Audiofn

My suggestion to you is to check the tops of your bulkheads. They go side to side in the boat. If they are soft then keep digging. Mine were so rotted that I could take a 3 foot long screwdriver and just push it right down the stringers and bulkheads. I also had zero evidence of this. I found it when I took out the tanks to check for a fuel leak.

Jon

Old floating bird

I think I understand the stringers to be what I could describe a the "ribs" that provide structure to the bottom and sides of the hull. Let me know if that's right...

I've attached a pic of the interior. It sounds like in order to check a bulkhead or stringer, I need to remove some carpet and interior wood work.
Is that so?

I would imagine that it is better to find a stringer closer to the bilge right? ...The area ahead of it (where the fuel tank) under the seats in the helm is doesn't appear to be accessable to view any stringers.

Is there a universal area I can look into and perform the poke test?

Thanks again...OFB



Do you think your boat was ever under water or is this just a product of bad sealing and moisture that never dried?

cuda

I'd say it's just moisture that was in the cabin. Sometimes that will be caused by using a cover that doesn't breathe. I looked back to see what year it is, because I have the same material on the cusions in a 20 foot 81 I'm redoing.

Old floating bird

Interesting....By chance does the 20ft also have a small sink and accompanying water tank stored under the cushions?

If so, do you think you'll keep the sink/tank setup when it's done?

cuda

No, but my 242 had it.

Old floating bird

Ok. I think I have one other potential source from OSO member Brent in San Antonio.

Can you think about that 242 and let me know what area I could best access to look at the stringers/bulkheads?

Is there anything else about that 242 or the 20ft that you did or are gong to do it because of the age of the boat?

For example, I'm working on finding the bow rail bolts and tightening them down & other things that support weight/structure & checking torque on the fasteners. I'm not finding much that needs a turn but am not sure I'm looking in the right areas either...

cuda

I would think the easiest bulkhead to get to would be the one between the engine compartment and the cockpit. I removed the bowrail off my 20 footer. Also, I would glass the deck to the hull. Mine wasn't.

Old floating bird

Thanks! I do believe there's a small pass-thru where the fuel lines come into the bilge. I'll look into that and poke around some.

cuda

Is your avatar a picture from the side of your boat?

This one is on mine.

Audiofn

The most likely place to have rot I would think would be at the bulkhead at the front of your engine bay. You can take a small 1/8" drill bit and drill into it in a few places (bottom is the smartest place to look) and see if the wood comes out wet or dark. If it is lighter in color then you are good to go.

Jon