firecadet613 wrote:
If there is a secret compartment under my forward bilge pump like the 258s have under their shower sump, and it had water in it....that would show up? I was under the impression that moisture meters only registered water in the hull itself, not any free-standing water in the bilge.
If that's the case then I have nothing to worry about.
NOTHING good ever comes of water in the bilge. Inside the boat, even small amounts of water can, over time, create major problems as it will penetrate the layup and, through capillary action and wicking, spread to areas far beyond the immersed depth or section. Many undesirable things happen afterward. Minor blistering is the first; delamination between layers may show up, usually found by visual observation or hammer (percussion) sounding; delamination of FRP layers to various strengthening cores may occur with failure of the structure to carry the loads if the FRP overlay was not strong enough by itself; increased moisture levels of the core materials with wood of any type being particularly vulnerable. These boats have wood all over this area.
This explains it better than I could. If you have had standing water in your boat, for 1, 2 seasons, take heed.
Quote:
As mentioned earlier there are various small voids within the laminate. The water molecules can collect and condense with in these. Within the GRP laminate and the micro-voids are various water soluble components. These are solvents, by products and unreacted constituents from the manufacturing process.
The water within the micro-voids is able to dissolve and chemically react with these components. This process is known as “hydrolysis”. “Hydrolysis” will continue with the voids enlarging, a dissolved solution is formed, the main ingredients being, acetic and hydrochloric acid and glycol. These products give “osmotic fluid” its characteristic vinegary small and greasy texture.
The glycol in particular is “hydroscopic” (water absorbing). Once this is released in the voids it will accelerate the rate of water absorption into the laminate. This process will now continue and will not be reversed by simply taking the boat out of the water. Moisture content will drop slowly if left ashore but will rise again fairly rapidly when immersed again. The various hydrolysed products cannot pass through the polyester gel coat / laminate but the water molecules can.
As this process continues, at some point, the concentration within the voids will become greater than the concentration of the water the vessel is floating in (sea water). At this point the “osmotic” process occurs and more water is drawn in.
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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:2000 Four Winns 268 Vista
Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral
235 ssi cuddy
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