Hollow spot in CD22 just above the rudder?

[wikakaru]

I inspected a CD22 the other day and noticed that when I tapped on the hull just above the rudder (look at the picture below)...

cape_dory_22_drawing hollow spot.jpg

...I found a hollow-sounding spot. Is this normal or is it an indication of a problem?

Thanks!

Jim

[s2sailorlis]

See attached picture. Not sure if the area you sounded but this is what it looks like below the cabin sole...

[wikakaru]

Thanks for the photo of the area from the inside, Rick! I think that is exactly the area I am talking about. I was tapping on that part of hull from the outside.

It looks from your photo like the little void just behind and beneath where the rudder shaft exits the hull is glassed over (probably so it doesn't collect water). I would think they would have filled the void under the fiberglass with thickened epoxy before glassing it over, not left it hollow.

I'm still not sure if the sound I am hearing is a result of the way it was built or because of poorly repaired damage. If anyone has had any trouble in that spot (maybe as a result of some kind of damage like from an anchor rode or lobster pot warp getting caught between the rudder and the hull) please let me know what you found when effecting repairs.

I guess if this area hasn't proven to be a problem spot for other owners over the years then I shouldn't worry too much about it.

Thanks,

Jim

[s2sailorlis]

Jim here is another image from a 1981 CD22, the one I posted earlier was from my 1984 CD22 that was sitting on the hard for 8 years before I found her.

Pretty much same construction method.

[wikakaru]

Thanks! Yes, very similar. Thanks!

[jbenagh]

Jim,

I know it's not the same boat, but on my CD30 a few years back I needed to do a little grinding near the prop shaft. It looks similar inside to the photos posted. I did find a few small voids, maybe 1/4 inch diameter, in the resin filling the glass there. It was completely dry and no discoloration so I assume it was just really hard to get the resin back in there.
It turned out the problem was a crack in the prop shaft inside the boat so the grinding and reglassing was completely unnecessary.

Jeff

[wikakaru]

Thanks, Jeff! I hope that it is just a void like the ones you found. I'm planning to re-inspect the boat again in a few days. I will use a sounding mallet to tap around both inside and out and see if I can tell if it is just a void and not delamination. There are so many layers of old antifouling paint on this hull that it is hard to tell what is going on...

Jim