Cape Dory Typhoon Weekender "Water in Keel"

[George Loesel]

I have a newly purchased 1985 Weekender and noticed when I opened the wood inspection cover that lies between the two drain fittings that there was some water in the area directly below this point.

Is it important?
How do I get rid of it?
In a cold Michigan Winter am I vulnerable to freezing damage?

One other question I have relates to the seacocks. The handles on the fittings not oonly turn in the traditional manner but also "rock" up and down. Is there a reason for this?



gloesel@concentric.net

[Stephen]

I have a newly purchased 1985 Weekender and noticed when I opened the wood inspection cover that lies between the two drain fittings that there was some water in the area directly below this point.

I'm not familiar with your model, but it sounds like you are peering into the "bilge," not the "keel." In that case, it is typical to have some water sloshing around in there. It's not a bad idea to pump it out (on my CD22 there is a built-in bilge pump; when I want to get the bilge extra-dry, I stick a hand pump all the way to the bottom and pump into the cockpit).

Water in the bilge is "movable ballast," which is a bad thing for sailing because, as the boat heels over in stiff winds, the bilge water will help the boat heel over further, rather than provide a righting force (which "non-movable ballast" provides).

Also, bacteria can grow in the bilge water creating nasty smells.

I use a little bilge cleaner from time to time, and I pump it with the (convenient) built in pump every time I go out. I don't generally try to pump it absolutely dry unless I'm feeling particularly anal retentive.

In a cold Michigan Winter am I vulnerable to freezing damage?

YES. YES, yes, yes! Pour some non-toxic anti-freeze into your bilge when the temperature starts to drop (or when you haul it for the season, whichever is sooner). This is the anti-freeze that can be used for drinking water systems (marine or RV).

Even if the bilge is dry when you cover the boat, etc., water is sneaky, and seems to find a way into the bilge no matter how well covered the boat. The anti-freeze will prevent any water that gets in there from freezing.

One other question I have relates to the seacocks. The handles on the fittings not oonly turn in the traditional manner but also "rock" up and down. Is there a reason for this?

Mine do that too. The design makes it easier to operate them in tight quarters (most of mine are behind my diesel engine, so my access to them is ackward, especially if the engine is hot).

Good luck,
Stephen

P.S. I'm not sure how you could have water in the "keel" (as apposed to in the "bilge"), since the keel is filled with lead, but you can have water, for instance, in your rudder, because the rudder is filled with porous material. The solution is to drill holes in the bottom of the rudder to drain it. Then fill the holes, sand off the bottom paint, refair the rudder, and recoat with barrier coat.



sailing@star.net

[Dana Arenius]

Just a suggestion.....

With an outboard version, water in the bilge is unusual. There is no drippings from an inboard engine staft on an outboard design. My CD26 (outboard) bilge is completely dry and thus eliminates odors and dampness within the boat. Mine did leak at one time until I found the sail locker hatch "lip" design lacking. Take a look to see if you have the same. Especially along the top edge. There was just not enough inverted boat edge into the hatch to keep rain and wash down water out. I installed single face adhesive weather strip to the top and side edges of the hatch opening edges. Problem went away quick.

It is now so dry I made a trash bag holder as part of my floor access hatch. It does not get in the way of access if I need to quickly but gives me a very quick and convenient space for boat trash bag.

You should consider a bilge pump...... just in case.


Dana



darenius@aol.com

[Bob B.]

George,
The water in your bilge is probably from deck, locker or companionway leaks and not from leakage through the hull. I would check and make sure though.
I have installed a manual bilge pump into my boat and it takes care of any water that gets in there.
Bob B
BundyR@aol.com

I have a newly purchased 1985 Weekender and noticed when I opened the wood inspection cover that lies between the two drain fittings that there was some water in the area directly below this point.

Is it important?
How do I get rid of it?
In a cold Michigan Winter am I vulnerable to freezing damage?

One other question I have relates to the seacocks. The handles on the fittings not oonly turn in the traditional manner but also "rock" up and down. Is there a reason for this?

BundyR@aol.com

[Mike Wainfeld]

I also noted water in the bilge when I first looked, and I was concerned until I realized it wasn't salt water. I usually get some accumulation after a heavy rain and I believe it gets there either from a leaky portlight, which I really should rebed, or from around or under the teak piece at the aft end of the cockpit which supports the rudder stock. I have heard if this is rebedded it will solve the problem. I use a hand pump to pump it out and sponge out the rest. I did that all last winter, but this winter I'll put some anti-freeze in and cover the boat.



ripcord1@erols.com

[jessica morton]

About the water in the keel...

With our Typhoon I have noticed there are two places where unwanted water can accumulate: in the bilge (accessed, as you describe (?) through the cabin sole), and in the keel dead space. Yes the keel has lead in it, but if you tap it you find that there is a lump of lead in th lower forward part of the keel at the start of the bow stem. The rest of the space is dead space, and whether it is fiberglass and structure, or what, I don't know, but I do know it has air space. We also have a small through hull (1/4" diameter) on the side of the keel, which has a threaded stopper. We put the stopper in before the boat goes in the water, and take it out when she's on land, to let the keel "breathe". I don't know much about this space, except that it can (and on our boat does) contain water. I happen to know this because during some hull work we discovered water leaking through the fiberglass on the bottom of the keel aft of the lead. We drilled some holes to drain it (it might have been leaking all the way from the bilge??) and patched it.
Anybody out there aware of this/had similar experience?



jmorton@ensr.com