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well I just finished putting the boat on blocks and while I was underneath I noticed a drip of water comming from the keel up by the bow! It was a drop every few minutes and it seemed it was just weeping through the hull/keel, there was no visible crack or damage? what next? drill some holes? and if I do drill some whats the best way of repairing them? Thanks.

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If you trace a line from the drip topside, where do you endup on the boat?

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If you do drill, I would recommend Evercoat Formula 27. You can tint it to match the gelcoat, and it is polyester based, so if the areas are large you can brush gelcoat over it and it will cure properly. Some people like to use Epoxy products. I tried them because they are supposed to be more fool proof, but they won't hold gelcoat well because gelcoat is poly. Epoxy sticks to poly, but not vise versa. The Evercoat also cured faster and seemingly just as hard and sands easier. There are a lot of things you can do. It depends on the size of the holes. If they are just drill bit holes say 1/2 inch or so, just tint up some 27 to match the gelcoat on the boat-or close to it then catalyze it and push it in with a putty knife. Sand the excess. Send Jeff Rohlfing (username Jeff) a PM or maybe he will respond to this. He has written earlier posts on his use of Evercoat tinting agents. He may be able to point you to the previous thread.

John

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thanks for the great advice
Jerry

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I wouldn't rush to drill though unless it is necessary. Most likely it isn't, from what others wrote in previous threads it is hard to effectively drain water that way.

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I just want to get a handle on the amount of water in the hull.

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the only real good way to do that is weigh it. you can do it at the weight stations on the interstate I think.

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Jerry,
There is no point in drilling if the water continues to come in. My guess is that there is an opening top side that is letting the water into the hull. If you draw a line from the drip, roughly straight up thru the hull, where do you end up?

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Mine had the same drip. A previous owner drilled and filled the holes which i discovered during the restoration process. My sense is the patch they did was not water prood and allowed water in or any water that may have been in the hull made its way forward to that spot which depending how the boat sits on the trailer may be the low spot where the water will accumulate.

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Jerry, your PP shows your keel area beat up pretty bad. The foam may have been saturated from that damage. I would way the boat asap and be as close on your guess as possible(motor,gas,ex...). This way you will know how serious it is or not. BG

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Well I reinspected the next day and there are no more drips,just some sweating/moisture,my instinct tells me that the previous owner may have made a non-waterproof repair and then covered it with bottom paint,rendering it invisible untill I remove the paint. Thats my next step. As for the damage on the keel up front under the bow,I guess its possible water got in there,but doubtful since the glass looks intact,I also plan on repairing it before the season. Thanks for all the great input. I would weigh it in a heartbeat, but I just sold the trailer,wrong one(roller) and there are no local weigh stations open.

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I can tell you that i have one spot on the hull where it drips, nothing around to indicate water ever got in there. When I pulled the tank cover, it was clear that one of the screws from the cover went thru into open foam and that was how the water was getting into the hull.

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kamie,if the water can get out ,it most likely can get in, what I am trying to say is water should not be dripping/weeping out fron the bottom,at least I dont think so,if it sitting in the water it will therefore weep/drip in?

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update,pulled out the anchor locker drain tube (in sad condition) and the foam was moist at the bottom of the hull/hole,no dripping or water pouring out,just some moisture,next question is whats the best way to repair the drain tube,brass or PVC??