Friday, January 31, 2014

The need of keeping water out of the bilge of a metal boat

I always start my surveys on metal boats by using Thermal Imaging of the hull. This helps me locate the structural components of the metal boat. I am also looking for trapped moisture and/or water. If this is found, then there is a good chance there will be corrosion. Next I conduct an inspection of the bilge of the boat, including, anchor, sail, cockpit lockers, and lazarettes. Now I have a very good idea where to concentrate my UTM-audio gauge. I take readings of the whole hull, but will do more readings in the areas of concern.

When I see water in a bilge of a metal boat beyond what might be in a sump I get concerned. I would like to see dry bilges on all metal boats, but this is not always possible. On Tuesday I surveyed a steel trawler. Overall this boat looked to be in fair condition, but then I saw the water in the bilge, a lot of it! There was heavy scale in some areas because of the standing water.  I knew this was an area I needed to spend some time getting thickness readings.

The next day I did my audio gauge. My readings indicated plate wastage. In some areas I could not get a reading that most likely is caused by heavy scale. My visual inspection from inside confirmed the heavy scale. When I arrived at the boat I noticed some weeping from what I hoped was paint blisters. Then an hour later water stared streaming from one of the blisters. Just to think only the paint was holding this section of plate together.

The good news! The boat was out of the water it will not sink. Steel boats can fixed; by cropping out the bad plate and adding new. In a short period of time, she will be underway again.

The moral of this story? If you own a metal boat keep an eye on the bilges.

I will post photos in my next post.

16 comments:

  1. Dylan:
    Thanks for the informative post. It was helpful for me to learn more about the direct application and potential benefits of Thermal Imaging.

    As a former steel boat owner shopping for another steel boat, I also start with the bilges. From a less technical standpoint, I feel reassured when I can get visual access to actually see the total of the interior hull with my eyes by removing floor boards and the like. It has been my experience that interiors not typically installed in such a manner to enable this beneficial high degree of access. If I owned a boat that did not have good access, I would try to make visual access where practical, but since this is not always possible, the view that Thermal Imaging provides is a real asset.

    Obviously, the condition of the interior coating is also critical and after looking at a number of bilges it becomes clear that not all builders prep to the same degree or even apply enough paint...

    I like to see adequate limber holes to prevent water from getting trapped or puddling - any water should be able to make its way to the lowest point in the bilge - preferably a sump with any automatic pump. From my experience, the omission of limber holes is not isolated to "home-builds" as I have seen them omitted on some metal boats built by builders who have been around a long time.

    I also like to see some dust and even some dry items like maybe an old stray onion peal.

    I like to enter the boat after it has been closed up for a while and use my nose to smell around and into the bilges, since the quality of the air is a good indication of what it likely to be encountered.

    I pay particular attention to inspect areas under the 1) heads 2) engine 3) around the through-hulls 4) any rudder gland and 5) along longitudinal stringers - which from my experience are often either burried behind cabinets or insulated over.

    I would also suggest the underside of decks are an important area to have visual access to - particularly if the deck hardware is mechanically fastened thru the deck rather than welded. The windlass area in particular can be a real mess.

    Hope some of this might be helpful to others starting out with a steel.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Matt,
    I think anyone looking to buy a boat of any kind needs to approach their inspections the way you do. Kudos!
    Dylan

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi, Dylan! It’s good to know what to look out for when choosing a boat from the expert himself. But more importantly, one must conduct their own research and do proper inspection first when looking to buy a boat. Thanks for the insight, and have a great day ahead!

    Kent Garner @ Whites Marine Center

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kent! You are correct! Have a good one.

      Delete
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