1979 Custom Craft 16

[bogdan2o]

Hello,

recently I got this boat and I like her a lot. Trying to remove some old repair on the bow, I started cleaning the stem where fiberglass looked a bit damaged, below I found some moist fibers so I went deeper and water started dripping out, eventually leading to about a galon of water.

I am wondering if I hit the boat draining or I got a more serious problem.

I also just noticed a hole next to the transom which looks like a drain also. Does anyone know what it's for?

 

[GWPSR]

Re: 1979 Custom Craft 16

Water leaking out of the hull at the bow likely means you have a mess of sodden foam under your deck. Minimally.

More likely, this has been trapped there for a while, and may have begun to rot the wood nearby. If you've read many of the threads here, you already know what you will need to check before you can determine: how bad, how far, how much.

A gallon of water free to flow out had to have been stored somewhere. And it was somewhere not designed to store water. Does the boat seem somewhat heavy for its size?

 

[bogdan2o]

Re: 1979 Custom Craft 16

Boat doesn't fell heavy at all, I discovered this leak by pure luck.
Previous owner was keeping it in his garage; I kept it in my driveway, so I figure it's rain water, about one month old. Do you think it started to rot already?

I tilted the boat so let all water drain out. I figure I can make some 2" inspection holes, looking at the attached pictures where should I start?

Thanks

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1979 Custom Craft 16

GWPSR is probably correct. The boat's bow was probably damaged & either used w/out knowing about the damage, or the repair you are removing was not sound & leaked. Is there foam beyond the wet fiberglass fibers? It is likely compromised. All the loose & damaged fiberglass will need to be removed & the damage assessed.

The hole in the 2nd pix you posted is for any water that finds it's way below decks can find it's way into the bilge & out the drain hole that is the other hole in that pix. It is a somewhat flawed design. The flotation foam that is likely wet, holds water, keeping the water from reaching that hole. Makes little sense, except for when the upright & level flotation foam US Coast Guard requirement was in-acted, boat manufacturers were slow to redesign the way water below deck had been directed from bow, back & into the bilge. That hole is a hold over from previous design principles that had no foam & water would easily find it's way back to that hole & drain out of the boat.

Read thru some of the other threads in the resto forum. A very large percentage of the full gut & resto's start very similar to the 1st sentences of yours:

Hello, I recently got this boat and I like her a lot. Trying to remove some old repair on the bow, I started cleaning the stem where fiberglass looked a bit damaged, below I found some moist fibers so I went deeper and water started dripping out, eventually leading to about a gallon of water. I am wondering if I hit the boat draining or I got a more serious problem.

It likely will not go quick & easy. But it can be repaired.

Welcome to the iboats dry dock...

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: 1979 Custom Craft 16

Hello,

recently I got this boat and I like her a lot. Trying to remove some old repair on the bow, I started cleaning the stem where fiberglass looked a bit damaged, below I found some moist fibers so I went deeper and water started dripping out, eventually leading to about a galon of water.

I am wondering if I hit the boat draining or I got a more serious problem.

I also just noticed a hole next to the transom which looks like a drain also. Does anyone know what it's for?

View attachment 166973
View attachment 166974

It looks like the stem has been damaged to the point were it went Through.

Inside and outside glass repairs should be done.

Grind out a bit further on the outside ( your gonna need to do this any ways ) and inspect what access you have from the inside at that location.

Get back with some pics and we can go from there.

YD.