THE LEAK:
While the exhuast does drip just a little and the packing may
drip a drop or five there actually is a leak. None of the thru-hulls
leak a drop.

Whether underway or stopped
there is a small amout of water coming in. Knowing exactly where it is
from is difficult. But basically when look from inside the boat
down into the bilge it comes from one area ... closer to the bow than
the stern ... maybe 15 feet from the back of the boat. The water appears
inside from where the lowest plywood strake meets the large chuck of
wood that is is keel.

I'm guessing as to the amount of water. Clearly more than 1 or 2 gallons. My
guess
of 10 is probably the highest it could be. I'm not really sure. It probably
takes 30
to 60 minutes in the water to get that much in there. I'm not sure if it
comes in
any faster when moving than when still.

BILGE PUMPS:
This boat originally had NO bilge pumps. It had (and has) a suction feed
"pump"
in the stern. This is still in place but I'm not very sure that it actually
gets suction and
moves any water. It seems like is doesn't.

I put in two 1500 gmp pumps. For some reasoning - not really clear to me
now -
I put both in the front of the boat. I guess I should move at least one of
them to
the stern. ~~

BILGE PUMP QUESTION:
Since I already have thru-hulls up in the bow -- if I relocate the pump(s)
to the
stern can I run hoses that entire distance so as not to have to put more
holes
in my boat? It would be about 15 feet laterally - maybe a little more
actual hose.
I suppose I should use a check valve at the pump with that much hose so the
water in the hose doesn't run back into the bilge??


SEALING THE LEAK:
To be structually efective
the "seam" or joint needs to be opened up and a uniform bead of 3MXXXX
applied and then the joint refastened, the excess sealant removed etc
etc.

What we're thinking is getting a little dremmel type tool for the end of a
drill and
going all along the outside of the hull where the bottom-most plywood strake
meeds the keel. The idea would be to create a crevease to put the 3M stuff
in. I'm pictureing something "V" shapped.

You say "...then the joint refastened". I'm not too clear on what that
would
mean. I mean, how to do it.

THANKS


Be careful, the sea doesn't care if you live or not.

Well put.