Autoteacher
Senior Member
We have a 1986 Marine Trader 40 ft Sundeck model.
We have lived aboard for the past 3 years slowly rebuilding this neglected boat.
We now have a problem we discovered when we cleaned and paited the bilge in front of the holding tank and aft of the holding tank is a shower sump then another bilge . We note a small amount (less than a half a cup in 24 hours) of clear sea water in the aft shower sump the aft bilge is dry. this is not draining from shower or the AC drain, BTW. The forward of the holding tank bilge is showing a tablespoon of seawater also, no smell so the holding tank is not leaking. This seawater is tan colored like weak tea. We cleaned the bilges, scrubbed the old loose paint and dried them out, poured Rot Doctor CPE in and let set overnight. So all the screw holes from previous pump and switch installations were filled. Then we painted the bilges with Rustoleum marine grade white paint. The two small water amount still leak in. They seem to appear at the seam where the holding tank meets the hull. Any ideas? Experience with this problem? Recommend solutions? Our next planned haul out is Dec 2014. Last haul out and diver saw no problems. I suspect the keel is leaking from a crack or damage to gel coat. Does anyone know how the keel is constructed on these boats?
We have lived aboard for the past 3 years slowly rebuilding this neglected boat.
We now have a problem we discovered when we cleaned and paited the bilge in front of the holding tank and aft of the holding tank is a shower sump then another bilge . We note a small amount (less than a half a cup in 24 hours) of clear sea water in the aft shower sump the aft bilge is dry. this is not draining from shower or the AC drain, BTW. The forward of the holding tank bilge is showing a tablespoon of seawater also, no smell so the holding tank is not leaking. This seawater is tan colored like weak tea. We cleaned the bilges, scrubbed the old loose paint and dried them out, poured Rot Doctor CPE in and let set overnight. So all the screw holes from previous pump and switch installations were filled. Then we painted the bilges with Rustoleum marine grade white paint. The two small water amount still leak in. They seem to appear at the seam where the holding tank meets the hull. Any ideas? Experience with this problem? Recommend solutions? Our next planned haul out is Dec 2014. Last haul out and diver saw no problems. I suspect the keel is leaking from a crack or damage to gel coat. Does anyone know how the keel is constructed on these boats?