The need of keeping water out of the bilge of a metal boat

I always start my surveys on metal boats by using Thermal Imaging of the hull. This helps me locate the structural components of the metal boat. I am also looking for trapped moisture and/or water. If this is found, then there is a good chance there will be corrosion. Next I conduct an inspection of the bilge of the boat, including, anchor, sail, cockpit lockers, and lazarettes. Now I have a very good idea where to concentrate my UTM-audio gauge. I take readings of the whole hull, but will do more readings in the areas of concern.

When I see water in a bilge of a metal boat beyond what might be in a sump I get concerned. I would like to see dry bilges on all metal boats, but this is not always possible. On Tuesday I surveyed a steel trawler. Overall this boat looked to be in fair condition, but then I saw the water in the bilge, a lot of it! There was heavy scale in some areas because of the standing water.  I knew this was an area I needed to spend some time getting thickness readings.

The next day I did my audio gauge. My readings indicated plate wastage. In some areas I could not get a reading that most likely is caused by heavy scale. My visual inspection from inside confirmed the heavy scale. When I arrived at the boat I noticed some weeping from what I hoped was paint blisters. Then an hour later water stared streaming from one of the blisters. Just to think only the paint was holding this section of plate together.

The good news! The boat was out of the water it will not sink. Steel boats can fixed; by cropping out the bad plate and adding new. In a short period of time, she will be underway again.

The moral of this story? If you own a metal boat keep an eye on the bilges.

I will post photos in my next post.

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Photos Of Metal Wastage Caused By Trapped Water

Here are some photos of what trapped water and moisture will do to a metal hulled boat. This is not to meant sway anyone from buying or owning a metal boat, I own one myself. It is to give all of us a reminder though, that we need to be diligent in maintaining and inspecting our boats. Speaking of inspecting a metal boat, I had a very good comment on the last post from a former client. He has a process that is very impressive when it comes to inspecting a metal boat for purchase. I encourage anyone who is wanting to buy a metal boat or any boat for that matter to do their own close inspection before putting an offer on a boat and hiring a surveyor. I also would advise the seller of a metal boat to hire a surveyor to inspect the boat before listing it. It is important any issues are known about before the boat goes on the market. Too often a person turns down a boat during my inspections. I would much prefer to be part of a happy exchange of a boat then not.

Saltwater was trapped in a keel of an aluminum boat that was filled with foam and lead. The boat got a new redesigned bulb keel.

This is where salt water has dried in a bilge of an aluminum hulled boat.

A view from the exterior of the same boat.

 

This is where water had sat for years on the inside of this steel boat, good news she was made as good as new.

A lot of time these problems are found while the bottom of a boat is sandblasted or a paint blister is ground down for a repair. Which is what happened in the photo below.

So what do we do to make sure we can find these problems?

Refer to the previous post for the answer:

The need of keeping water out of the bilge of a steel boat

and visit more my website for more information about my services.

dbyachtsurvey.com

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