Little pieces of rotten wood...!
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Boat Maintenance
Forum Discription: Discuss maintenance of your Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=14717
Printed Date: May-18-2024 at 4:33am
Topic: Little pieces of rotten wood...!
Posted By: Kristof
Subject: Little pieces of rotten wood...!
Date Posted: July-31-2009 at 6:43am
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Last weekend I found three pieces of rotten wood in the bilge...!!
They where lying in the bilge water just in front of the drain plug. Last year I also found a little piece in the same place. I removed the back seat, the floor board and the engine cover to check my stringers and to check if there where any soft spots in the floor. Nothing... not even in front of the passenger seat or the driver seat. When the boat sat on the trailer I also checked for cracks in the gelcoat. Nothing either. Everything feels rock solid. Can anyone tell me where these pieces of wood come from? Could they be from the bulkhead between the battery box and the bilge? I planned to do a complete restore in the winter after I return from my tour in Afghanistan (best way to spend the extra money from that mission, and, even my wife agrees!), Because I know I'll have to do the mandatory stringer job anyway. Problem is that this will be in the winter of 2010-2011... So I need to know if my baby will be able to pull the show team this season and even next summer... Otherwise, our club will need to find another solution for next season... 
But, no question about it that the boat comes first! I want to keep her for many years to come, so I do not intend to beat her up... ------------- - Gun control means: using BOTH hands! - Money doesn't make one happy, but when it rains cats and dogs, it's still better to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle... |
Replies:
Posted By: behindpropeller
Date Posted: July-31-2009 at 10:19am
Probably just a troll putting rotten wood in your boat  ------------- |
Posted By: ryanowen
Date Posted: July-31-2009 at 12:41pm
They could be from the bulkhead. Mine was just a thin piece of ply that wasn't really sealed well. When I pulled it out, it came out in many pieces. My floors felt very solid too until I pulled the driver seat base up. I'm sure I could have used it for quite a few more years as was but I didn't want to put a new interior on the rotten floor. Here is a pic of my bulkhead before I pulled it. The darker area at the bottom was mush.  ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=3284 - 1988 Ski Nautique |
Kristof wrote:Posted By: Luchog
Date Posted: July-31-2009 at 2:04pm
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I wouldnt worry, I bet they fell from Kapla's bag on his visit there...
I think you should heep using the boat until you decide to rebuild it. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2095" rel="nofollow - 1980 Ski Nautique Commander 351W |
Posted By: Tomski
Date Posted: July-31-2009 at 2:29pm
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Don't panic, man.
You need to subscribe to the L.I.D. school of mechanics - Let it Develop - when it has developed, it becomes obvious what the problem is! I used to work for a haulier whose mechanic used to tell you that, worse, of an unknown noise he would say "not sure what that is, we'll let it develop and whatever it is will fall off when it's had enough" ------------- Easily Parted From Money |
Posted By: JoeinNY
Date Posted: July-31-2009 at 2:43pm
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I agree if everything appears solid and your lags are holding, waiting a couple seasons before the full restore isnt being a bad boat owner. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1477 - 1983 Ski Nautique 2001 1967 Mustang 302 "Decoy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO5MkcBXBBs - Holeshot Video |
Posted By: GottaSki
Date Posted: July-31-2009 at 2:45pm
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Exactly, don't panic.
The Engine/Pylon cradle handles the bulk of the stress. ------------- "There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worthwhile as messing around with boats...simply messing." River Rat to Mole |
Posted By: Kristof
Date Posted: July-31-2009 at 5:34pm
Thanks for the replies guys... Do feel a little more reassured 
But, tomorrow, I'll take a little mirror with me and a flash light. Just wanna see what's going on under that floor board in front of the engine...  ------------- - Gun control means: using BOTH hands! - Money doesn't make one happy, but when it rains cats and dogs, it's still better to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle... |
Posted By: kapla
Date Posted: July-31-2009 at 9:55pm
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don't panic dude..that boat feels and pulls like new!!! mine could have lasted a few more seasons also!!! but as engine rebuilt was on the way I decided to go all toghether and forget about it for 20 more years!!! ------------- <a href="">1992 ski nautique |
Posted By: lewy2001
Date Posted: August-02-2009 at 4:27am
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Kristof maybe you could use the Pete method. Drill a couple of holes in the stringers low with a hole saw. Let the blade just cut through the glass shell and remove. The drill bit will have gone deeper into the timber and will give a bit more of a indication of stringer condition.
