Cygnet
New member
On Easter Sunday I sailed my Signet 20 from Torquay to Dartmouth in favourable winds. We made generally between 5 and 6 knots, but with heal in excess of 20 degrees and plenty of weather helm; I could have released the main a little and steered closer to the wind, but this seemed to slow us down and is well... a lot less fun it has to be said. The water level was consistently over the lee side winch and at times over the window.
On arrival ot Darmouth following the removal of the sails and under the power of of the outboard, it became apparent on a trip below that all the stowages were completely full of water, and the wooden floor was floating about 3 inches higher than where it should be.
There's a wooden rubbing strip with the lower edge about 10mm lower then the horizontal of the outstand to which it is fixed and about 10mm offset from the hull, together forming a 10 x 10mm longtitudinal soffit recess along the interface between the rail and the hull.
I think under the sailing conditions as given above, there would be considerable water pressure under this recess. The boat is 1975, and the original sealant may well have perished.
The question is do I need to remove and refit the rubbing rail with new sealant, or would filling the recess underneath with sealant do the trick, and also am I missing the point completely - is it possible to take on board that much water through the bolt fixings of the rail?
Any suggestions based on any similar experience would be appreciated.
Had a cracking sail though!
Mat
P.S. Heading off for Turkey via France, Italy and Greece on 6th May 2002; with the limited time left maybe I should make the bilge pump a permanent fitting rather than a stowed item of kit!?
On arrival ot Darmouth following the removal of the sails and under the power of of the outboard, it became apparent on a trip below that all the stowages were completely full of water, and the wooden floor was floating about 3 inches higher than where it should be.
There's a wooden rubbing strip with the lower edge about 10mm lower then the horizontal of the outstand to which it is fixed and about 10mm offset from the hull, together forming a 10 x 10mm longtitudinal soffit recess along the interface between the rail and the hull.
I think under the sailing conditions as given above, there would be considerable water pressure under this recess. The boat is 1975, and the original sealant may well have perished.
The question is do I need to remove and refit the rubbing rail with new sealant, or would filling the recess underneath with sealant do the trick, and also am I missing the point completely - is it possible to take on board that much water through the bolt fixings of the rail?
Any suggestions based on any similar experience would be appreciated.
Had a cracking sail though!
Mat
P.S. Heading off for Turkey via France, Italy and Greece on 6th May 2002; with the limited time left maybe I should make the bilge pump a permanent fitting rather than a stowed item of kit!?
