see the epoxy coming out, seal the crack with a paper tape.

Go back to the reservoir and top up, as needed, and before the epoxy sets too firmly remove excess but do not seal with tape. I'd use a chisel or a blade for the clean up.

The boat would need to be set up so that gravity feeds the thinned epoxy into the crack. The process might need repeating. One side or both sides could need taping (glass tape)?

I'd also do this repair when the temperatue is at the coolest part of the day, so that the epoxy does not set quickly.

It doesn't sound like injecting epoxy will fix this, but only you can determine this, knowing the boat. Good luck.

TPRDA is a timber preservative and reactive dilutent.

Warren.

[ 12-26-2003, 08:19 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]