wood damage Bayliner Capri

[cj_cl800]

Was wondering if anyone had suggestions about wood damage I am currently
fixing. It is below the aft port fish well. Water accumulated from wet wood forward of this area. There was no way for it to drain out and the wood started rotting bottom upward.
Just curious - why is there no drain/scallop at the bottom of the stringer in this area for water to drain out? Any harm in making one? Would that affect the foam bouyancy chamber which is why the original manufacturers did not make one?
Attached is a pic.
Appreciate any feed back.

Thanks,
CJ

 

[Mark42]

Re: wood damage Bayliner Capri

Water accumulated from wet wood forward of this area. There was no way for it to drain out and the wood started rotting bottom upward.

Not sure what you mean, but from the photo, it looks like water got under the fishwell and started rot. That is generally a bad thing. I take it you cut out the bottom of the fishwell and found rot? You will probably have to remove a lot more to expose the stringers and remove the foam to do a proper fix.

Was the fishwell cracked before you cut out the bottom?

 

[hgmatt]

Re: wood damage Bayliner Capri

That looks like the ole cooler in the back of a 17' bayliner (what I got). Had the same problem, turns out that you have major rot damage, and more than likely you get to hear the "your deck is probably rotten along with your stringers and transom." You're foam is still going to float, not as well, but it'll float and everything should be okay, but you need to quickly determine if you're going to pull the floor and rebuild your boat. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

As for the floatation foam chamber, this foam acts more as a rigid surface for the deck to sit on, so it remains firm when you walk on it. The drain isn't there because the stringers are made of wood, and it would ultimately be a major source of water inflitration inside the fiberglass of your stringers. In addition, you would have to pull to the deck in order to fix between the stringer and the hull, as this area is not your bilge and "should" be free from water. The rot you're experiencing is more than likely from where water penetrated those areas and saturated the foam. After years of wet and dark area, rot festers and utlimatley will rot out the deck. I found on my bayliner that this water enters from multiple areas: Water from skiers & swimmers, where the stringers end near the bow, there is a little gap between the floor, hull and stringer where water infiltrates, and fiberglass is not completely waterproof. At this point, you really should be investigating whether or not your deck is rotten. More than likely you need to replace the deck in its entirety.

 

[cj_cl800]

Re: wood damage Bayliner Capri

Mark, Matt,

Thanks for the reply.
The glass coating on the wood floor below the fish well was still intact.
Water got in from the floor over the fuel tank and in the area just ahead forward port of the fish well seat.
The floor in this area rotted under the carpet. The stringers all around are still good (drilled and sealed). Rather than have compartments watertight, I'd prefer a watertight drain plug that I can unplug. It is the water logging that does worse damage than run off water - IMHO (humble opinion).
MAtt, this is the lowest point along the port fore and aft line and any water ahead all the way to the port bow should drain down here.

Here's a pic with where I plan a drain hole.

CJ