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Hull leaks

D

dennstap

Dennis L. Staples
The very first punch list itme I had in Sept. of 78 for hull #75
was that there was a leak in the area of the stern tube. The
yard pulled the boat and slathered some resin underneath the
stern tube. After a recent haulout, water is intruding at this
area again. There is also a small hull crack where the trailing
edge of the keel meets the hull. This is also where the travel
lift slings would be placed. So where does the water come from?
from around the cutlass bearing? Through the crack 4 feet away?
This appears to be a very complicated part of town from a boat
builders perspective. A two peice hull and a stern tube sounds
like trouble. Does any one have a similar experience?
 
John: I am not that familiar with the 382's, but with a crack at the aft end of the keel where it meets the hull it could be telling you that your keel bolts have loosened.Just one suggestion. JH
 
There are no keel bolts on Morgan 38's. Water is coming from either a leak around the cutlass bearing or a crack in the join between the hull halves.
 
At least in theory, two piece hulls as no different than one piece, once the builder gets done adding all the glass to the joint. My impression is that Morgan did not scrimp on that joint. If you have a crack aft of the fin, someone should probe that very carefully to see what is up. If you have water coming in by the stern tube, seems that "slathering" resin isn't the answer. The yard should look further. Does it leak just sitting in the water, or only when the shaft is turning? Pull the shaft; pull the cutlass bearing, get the various gaskets off and take a look. Maybe the tube has a slight imperfection or crack. Maybe it is just the installation of the bearing. How about the flex tubing that is surely attached to the tube? Good luck--leaks are worrisome and you probably won't sleep soundly until you figure it out.
 
One final thought. You might consider hauling the boat and drying it out for a day. Then take a hose into the boat and spray water in the suspect area. Perhaps you can see where water poured into the boat comes out--which might help locate how it is getting in when the boat is in the water.
 
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