I see, I think, that the inspection hatches were left on/ sealed in the video. Did you leave them screwed on all over the winter? I've heard that sealed inspection hatches can cause flexing as the trapped air expands/ contracts across hot and cold days ... but are wooden boats strong enough to resist the pressure changes or does winter not have the great variations and so it doesn't matter? Bests Regards, great blog at usual.
ow - hello - cracking question. I leave them on on the vertical bulkheads - because Arwen is kept on a sloping driveway and so any rainwater that does get through the tarp collects at the base of the vertical front seat bulkhead. In the past when I have left them off the water fills the lock areas and is a nightmare to get out and clean out. Leaving them screwed shut hasn't caused any problems thus far but I have never given this consideration and will do now - really good observation and tip - thank you. The other lockers remain slightly open to allow airflow through since water doesn't collect in those areas.
Cheers Steve, On my eggshell-like Solo dinghy, I leave them open and occasionally hear a 'pfff' after sailing when I unlock them, slightly similar to the noise my son makes when he hears how I did in a race. On my Bay Raider 17, I leave them on, and the experienced sailor/ engineer I bought the boat off also seems to leave them on so I suspect it isn't a problem. I have heard of people drilling a very, very small pin-sized hole to allow air in/out but being so small the water ingress isn't an issue. Seems a good idea.
i suspect mine have a few of those tiny pin holes around their edges already!!!!. Drilling more would seem a waste of time :) although it is a good idea i must admit. It seems to all have survived a decade thus far. however, if the boat bilge fills with water that has leaked through the tarp over winter - because the boat is on a steep sloping drive - it collects down at the base of the forward seat bulkhead where those circular hatches are. on a couple of occasions - the hatches have been unscrewed and water discovered within the locker!! I think the water has probably built up against the hatches and then over the long time seeped through the seal area. I did one year take off the hatches and replaced the sealant that they bedded into and that also seems to have made a difference.
Thanks for taking a look at my blog. All comments and advice are welcome - drop me a few lines. You can always find videos about Arwen at www.youtube.com/c/plymouthwelshboy. Look forward to hearing from you. Steve
I see, I think, that the inspection hatches were left on/ sealed in the video. Did you leave them screwed on all over the winter?
ReplyDeleteI've heard that sealed inspection hatches can cause flexing as the trapped air expands/ contracts across hot and cold days ... but are wooden boats strong enough to resist the pressure changes or does winter not have the great variations and so it doesn't matter?
Bests Regards, great blog at usual.
ow - hello - cracking question.
ReplyDeleteI leave them on on the vertical bulkheads - because Arwen is kept on a sloping driveway and so any rainwater that does get through the tarp collects at the base of the vertical front seat bulkhead. In the past when I have left them off the water fills the lock areas and is a nightmare to get out and clean out. Leaving them screwed shut hasn't caused any problems thus far but I have never given this consideration and will do now - really good observation and tip - thank you. The other lockers remain slightly open to allow airflow through since water doesn't collect in those areas.
Cheers Steve, On my eggshell-like Solo dinghy, I leave them open and occasionally hear a 'pfff' after sailing when I unlock them, slightly similar to the noise my son makes when he hears how I did in a race. On my Bay Raider 17, I leave them on, and the experienced sailor/ engineer I bought the boat off also seems to leave them on so I suspect it isn't a problem. I have heard of people drilling a very, very small pin-sized hole to allow air in/out but being so small the water ingress isn't an issue. Seems a good idea.
ReplyDeletei suspect mine have a few of those tiny pin holes around their edges already!!!!. Drilling more would seem a waste of time :) although it is a good idea i must admit. It seems to all have survived a decade thus far. however, if the boat bilge fills with water that has leaked through the tarp over winter - because the boat is on a steep sloping drive - it collects down at the base of the forward seat bulkhead where those circular hatches are. on a couple of occasions - the hatches have been unscrewed and water discovered within the locker!! I think the water has probably built up against the hatches and then over the long time seeped through the seal area. I did one year take off the hatches and replaced the sealant that they bedded into and that also seems to have made a difference.
ReplyDelete