[C320-list] weeping strut shows at haul out

[Dennis Harris]

Nat,

I have a 2000 C 320 (#694), which on the last haul out, had weeping on the 
hull just forward of the propeller strut.  My shaft did not have any 
movement and there was no leaking on the inside of the boat.  On my model, 
the four strut bolts (located under the aft bunk) are exposed and were 
tight.  After consulting with yard and their fiberglass man, we decided to 
grind away the immediate area where the weeping was (don't let the yard get 
carried away here), and put a heat lamp on the area to dry it out.  After 
some days, it eventually was dry, and we glassed in a small amount of 
fiberglass cloth in the ground out area, and then added epoxy filler to fair 
out the ground out section.  I won't know if the repair was successful until 
next haul out, which will be spring, 2012.  It is my understanding from 
looking at drawings posted on the C 320 association web site that the actual 
fiberglass hull is somewhat recessed in this area to accept the shaft strut 
(added after the hull has been removed from the mold) and the area is faired 
with a filler after the strut is installed.  In my case, since the bolts 
were tight and there was no leakage inside the boat, I suspect that there 
was not a good bond between this filler and the fiberglass hull, and over 
time, due to vibration in this area, that the bond was partially broken, 
allowing an ingress of water...hence the weeping when the boat was pulled. 
Prior to the last haul out, there was never any weeping.  You may have a 
similar situation.  Good luck in getting the problem resolved.

Dennis Harris   C-320 #694 Washington, NC

-----Original Message----- 
From: Brad Kuether
Sent: Monday, March 07, 2011 7:05 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] weeping strut shows at haul out

My Jedi powers predict Warren will weigh in on this shortly.....  :)

Yes its coming in quite clear now....

-Brad, Mary, Monica, and Jarod
"Independence"
2004 Catalina 320 Hull 1006
Middle River, MD

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nat Antler" <nantler at pacbell.net>
To: <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
Sent: Monday, March 07, 2011 1:05 AM
Subject: [C320-list] weeping strut shows at haul out


I've got a 1994 named "Moxie" brought down to San Diego from Santa Barbara
last November. She's in the yard (Shelter island boat yard) for new bottom
paint. Hull looks pretty good except for a few minor blisters with only one
weeping. My concern is the strut holding the shaft bearing. I noticed some
weeping all around the strut at the hull. Didn't see it during the brief
survey haulout.... didn't have time to show up, I assume. The shaft will
allow a tiny bit of movement (just enough to show more weeping at one side
or the other) when pushed sideways. After finding a reference to how it's
attached and sealed on the inside of the hull, it seems like a major
undertaking to access the bolts to see if tightening them would solve the
problem. Has anyone gone through this? I'm meeting with the yard people
tomorrow to get their recco.

Nat Antler
1994 "Moxie"