Introduction with questions....water in battery and oil compartments

[Curious]

Thanks, Peiserma. My next question is how does it happen as it pertains to this particular survey/boat? I understand how an improperly sealed fastener screwed through the deck, for example, can allow water intrusion around the area of the fastener, but that is typically isolated to a small area around the fastener. I guess what I'm asking is, was this boat swamped or sunk for a period of time and never dried out? I see that it has a newer motor so maybe that's a sign that it sunk sometime shortly before 2004.

Thanks for the reply- this is a good lesson in "let the buyer beware" in this current market of reasonabley priced used boats.

[peiserma]

I don't know about this particular boat. Core saturation does not happen overnight, but rather over long periods of time. Think several years. It's easy for water to get in. As already mentioned, improperly sealed fasteners are a source. In fact, this is probably the major source. There is a good reason for the advice to drill holes oversize, fill with epoxy, then drill the correct size - it seals the core from water. The skin being built too thin is another cause (it can fracture and let water in). So is storing the boat uncovered over several seasons. Or not having it leveled so water can drain out. Once water is in your fiberglass-encapsulated core, its hard for the water to get back out. According to one book I have (Fiberglass Boat Repair Manual by Alan Vaitses - older but lots of good info), it can take 6 to 15 years for total saturation, and the saturation can go unnoticed until it's well advanced.

see page 83 here : http://books.google.com/books?id=uNl...ration&f=false

[Nomad]

One thing that may have contributed is the water in the side bilges as shown in the OP. The lack of covers or drain hoses on the rod holders was a pretty big concern to me as a potential buyer and there is no way I would have left the boat that way as an owner....speaks to the overall maintenance that may have (not) been done.

I also found the seller told me that he installed the motor as a leftover in '06 when I called the place that installed it and they confirmed that it was installed in '04...although they also said that they did the fall and winter maintenance so that is a plus i guess. They also said that the boat was not sunk and that they never noticed any water intrusion when working on the boat.