Possible Keel Damage Due To Standing Water In Bilge

[Windancer808]

Hi guys,

I have looked at a 1968 Ericson 31 for sale today, which can be acquired for next to nothing. The bones are solid, mast, deck and compression look solid and the chain plates and rigging look decent enough. However, there is water coming in from window frames and, from at least two places on deck. I am concerned about standing water in the bilge. Understanding that the Ericson keel is embedded, it is still attached with a keel bolt, is it not?

At least that is what I thing I am seeing. Regardless, my question is, whether or not the inside of the keel can be damaged or weakened over time, by constant water intrusion from leaking chainplates or windows. Does the moisture eventually creep into the keel and cause inside damage? I suppose in '68 the embedded keel material was lead. I would welcome a comment from Ericson owners regarding this potential issue. Once the boat is out of the water I can drill into the keel to fnd out, but would like to know if other owners share the same concern.

Thanks,
Joe

 

[Afrakes]

On the 81" E-28+ I cut up. The lead keel was encapsulated with no keel bolts. The void between the lead and out FRP was filed with foam. I'd hazard a guess you'll find the same.

 

[Gary Holford]

About the only damage I can think of is if that water has a chance to freeze it could crack the fiberglass.

 

[Loren Beach]

Hi guys,

I have looked at a 1968 Ericson 31 for sale today, which can be acquired for next to nothing. The bones are solid, mast, deck and compression look solid and the chain plates and rigging look decent enough. However, there is water coming in from window frames and, from at least two places on deck. I am concerned about standing water in the bilge. Understanding that the Ericson keel is embedded, it is still attached with a keel bolt, is it not?

At least that is what I thing I am seeing. Regardless, my question is, whether or not the inside of the keel can be damaged or weakened over time, by constant water intrusion from leaking chainplates or windows. Does the moisture eventually creep into the keel and cause inside damage? I suppose in '68 the embedded keel material was lead. I would welcome a comment from Ericson owners regarding this potential issue. Once the boat is out of the water I can drill into the keel to fnd out, but would like to know if other owners share the same concern.

Thanks,
Joe

If built in '68, it must be an Ericson 30-1.
This link might be it:

https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/ericson-30-1

(One small error in the data would be the comment about a standard diesel in a 60's boat; much more likely to have a gas engine if original. AFAIK)

Ballast (internal) was lead. Being internal, there are no "keel bolts", altho it is common to find an embedded bolt in the top of the lead casting where the crane lowered it down into the hull.
Sometimes there might be voids at the bottom of the hull, and some water can migrate down there from the inside bilge area. Many owners here have commented on sealing the visible bilge and also on schemes for allowing any water to drain out when the boat is on the hard.

Note that there is nothing normal about having rain water routinely come in thru the deck or cabin. On a boat (any boat from any builder) over about 20 years old, you will need to re-bed the deck fittings and likely all of the ports. Original sealant hardens and loses grip on both sides - the fitting and the boat. That's normal.
On the positive side, more modern sealant/adhesives are very long lived.

Example: EY constructed our boat with 3M 5200 adhesive in the late 80's and I just now re-bedding all fittings. I have found a lot of small places where the sealant was starting to fail from the outside inward of fittings & ports, but none where it has quite penetrated into coring. Once we are done in another month or so, I can only hope...... that I live long enough to have to do this work again!

 

[Windancer808]

If built in '68, it must be an Ericson 30-1.
This link might be it:

https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/ericson-30-1

(One small error in the data would be the comment about a standard diesel in a 60's boat; much more likely to have a gas engine if original. AFAIK)

Ballast (internal) was lead. Being internal, there are no "keel bolts", altho it is common to find an embedded bolt in the top of the lead casting where the crane lowered it down into the hull.
Sometimes there might be voids at the bottom of the hull, and some water can migrate down there from the inside bilge area. Many owners here have commented on sealing the visible bilge and also on schemes for allowing any water to drain out when the boat is on the hard.

Note that there is nothing normal about having rain water routinely come in thru the deck or cabin. On a boat (any boat from any builder) over about 20 years old, you will need to re-bed the deck fittings and likely all of the ports. Original sealant hardens and loses grip on both sides - the fitting and the boat. That's normal.
On the positive side, more modern sealant/adhesives are very long lived.

Example: EY constructed our boat with 3M 5200 adhesive in the late 80's and I just now re-bedding all fittings. I have found a lot of small places where the sealant was starting to fail from the outside inward of fittings & ports, but none where it has quite penetrated into coring. Once we are done in another month or so, I can only hope...... that I live long enough to have to do this work again!

Thank you for your reply. I am thinking abut one thing a friend told me a long time ago. "A free or cheap purchase will likely end up to be the most expensive option". At 64 I am also concerned about time taking on a project like a complete rebuilt. May never get to actually sail her much.

 

[Windancer808]

On the 81" E-28+ I cut up. The lead keel was encapsulated with no keel bolts. The void between the lead and out FRP was filed with foam. I'd hazard a guess you'll find the same.

Thank you for your reply. I was thinking along that way, as there was only (1) bolt). This, as explained to me in this forum was likely the bolt used to hoist the lead ballast into the keel.

 

[Loren Beach]

Oh, to be 64 again....!