C-16 in water questions?

[Epic1969]

Since my C-16 is now in the water for the weekend I am planning on renting a slip through mid September. Will it hurt the boat to keep it in the water if the bottom has not been treated? I keep reading about blisters. Will I get blisters from 2 months on the water with an unpainted hull? Also I noticed my carpet was very slightly damp in the cabin I did have a couple waves splash the boat with hatch open so I am hoping it is from that. I checked all other areas of boat stern and bow and it was dry. I did not check the cockpit drains like I have read about other than a quick visual inspection. Can I assume that cockpit drain advisory is not a concern in my 1991 C-16?

[JBC]

Sounds like you're having a fun introduction to CP-16 sailing.  Just a couple of comments; I have a '91 16/3 also.  Wet Carpet: do you have inspection ports on cockpit benches at stern?  Those provide a quick visual inspection of cockpit drains. May help spot any leaks there.  There is a small bulkhead on floor at stern (underneath benches) which holds some water if it gets back to the stern area or leaks in there.  Finally, my drains have rubber flaps on stern (to help prevent water from sloshing back into drains).  Check for any cracking in sealant applied around those scuppers with the flaps.  I would assume nothing; instead you want to watch for leaks routinely if you're going to slip your boat.  My boat does get some water in it after heavy rains sometimes, enough to wet the carpet in some places on the side walls, around the side stay plates attached port and starboard to the hull.  Might check for that (visual stains on carpet, etc.).

As to bottom paint, if there is no paint or barrier coat on bottom, I would hesitate keeping boat in water for more than a few days at a time.  There are discussions in this forum on both blisters and bottom painting.  You can do a search on the forum for those previous discussions.

Jett

[deisher6]

Hey Epic:
Sailing C-16's is fun!

Jett is right on in his comments.  Additionally I had moisture collect in the area of the compression post from a leak around the hole in the deck for the anchor line.

Dry it out and keep sailing.

regards charlie

[carry-on]

Epic,
Wet carpet seems to point to water entering forward. On my 16, there was a small leak at the locking handle of the forward hatch. Found it by rigging a hose on the pulpit and spraying the deck while observing inside the cabin. May take some time, but any leaks should show.

[mattman]

A few days in the water without a barrier coat should cause no concern over blisters, I believe in general blisters occur after water migrates to resin populated pockets the form during the layup process. This generally takes several years.  It is also noted that as much blistering occurs from water in the bilge as much as the outside.  here is a link
http://southwestfloridamarinesurvey.com/articles/OSMOSIS.pdf
also an interesting take
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/my_wet_hull.htm
best of luck

[JBC]

Epic, the CP 16/3 owners handbook has this (in part) to say about blisters: "the polyester materials which are used are permeable to the transmission of water. This means that water (in the form of vapor) will actually pass through the FRP laminate. Depending on a wide variety of variables, water may collect at a point within the laminate and form a blister...Boats blister more readily in fresh than in salt water because the vapor transmission mechanism is not impeded by the larger salt molecules."

The handbook recommends both an epoxy coating and anti-fouling paint to help against the formation of blisters.  Perhaps overkill, but these recommendations should help inform your decision about keeping a boat in the water for extended lengths of time.

Jett

[Epic1969]

Thanks everyone for responses! I will pull "Olaf "out tomorrow afternoon and paint the hull below the waterline next week. Once of prevention worth a pound of cure!

[Epic1969]

Just to relay some info I received from a trusted friend and experienced boat owner/ surveyor. You should only epoxy/anti foul  for blister prevention After hull has been out of water for at least 6 weeks in dry climates and 3 months in humid areas. Of course this is assuming stored indoors. I am going to place my boat in the garage mid November for the winter with a heater and fans running then in mid March do the bottom job. I guess trapping moisture under epoxy is worse than doing nothing.