Ski Locker Bulkhead

[void7910]

On my 06 1800SR3 just discovered that the stern-side ski locker bulk head is wet. Some of the glass/paint peeled off and the wood is definitely wet in the bulkhead

Does anyone know if the aft ski locker bulkhead is structural or just separates the ski locker from the tank/bilge area?

[mmwjr]

My concern is other hidden wet structure. Any soft spots in the deck?

[void7910]

My concerns as well. The deck is solid, as far as I can tell. I think the issue was that the previous owner let water sit in the bilge/ski locker as the drain line(s) were pretty much plugged when I bought it.

I am definitely concerned about the other bulkhead in front of the engine and the transom if water was in fact sitting in the bilge/locker. That said, the other bulk head and transom look MUCH better glassed than this bulk head. The thick glass only looks to creep up the bulkhead about an inch then it's super thin, almost looks like it's not glassed all (and it may not be).

[mmwjr]

May just be coated in resin without any glass material.

[shrew]

The bulkhead serves three purposes.

1) Lateral support for the stringers

2) vertical support for the sole.

3) compartmentalization of the bilges.

The bulkhead and the stringers are not sealed before they are tabbed. Which means water can wick from the bulkhead into the stringer.

[void7910]

Thanks for info! On the 2006+ model years the stringers are listed as "composite". Does that mean "no wood"? I called US Marine to clarify if the stringers were wood and the answer was "they're foam filled blocks" whatever that means.

Hopefully this means I do not have to be concerned about the stringers.

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by void7910

Thanks for info! On the 2006+ model years the stringers are listed as "composite". Does that mean "no wood"? I called US Marine to clarify if the stringers were wood and the answer was "they're foam filled blocks" whatever that means.

Hopefully this means I do not have to be concerned about the stringers.

Composite means no wood however the structural foam can absorb water if the glass they are incased in cracks. This will add significant weight as the water gets trapped.

[void7910]

Interesting. Thanks for all the info!

We had the boat out for a sea trial when we bought it, and it got up on plane just fine, and hit 55mph without issue so I don't think the foam is completely waterlogged. Read somewhere that someone was having issues getting on plane and this was the problem.

Do you know how I might check the foam for water content?

The stuff poking out where the deck joins the stringers is dry to the touch.

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by void7910

Interesting. Thanks for all the info!

We had the boat out for a sea trial when we bought it, and it got up on plane just fine, and hit 55mph without issue so I don't think the foam is completely waterlogged. Read somewhere that someone was having issues getting on plane and this was the problem.

Do you know how I might check the foam for water content?

The stuff poking out where the deck joins the stringers is dry to the touch.

Either a moisture meter or drill a small hole to see if water comes out as you're drilling then backfill with resin if ok.

[void7910]

Update: Looks like I drew the short straw with this purchase. Drilled some pilot holes around the ski locker:

- starboard deck; shavings were darkened but not brown
- starboard stringer; one spot came out brown, one dark
- port deck; nice dry looking wood
- port stringer; same
- port deck under the bow seating area; shavings were quite darkened but not yet brown

From all this I can surmise two things
1) The "composite" stringers Maxum was referring to are foam filled plywood blocks
2) My boat has a number of wet spots in the deck and stringers

Is it actually possible to buy a ~10 year old boat without wet wood?

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by void7910

Update: Looks like I drew the short straw with this purchase. Drilled some pilot holes around the ski locker:

- starboard deck; shavings were darkened but not brown
- starboard stringer; one spot came out brown, one dark
- port deck; nice dry looking wood
- port stringer; same
- port deck under the bow seating area; shavings were quite darkened but not yet brown

From all this I can surmise two things
1) The "composite" stringers Maxum was referring to are foam filled plywood blocks
2) My boat has a number of wet spots in the deck and stringers

Is it actually possible to buy a ~10 year old boat without wet wood?

Common for a boat this old if not kept covered.

[void7910]

It does suck. From everyone's experience what sort of time frame do I have before it's "must fix" issue?

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by void7910

It does suck. From everyone's experience what sort of time frame do I have before it's "must fix" issue?

Hard to say 1-2 years or up to 5 if not kept in the water and a good cover to keep rain out.