Ericson 29 deteriorated bilge lining

[kw72]

Hello everyone,

I would appreciate some advice on how to address a deteriorated bilge lining in my early-1970s Ericson 29. The boat is kept in the water year-round in a marina on San Francisco Bay.

The thin fiberglass lining in the bilge has deteriorated and appears to have exposed the lead ballast. I am not sure how serious this is. The exposed surface is pitted, presumably from corrosion or long-term moisture exposure.

The boat is currently hauled out for bottom painting, so this seems like a good opportunity to make a repair if one is needed. At the moment, the bilge is completely dry.

I inspected the exterior of the keel and did not find any weeping or other obvious signs of water intrusion. I also sounded the keel by tapping, and it sounds solid throughout.

My main question is whether I should be concerned about water getting into any voids or spaces between the lead ballast and the surrounding fiberglass keel cavity. If so, what would be the recommended way to address this?

Otherwise, my current thought is to clean and prepare the area, then cover the exposed lead with epoxy and fiberglass. Would that be an adequate repair, or is there something more I should be considering?

Any suggestions or experience with similar Ericson keel/bilge repairs would be appreciated.

Thanks,
KW

 

[Afrakes]

I assume that your bilge is a deep one located at the very rear of the keel. I did a similar successful repair you described on my former E-27. What you propose should be adequate. If I remember correctly the encapsulated keel configuration included foam around the lead keel covered by the fiberglass skin. If you aren't seeing any external evidence of leakage, I wouldn't be concerned. There is an E-29 on the hard in our marina and the yard unfortunately placed a support block directly underneath the hollow bilge area not under the solid lead area.

 

[kw72]

Thanks for the advice and information... Yes. The bilge is at the very rear of the keel, but I am a bit confused : There is some information out there that the lead-keel does not fully fill the fiberglass-keel-cavity and that there is a "keel void" that goes all the way down to the bottom of the keel..

Is this correct ? Some information out there hints that this void can be visible, but I am not sure that makes sense as there is a bilge lining. In my case, although this is degraded and pieces of the lining have broken out exposing the lead, I do not see a void, I see a part of lead that slopes up towards the forward end of the engine dripping pan...

I do not understand where the supposed void can be and how deep it is supposed to be..

I am worried that this "void" is filled with water as the bilge had water from a leaking stuffing box.

Or is the information about the void in the keel cavity is inaccurate?

Thanks.
KW...

 

[Afrakes]

The bilge on my E-27 extended to the bottom of the keel and it was totally sealed from any other part of the keel. The fiberglass thickness of the very bottom of the bilge was about 2". There was no lead visible. Again, if you are not seeing any external signs of weeping, I wouldn't worry any further. Some folks actually filled a portion of the bilge because it is so deep and hard to reach.

 

[toddster]

Pics might help.
On my E29, a PO had filled the void in the back of the keel to about 8" below the sump. Just enough room to hold the bilge pump. There was no fiberglass liner or anything. It was concrete, maybe with mixed with lead shot, but who knows?