This week's job in the cabin has been to lift the flooring to replace it with vinyl. When I took up the old carpet tiles the cabin sole had some cracks with rusty stains which look like they run around the metal plate in the bilge. Has anyone else noticed these cracks and do they worry you? They extend forward into the focsl and there are some gaps at the base of the keel box by the bulkhead. Has anyone tackled this problem before? I'm included to treat rust, fill and paint and cover up...

Kate

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Kate

Don't like the sound of that. My slab is well defined with very minor cracks in the fill right next to it. Do the cracks link to the keel box? - in which case could it have been caused by the drop keel issue you had. However as I know you had the glass fibre repaired following that you could probably get away with filling it all, but I would check with your repairer.

Hope that helps.

Tim

Hi Kate,

I would not worry about it my boat has exactly the same, i spoke to Bill about it and he had no concerns either.

The cause is a bit of moisture finding its way under the slab and rusting, the cracks are due to the expansion and contraction of the slab in different temps.

The slab is lowered (this explanation is for a P27 but i assume the 275 is similar) in the the polyester resin which is not part of the hull lay up.

My slab actually sticks out abit proud at the aft end when dried out on its cradle but the slab is still held firm.

Some day when i get round to it i intend to scrape out the rusty bits and the cracks and tidy it up with resin.

But just incase i have misread your interpretation it will be worth a call to Bill.

Sean

Thanks Tim and Sean. I'm going down there this morning so I will take some photos and get advice. The plate is level with the sole and I don't think there has been any movement as the gel coat is still bonded across the gap apart form the one area by the keel box. That may indeed be the result of the keel drop incident (See "OOPS my keel fell down" thread). I can imagine a jolt cracking it.

Incidentally when I measured up the area for the new vinyl the dimensions are quite random. No two sides are parallel or straight, and the bulkheads for heads and forecabin, although one piece of wood at head height, are 2cm apart at foot level(heads door further aft than cabin door). The best way to draw it out has been to put the carpet tiles down on top of the new flooring and draw round them.

Don't you love getting to know your boat? Five years on I'm still finding out new things!

Kate

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Kate

One thing which ex Commodore Walter Brown told me about was B&Q bathroom carpet which has a sort of rubber backing and comes in the normal role sizes. It is rot proof and water proof and sticks to the slab like glue with no need for fasteners no matter what angle of heel. It is dirt cheap and is cost effective to renew fairly often - 2 or 3 years. It works really well and you always have a brand new looking carpet. Fitting it is easy as you just cut it to the odd shape of the floor. Worth remembering!

Tim

Tim

Thanks I think what I just removed was an 18 year old version of those carpet tiles. I am putting in vinyl but have already realised it is going to be a bit slippery when wet, so may put down some tiles as well!

Its all looking good now the new headlining is done, and I have varnished the woodwork mahogany coloured which looks amazing. Roll on launching in 2 weeks!

Kate

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