The drain hose of the chain locker became detached in heavy seas two hours offshore.
Considerable water entered sufficient to require Whale manual pumping 30/60 to assist the diaphragm pump. I returned to port. Also it was blowing steady 30 gusts to 35 and 40 with 6-foot seas, which is too much for the boat close hauled to windward.
This morning's damage survey revealed that the copper tube epoxied into the stem, to which the short 1/2" drain hose is attached, has broken off result of corrosion. Although some access is possible, especially if I enlarge the bulkhead, the proper repair is to remove the anchor pan and glass in a new hose connection through the stem.
That's work I'd rather do at home. So here's the current plan:
--Seal the hole in the stem with epoxy. It can be drilled out later.
--Seal the anchor well drain hole in the pan and also at the hose end. Anchor well will fill with water and not drain.
The chain locker is a trapezoid shape measuring in inches approx. 9 x 12 x 38. (The 12" depth is 9" at aft end, so it will drain). Call that roughly a rectangle 1' x 1' x 3' nd the volume is 3 square feet ( a trapezoid has less volume). Water weighs about 65 pounds per cubic foot, so that's somewhere between 100 and 200 pounds of water in the well. Trivial as far as boaT trim goes.
My chain and rode already displaces nearly half the space and I can add two one-gallon empty jugs to displace more water. I don't see a full chain locker as a significant weight problem, and it can be pumped out during fair weather .
--What if the chain locker pan collapses? The pan is in excellent condition and the seal is good--no leaks or historical issues. It remains protected from green water by the lid, also in ex condition. I don't see it collapsing, which would be a catastrophe in any case.
--WhAT if the stem plug fails? A hole packed with thickened epoxy shouldn't fail. The force is ouTside-in, and I'll leave a cap of epoxy on the outside.
Comments appreciated.
It looks like I will remain in port through the weekend. Weather says these heavy trades may reduce when thE high pressure moves, and not until. Locals agree it is not a good time to be offshore.
Considerable water entered sufficient to require Whale manual pumping 30/60 to assist the diaphragm pump. I returned to port. Also it was blowing steady 30 gusts to 35 and 40 with 6-foot seas, which is too much for the boat close hauled to windward.
This morning's damage survey revealed that the copper tube epoxied into the stem, to which the short 1/2" drain hose is attached, has broken off result of corrosion. Although some access is possible, especially if I enlarge the bulkhead, the proper repair is to remove the anchor pan and glass in a new hose connection through the stem.
That's work I'd rather do at home. So here's the current plan:
--Seal the hole in the stem with epoxy. It can be drilled out later.
--Seal the anchor well drain hole in the pan and also at the hose end. Anchor well will fill with water and not drain.
The chain locker is a trapezoid shape measuring in inches approx. 9 x 12 x 38. (The 12" depth is 9" at aft end, so it will drain). Call that roughly a rectangle 1' x 1' x 3' nd the volume is 3 square feet ( a trapezoid has less volume). Water weighs about 65 pounds per cubic foot, so that's somewhere between 100 and 200 pounds of water in the well. Trivial as far as boaT trim goes.
My chain and rode already displaces nearly half the space and I can add two one-gallon empty jugs to displace more water. I don't see a full chain locker as a significant weight problem, and it can be pumped out during fair weather .
--What if the chain locker pan collapses? The pan is in excellent condition and the seal is good--no leaks or historical issues. It remains protected from green water by the lid, also in ex condition. I don't see it collapsing, which would be a catastrophe in any case.
--WhAT if the stem plug fails? A hole packed with thickened epoxy shouldn't fail. The force is ouTside-in, and I'll leave a cap of epoxy on the outside.
Comments appreciated.
It looks like I will remain in port through the weekend. Weather says these heavy trades may reduce when thE high pressure moves, and not until. Locals agree it is not a good time to be offshore.