Old mk1 16 keel and interior stuff

[Bramble]

or you could just spread some newspaper around to see what gets wet.
mike

[geeman]

I use cheap paper towels but I suppose it's about the same thing.  I'd tape a a section along the bulkhead below the hull/deck joint and them lay more out along the sole.  Since water is collecting foward of the compression post,  look also at where your mast foot is mounted if it is through bolted.  It shouldn't be but that doesn't mean it isn't.,

[Sailor]

Ok so.... It's for sure the Deck to Hull joint. It has already been band-aid fixed before me. Someone cut down the length of the rub rail squeezed a bunch of what looks like white silicone caulk in and glued it up. You can see gaps in the joint under that spot and others. So....
       I'm actually really excited because I was putting off a full split where I totally refit the interior, did my ballast and keel to my liking, add my lights, add a real pumping bilge (for the water that will eventually get in again) do some minor fiber glass repairs, add interior lights and storage, anchor locker, re bed deck fixtures, reinforce cockpit sole, make cockpit grate, and totally replace berth wood and stringers.
       Now I HAVE to do it... Right? I actually have the admiral convinced and she hasn't vetoed the design brief to this point so... Here we go!
       First things first...I need to brain storm ideas. Any input is welcome. I really want this boat to be a center piece for our family going forward. I have a three year old boy, a 1 year old girl, and one on the way! (Not sure which) anyway, my boy wants to anchor out and sleep in the boat, and really wants to learn to sail. I'm going to do some shore camping and small weekend trips with the kids... And maybe even one it two without! I'll be sailing in Chautauqua Lake, and lake Erie. I'm tossing around the idea of using material that is rot proof for the interior stringers and the berth. Like Corian. Use my old wood pieces as patterns. LED lights, I'm so excited. I'm losing my mind.
s

[Bramble]

There are several threads, some with pictures, regarding the split. 
I'm not sure what year the construction changed, but a lot of boats from the '70's are wood cored (as is mine, a 1976).  This is a particular problem with the cabin roof. The split is often used to re-work this problem area.

Be sure to to do as perfect a job as possible.  That will help with the re-sale.  With a growing family I see a bigger boat in your future.
mike

[Sailor]

I had no idea that any of the 16s had wood core! What is the problem with the cabin roof?
     I agree, we've thought about a bigger boat but we like not paying free over winter....I can pay to keep a little boat in great shape with good sails.... Maybe we'll just have 2 16s once the kids know how to sail. Then we could race! There is a 16 near here for sale $1000 takes the Cake.
     I'm worried with a bigger boat I will have a problem that could be so expensive I wouldn't be able to afford to repair it. Maybe after I go through this little boat I'll have more confidence to do my own work.
s

[geeman]

For what it's worth, the core in my '78 is green foam.  I've found it in the cockpit sole and also on the foredeck.  I haven't had occasion to drill into the cabin top yet, but won't be surprised to find it there also.

[Bramble]

Green foam sounds better than wet wood.
ike

[Sailor]

Interesting. Inside my cabin, there is foam like material overhead under the fore deck that looks like it has "cracked" from deck flex. Is that what we're taking about? Almost looks like great stuff or something that was put inside. Flex caused cracks.
s

[Sailor]

To be clear, the under side of the Deck looks like they put fiberglas foam or something on the inside to add thickness or something. It has cracked from weight flexing the Deck enough to make it split below. This has occurred in the cockpit sole area too.

[Bramble]

check with geeman on that one.
mike

[geeman]

The structure on mine is basically a foam sandwich.  When they layed it up, they put gelcoat, then a layer of fiberglass cloth/resin, then a sheet of green foam (looks like the stuff you'd get at the dollar store to do school exibits with), then a layer of cloth /resin.  From inside the cabin, it looks like painted over coarse weave cloth.  A photo if you've got one would help, but what you describe does sound like the structure might be broken in a place or two.

[Sailor]

Pictures

[Sailor]

More

[Sailor]

Also, I saw a post earlier about a companionway hatch board that reversed and had a shelf with cupholders in it. There was a picture. I can't find it again I've been all though the DIY posts. And there was another post where someone had made very smart "cubbies" on the bulkheads just inside the companionway hatch. I want to ruthlessly steal these ideas for myself, and I can't find them now.
s

[Sailor]

And also for posterity