Dodgy through hull picture - should I panic?

[[2574]]

I positioned my camera around the back of a through hull fitting (which I can't physically see the back of) and took this photo - see the circled area. Should I panic?

 

[VicS]

I think I'd take a closer look or take a clearer photo of the area in question.

It appears that the back nut holding the skin fitting in position may be severely corroded, potentially serious if that really is the case, although everywhere around seems clean and free of corrosion products.

An illusion I suspect. You will probably be able to confirm or otherwise by feel .

 

[photodog]

If your worried Rob, get it seen to. You know it makes sense.... Have another go for a sharp piccy would be a good idea... Frankly it's probably been like that for years...

 

[charles_reed]

Looks like the inner nut was gelcoated over after fitting. That gelcoat has come off on two facets of the lock-nut.

Two possible reasons:- the lock nut is moving around, or, the leak is big enough to cause the gel coat to lift off.
Either of those would impel me towards arranging an early lift-out to take the hull through-fitting out for closer inspection.
My own guess is a crack just below the nut, due to being hardened up on an uneven piece of lay-up. IMHO another photo would be irrelevant.
I's dearly love to know, at some future date, what the problem was.

 

[sarabande]

I just wonder if that is a plastic backup nut, and it has hardened/shattered across one face ? If that is so, then the threaded tail is at risk...

 

[doug748]

You have a modern shiny boat. What you are seeing is the start of the process that turns it into a manky ald boat.

It is a bit like when a girl first notices that her chest it not a pert as it once was, when a bloke first sees the skin on the top of his head. There is nothing to be done.

It will dribble before it breaks. At that stage you will probably be dead. Don't worry about it - Have a Happy New Year, lose the camera.

 

[[2574]]

You have a modern shiny boat. What you are seeing is the start of the process that turns it into a manky ald boat.

Good way of thinking about it. She's a 95 build, Jan 96 commission - does that make her a "modern shiny boat"?

 

[nigelmercier]

I wish my skin fittings looked that good.

 

[danielefua]

It will dribble before it breaks...

If I understand what you mean, this is true only as far as none hits it inadvertently.

Hopefully not but the problem might be severe and I would strongly recommend the OP to have the thing checked by someone who knows well her/his job before relying on comments written in a forum.

Just my humble opinion...

Daniel

 

[Otter]

She's a 95 build, Jan 96 commission - does that make her a "modern shiny boat"?

Sadly not. Only March 96 onwards are considered 'modern'. Bad luck to have missed it by eight weeks.

 

[pyrojames]

It looks to me like a very minor leak from the ball valve has let some water accumulate in the top layer of the glass over the nut. The trapped water has started corrosion on the top surface of the nut and split the covering polyester/gel coat off.

If it was a leak from the skin fitting itself, I would expect to see signs of water have run down or at leak accumulated to some degree on the gel coat on the hull.

 

[Heckler]

I positioned my camera around the back of a through hull fitting (which I can't physically see the back of) and took this photo - see the circled area. Should I panic?

No! The gel/flo coat isnt coating the whole of the nut. The brown is the brass/bronze colour of the metal. There isnt any steel to rust there.
S

 

[Len Ingalls]

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/seacock_primer

Proper seacock.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I wish my skin fittings looked that good.

ditto..
Looks as solid as a rock.... no need to worry and will probably outlast you and the boat!

S.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Unfortunately I can't zoom the picture to get a closer look but it doesn't look too bad to me. I wouldn't worry too much about emergency replacement but it's going too prey on your mind so I would sort it at your next scheduled lift out.

 

[simonfraser]

Unfortunately I can't zoom the picture to get a closer look but it doesn't look too bad to me. I wouldn't worry too much about emergency replacement but it's going too prey on your mind so I would sort it at your next scheduled lift out.

+1 once the boat is out, you might want to give the fitting a good pull away from the 'crack' and let us know what happened.

 

[rivonia]

Some of us are worriers. Some of us don't care a dam. Some are careful and some careless.

Me I would have it out asap and get it seen to. What happens if it suddenly pops??

Your choice.

Hope that the new year brings you Good Luck and a fine healthy boat.

 

[Spyro]

Difficult to tell from the pic. It looks like one face of the retaining nut has gone. If that is the case there's not much holding it on. You'll need to remove the gel coat or flowcoat from the rest of the nut and see what is there. I'd do that as a minimum. Not a difficult job as access looks pretty good.

 

[VicS]

Difficult to tell from the pic. It looks like one face of the retaining nut has gone.

That is how some of us see it. Others see nothing wrong.
Skipper Stu thinks someone can see rust!

Essential therefore to inspect further to see who is right.

 

[pcatterall]

I would definatly investigate!!
Scratch around that area with a ‘sharp screwdriver’ or similar, try to get some more of the nearby gelcoat off then photo again.

Good use for my new borescope.