[C320-list] Leak at Propeller Shaft Strut

[Dennis Harris]

We checked the strut bolts and they were all tight.  There has been no 
leakage inside the boat.  It's really strange.  The crack was only along the 
forward edge of the plate.  Both sides and the after edges are all 
completely intact, as is the area around the vertical /external part of the 
strut.  This crack weeped for several days suggesting that some water had 
seeped into the area between the strut plate and the fiberglass.  A heat 
lamp was put on the area to completely dry it out.  Moisture meter indicates 
no moisture now and yard is in process of epoxying the area that they ground 
away.

Dennis Harris C-320 #694

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Abbagnaro" <jabbagna at gmail.com>
To: <C320-List at catalina320.com>
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 11:26 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Leak at Propeller Shaft Strut


Are the Strut bolts tight   Any evidence of water seeping by the bolts ?


On Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 10:35 AM, Dennis Harris
<dharris02 at suddenlink.net> wrote:
> Thanks for your reply. I don't have a blister problem now, and didn't want
> to create one with this repair. Therefore, my preventive effort will be
> local to the repair area. It has been recommended to me that if we use
> epoxy to fill and repair the ground away area that we will be protected
> against future blisters. That's likely the way that I will go.
>
> Dennis Harris C320 #694
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: <argates2nd at comcast.net>
> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 8:09 PM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Leak at Propeller Shaft Strut
>
>
>> I sanded down to the gel coat 3 years ago while repairing blisters and
>> then applied 4 coats of Interlux Protect before the bottom paint. Be sure
>> everything is real dry before applying anything. Rollie #182
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis Harris"
>> <dharris02 at suddenlink.net>
>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 7:48:58 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
>> Subject: [C320-list] Leak at Propeller Shaft Strut
>>
>> Our boat is in the yard having the bottom painted. Today, I observed a
>> thin
>> crack with water weeping out (crosswise relative to the hull and just
>> forward of the prop shaft strut). I have not observed leakage in the boat
>> (prior to pulling the boat). I ask the yard to repair (our mutual
>> assessment being that the crack aligns with the forward edge of the strut
>> plate) and they have ground out a large section (~5" x 8") gradually
>> tapering in towards the leak line. At this point, it is continuing to 
>> weep
>> and they will check tightness of the four strut bolts tomorrow. Needless
>> to
>> say, I'm not pleased with the amount of grinding, but if they 
>> refiberglass
>> it properly, I guess that structurally it will be ok.
>>
>> For those of you who have repaired leaks here (or in other underwater
>> areas), is there something that we should do for long term blister
>> protection in the area of the repair? I have not had any blisters on the
>> boat and don't want to start now. With all the grinding, the vinylaster
>> protective coat is surely breached. Thanks for any advice....but I need 
>> it
>> quickly.
>>
>> Dennis Harris C320 # 694
>>
>>
>
>