Serenity is out of the water for some fiberglass work (at Zahnisers, for the local crowd). This is the first time I've seen her out of the water, other than in pictures, so I took lots of photos. I'm sure I'll have other questions...
In the meantime, what is this? Forward section of the keel, and by tapping, I'd guess at the bottom of the bilge. A... bilge drain? None of the other boats in the yard had one. I think the line of paint abrasion is coincidental, because I can't think of why there would be any abrasion while it was in the water, and she's been in the water for the last two years.
Is this a case of being ahead of everyone else?
b.
Brian
SV Serenity
Nonsuch Nereus 40, #003
Pax River, MD
Yes I believe it is a bilge drain. I seem to recall someone mentioning they installed one to prevent water/ice in the bilge over the winter. Personally I visit the boat on a regular basis over the winter and check the bilge for water. Others may not be able to.
It is definitely a bilge drain. You might want to get a new plug that is countersunk for a 1/2" square drive. That will provide much less protruding from the fitting reducing drag.
The proper name for that is a "Garboard plug" and is used to drain the bilge. I can only assume that this was done during construction of the boat as it is so far down the keel.
Thanks Brian, I’ve never seen a bilge drain plug on a full size sailboat before… 28 years of boating and still learning.
While we’re at it, what kind of fiberglass work needs to be done?
Mark, from the Netherlands, is asking you what kind of fibreglass work you will be doing because his boat is almost done and he is (pardon the pun) ITCHING to do more fibreglass work (even if he has to get on a plane).
Wait … is that HIM overhead ???
Ernie A. in Toronto Ok, Joe, OK … I won’t hijack this post any further.
I hadn’t actually intended to tell this story… maybe after the sting is gone.
Short version: Tied up beside a dock, no cleats, just short pilings. Couldn’t move it before the first storm of the year came through… Alberto, was it? Water levels rose more than I understood, and the fenders rolled right up the short pilings and over the top of them. Also, the aft line rode up over the top of the pilings and came off. When I got out to the boat that day, the hull was scraping up and down on the top of one of the pilings. Someone had thoughtfully tied off the aft end, but not before it banged into the dock a few times.
End result: Bangs and scraps up and down the starboard side, and one big hole that goes nearly down to the core. Insurance is picking up the tab to explore the damage, re-glass, fair, and seal the hull, and replace a section of the teak rub rail that was overly compressed and damaged. They will pay for the paint job at the end of the season.
(I intend to look at the masts closely when the boat is out for painting, replacing the top lights, re-running some messenger lines and perhaps a second halyard on the main mast, and seeing what I can do about some paint bubbling around the track. Sorry, I thought I had a good picture of that, but apparently not.)
Hanging fenders on a boat in those conditions is usually ineffective. Placing them on the pilings, where possible, might have had more success as they tend to stay in place. Fender boards, however, due to their width, do a much better job. And, of course, sometimes nothing works!!
Hi Brian, I’m sorry about your hull damage. Can’t think of anything to say to ease it.
So are you ready for a down to earth, stupid, remark instead?.. Alberto did most of the grinding and sanding for you, so that saves a lot of work that had to be done if it was a crack or a tear. Some truth to that strangely. You also helped by covering it up with plastic. Should not be toooo difficult to repair properly.
I had owned the boat less than 30 days. Maiden voyage. Delivery, in fact. I have been placing one on a piling (strategically, in the slip) but we didn’t realize the storm was going to come through before we could get her in a slip, and didn’t realize the water level would rise as much as it does in that marina.
But yeah. Current slip is too narrow for my tastes, but it’s convenient, and I can tie her up with enough room to spare that I’m not overly worried about rubbing up against anything.
b.
Brian
SV Serenity
Nonsuch Nereus 40, #003
Pax River, MD
Thanks! Overall, the survey came back more or less clean, so this was a grinding and sanding that probably didn’t need doing. Still, the Insurance is paying for it, and I’m getting to know the local marina that seems to have one of the best reputations around.
Also this gives me a chance to work on the masts (over winter) without me paying for the mast and wishbone removal. Probably have to have Butch come help me put it back right at the end, but he’s right there, so.
b.
Brian
SV Serenity
Nonsuch Nereus 40, #003
Pax River, MD
