Scuff in Whaler keel, leaking water

[badgerbacker]

I was putting my 17' Boston Whaler on the the trailer when I heard a scraping sound on the trailer, so I backed the boat off, almost totally submerged the trailer and let the boat settle on as I pulled out. When I investigated, I noticed the middle roller on the trailer had disappeared (not sure how or even when) and the keel now has a scrape through the gel coat and it is showing fiberglass. Not very serious, no frayed edges even, just down to the first layer of glass. I let the boat sit for a week and went to repair it with some white Marine-Tex today.
BUT...
Water is leaking out through the scrape. It will actually build up and drip off over about a 10 minute period. I am at a loss as to what to do. I am guessing there is water in the foam and it is dripping from this low spot that now is open, but how to I repair the damage in the hull? (I really am not willing to tear up the floor at this time)

 

[badgerbacker]

Re: Scuff in Whaler keel, leaking water

More notes:
I will be adding some photos.
This keel section was repaired in the past by a very reputable marina. (The prior owner had this done)
The water only forms a drip every 5 minutes.
The foam in various other areas I have checked seems dry.
I am not positive when this damage occurred, but it could have only seen about 10 hours of submersion.
I know gel coat will not stick to the Marine-Tex, this section of the keel is white and I am fine with using white Marine-Tex on it.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Scuff in Whaler keel, leaking water

Water in a Whaler hull is bad news, but if it's only been submerged for 10 hrs. it shouldn't be too bad.

I'd position the trailer so that the scrape is the lowest point of the hull so all the water will drain out, maybe put a fan under it too to help it dry quicker.

I would not use the boat again until the foam was completely dry and the scrape was repaired... even if it took a month of Sundays to dry out.

Waterlogged foam in a Whaler is pretty much irreparable and ruins the boat.

 

[fishingfrenzy]

Re: Scuff in Whaler keel, leaking water

I have a Whaler, and am still learning. The foam may have been wet prior to this incident. Any screws in the deck, or any holes, are possible entry points for water.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Scuff in Whaler keel, leaking water

That patched area looks large and makes me wonder just exactly what was done to it.

Your arrow makes it look like the drip is coming from just behind the patch and I find that curious too.

If it was me, I'd drill 3 or 4 1/8" holes in the center of the keel scrape and see just how much water leaked out... You're going to have to patch that area anyway.

I'm thinking you may have found the reason the previous owner decided to sell this boat.

 

[Revenge]

Re: Scuff in Whaler keel, leaking water

I was putting my 17' Boston Whaler on the the trailer when I heard a scraping sound on the trailer, so I backed the boat off, almost totally submerged the trailer and let the boat settle on as I pulled out. When I investigated, I noticed the middle roller on the trailer had disappeared (not sure how or even when) and the keel now has a scrape through the gel coat and it is showing fiberglass. Not very serious, no frayed edges even, just down to the first layer of glass. I let the boat sit for a week and went to repair it with some white Marine-Tex today.
BUT...
Water is leaking out through the scrape. It will actually build up and drip off over about a 10 minute period. I am at a loss as to what to do. I am guessing there is water in the foam and it is dripping from this low spot that now is open, but how to I repair the damage in the hull? (I really am not willing to tear up the floor at this time)

Your Whaler is one of many that have water in their hulls. Your just one of the few who know it for a fact.
Whaler foam doesn?t dry fast. The reason I know is because mine dripped for over a year. I ended up digging the foam out. With that said, drain what you can. Pay a good FG guy to fix the keel correctly, and go boating.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Scuff in Whaler keel, leaking water

Your Whaler is one of many that have water in their hulls. Your just one of the few who know it for a fact. Whaler foam doesn?t dry fast. The reason I know is because mine dripped for over a year. I ended up digging the foam out. With that said, drain what you can. Pay a good FG guy to fix the keel correctly, and go boating.

The 'unsinkable' feature that is a great benefit when in good condition is what makes a Whaler so difficult to repair once water has penetrated the hull and waterlogged the foam:

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Scuff in Whaler keel, leaking water

That damage did not just start to occure. That has been going on for a long time. Front roller on trailer was probably bad for a while.

Anyway, no worries, that can be fixed easily with some glass work.

You will want to dry dock that boat for a while with the stern as low as you can get it so any water that is in the hull will drain towards the stern.

Once it has dried in that area and the leaking stops you will want to start grinding back on each side of the patch about 4 inches on either side. You will lay fiberglass until it is built up getting larger as you build it up to the original contour of the hull. This patch can all be done in one day. Just in a few hours of time with very little material. Last you will want a couple coats of gelcoating to seal it up and make it look purdy.

There are many guys on here in old threads that have done this exact keel patch. Its not a big deal.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Scuff in Whaler keel, leaking water

I'm not a Pro!!! JBC is correct about the boats construction an for that reason I believe you could effect the repairs by cutting away the scuffed area completely to the interior foam. This would allow any and all standing water to effectively drain from the interior of the hull. With heaters and air you could speed up the process. Once the water has stop dripping you would repair any gouges in the hull with spray in foam from a can and then form it to shape. Then grind and bevel the surrounding glass back approx. 6 inches. then using Alternating layers of 1.5 oz CSM and 1808 Biaxial Cloth lay up the new patch glass. Would be a LOT easier if the hull was flipped. Can be done upside down but more of a challenge. The foamed hull will provide the backing support needed and the multiple lams of Mat and Cloth will provide the needed strength to the keel. Not an easy fix but it is doable.