This large inspection hole should give you a indication of stringer rot. My 89 seems to be in similar condition to yours. The stringers all sound solid and the lags tighten down good. I replaced the centre rear floor piece as it was bad when I first got the boat from US. The glass around the stringers is solid with no signs of cracking or delamination. The front floor piece seems solid also but I bet there is some water in the foam under the floor. I have been meaning to do the Pete hole saw check of stringers. But have been hesitant in case I found something that I dont like the look of. Tell you what Kristof if you are game enough I am in also. 
I was planning on doing two inspection holes in each stringer one a bit behind rear of engine cradle and another as close to the front of boat as accessible with the hole saw. Maybe Pete could offer further suggestions on best points for inspection holes. Kristof after attending a CCfan reunion. I can offer this advice. The only problem is that it is a bit like the site in that you will have to go back for more. ------------- If you're going through hell, keep going http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2999" rel="nofollow - 89 Ski <a href="http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=5685" ta |
Posted By: bkhallpass
Date Posted: August-02-2009 at 4:43am
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I doubt it is the stringers. I would guess either the bulkhead as depicted above, or the plywood flooring that surrounds the pylon, and hangs over into the engine compartment is starting to rot away. I had lots of little rotten pieces of this plywood when I tore into mine. BKH ------------- Livin' the Dream |
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: August-02-2009 at 10:23am
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I'll double what BKH had to say. ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2331&sort=&pagenum=12&yrstart=1986&yrend=1990" rel="nofollow - 1988 BFN-sold "It's a Livin' Thing...What a Terrible Thing to Lose" ELO |
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: August-02-2009 at 10:38am
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To add kristof, You're as good of a friend as I could hope to meet overseas...all these tubs need some help!
And don't think I won't darken your door someday. ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2331&sort=&pagenum=12&yrstart=1986&yrend=1990" rel="nofollow - 1988 BFN-sold "It's a Livin' Thing...What a Terrible Thing to Lose" ELO |
Posted By: lewy2001
Date Posted: August-02-2009 at 11:27pm
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Hey Greg arrived back in Australia on Saturday. How are things down your way. Really enjoyed our trip to the US. The highlight of the trip was the CCfan reunion and meeting all the great people there.
Have not listened to your Buffalo music yet the player in the car did not like the disks. Great to see you and Tim boarding in the Morfoot sighting thread will add some more comments there when I get some more time. Back to work already that holiday feeling is disappearing fast. ------------- If you're going through hell, keep going http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2999" rel="nofollow - 89 Ski <a href="http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=5685" ta |
Posted By: eric lavine
Date Posted: August-03-2009 at 10:23am
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BTW, Lewy that was on of my highlights of meeting you and the wife, so far away but common interests. now everytime i hear an Aussie on the tube i think of you 2 ------------- "the things you own will start to own you" |
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: August-03-2009 at 10:24am
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Hey Lewy, it was great to meet you and Jo!
Well, the water is warm. 
Enjoy the tunes. My favorite in that group is 'long songs'. Jeb(lead guitarist and vocals) plays some funky chords. Take care and let me know if you need the disks in a different format. ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2331&sort=&pagenum=12&yrstart=1986&yrend=1990" rel="nofollow - 1988 BFN-sold "It's a Livin' Thing...What a Terrible Thing to Lose" ELO |