Safety Concern!!!

amy and karl · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 12:21 pm Post subject: Safety Concern!!!

Old topic new experience.

The screws that hold the brass stem guard in place are subject to pulling out of their holes. We found this out yesterday at Roche Harbor.

We had spent a night at Patos island and then two nights at Stuart island before going to Roche Harbor Friday morning. (By the way Prevost Harbor on Stuart is a great place to wait out S.E. - S.W. winds.) With no signs for concern to this point, we walked the girls up to the sculpture garden and then to the Mausoleum. Upon returning our runner on the cabin floor was soaked and Amy found water bubbling up through a stress crack near the porta potti. I immediately started opening the hatches we installed in the berth. We found alot of water under the berth. We were able to bail the water, maybe 15 gallons, with a Gatorade bottle. We assessed the situation and realized water was not gushing in. So we checked the weather one more time and made a b-line for Bellingham and got the boat on the trailer. Where we found the source of the water.

The lowest screw on the brass stem guard had pulled out completely. The screw hole is totally stripped. Here are a couple pictures.

We feel lucky that this happened when it did. We were relatively close to the trailer and we had not been away from the boat for very long. And this is an easy fix in my mind.

My question to those who know is what is the best way to fix this problem? I intend on correcting this problem on all the screwholes for the stem guard.

Thank you for your suggestions,

Karl and Crew on C-Daisy

DoryLvr · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:32 pm Post subject:

I noticed mine were loose too about a month ago and have tightened them. There was no water intrusion like your case, but I wasn't thrilled to see the loose screws and the stem guard pulling away from the hull. I sealed it up with marine sealant. Mine weren't stripped.

starcrafttom · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 2:21 pm Post subject:

we had this problem early on but not to the extent you did. More of a slow weep. the factory fixed it for up. At the time they offered two fixes. One was to redo the brass strip as is and the other was to seal the strip and then cover the whole thing with a keel guard. i had then re do the brass becasue I like the look but if I was doing it my self I would go with the keel guard for easy of installation.

ghone · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:26 pm Post subject:

As many others have done, after I'd owned my boat for a month I systematically pulled every exterior screw below the waterline and epoxy potted it. The brass stem guard had short screws and sealant so were probably fine but I like epoxy holding things together. Trim tab planes and rams also epoxied. Garboard drain tube also pulled and epoxied.

When and if I ever need to pull these screws one holds a soldering iron of the old style on the head till it heats up to about 140 degrees and voila the epoxy lets go.
In the meantime she's stuck good, dry bilge, dry v berth
Happy lad.
George

localboy · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 6:33 pm Post subject:

Damn, Karl...glad it worked out safety-wise, and you and the family made it back to port. I was just contemplating this today when I saw DaveS (Sea Shift) had a white keel guard on his 22' and NOT the stock, factory brass one. One more thing to look at.

DaveS · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 10:04 pm Post subject:

Notayot · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 10:57 pm Post subject:

I have the Keelguard (installed by Les at EQ) on Notayot, which covers all of the aforementioned screws on the stem. I have used Keelguard on the last two boats I've owned, more for impact and scuff resistance than for leak prevention, but I'll take that too. Some say it doesn't have the "salty look" but I like the security of impact resistance for the flotsam and jetsam that comes by.

Socrateur · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 11:22 pm Post subject:

Here is a photo of a Les Lampman installed Keelguard. It is layered over the standard brass item. Notwithstanding the aesthetic, or lack thereof, it does provide an extra measure of protection against both internal screw failure and external impact and abrasion.

jennykatz · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 11:59 pm Post subject: stem guard

If it was my boat I would pull that stem guard out and repoxy it and be done with it Get rid of any source of leaks Im glad the cape cruiser doesnt have one just my humble opinion

chromer · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 12:36 am Post subject:

Sorry to hear about this and other like stories. Do you have to worry about a wet core (wood) when this happens? Or is the water riding up on top of fiberglass? Will the internal water eventually dry up?

Sea Wolf · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:05 am Post subject:

C-Hawk · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 12:49 pm Post subject:

After the trouble I had with my first C-Dory (Fishtales), I told the factory not to install the brass stem guard. I will be installing the KeelGuard instead.

localboy · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 1:14 pm Post subject:

Well, I think I'll remove it this winter, epoxy the holes and put on a KeelGuard; so far no water intrusion in the boat and I don't want to start now.

Sea Wolf · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 2:38 pm Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 9:21 pm Post subject:

The entire foreward area is not balsa cored (solid glass), so no worry there.

I would pull the entire stem guard, dry out the area; including washing well with fresh water. A shop vac hooked up to this area, can help get more water out. Heat will also help. After it is dry, drill out the holes, and counter sink the outer skin, then put in epoxy, with mill fibers, or short pieces of cloth into the old holes. Work the epoxy and fibers/Cabosil into the old holes with toothpicks. Then refair the seat for the brass strip, redrill pilot holes, and re-install the brass strip with 5200.