At least I known that my hull is watertight

[Mike Cole]

We some major building work at home this year and the boat had to be moved. My brother has ample space so off we went and parked it up for what was ment to be around 2 months.
Boiler and engine were removed and kept at home. A cheap blue tarpauline over the boat well tried down not to flap or to pool to collect water.Building work over ran as it does so the 2 months was more like 4 months. But today Monday the 23 dec was boat pick up day.
My brother had pumped up both tyres so simple job of removing tarp and hitching up and we should be off.
However when it came to pushing the boat back to gain room to unlash the tarp the boat would hardly move, even with both of us pushing. Oh dear the brakes must be stuck on I think. Then I take a look under the tarpauline, The boat is full up to the brim with water. No wonder it was a bit heavy to push. There must have been 3 tons or so of extra weight. No Bunghole.
It is also at this time raining very hard. Twenty or so buckets full later the water level has barely dropped and we are both soaked to the skin.
Out with the drill and a 10mm hole in the hull and time to have some food. By the time we come back it should be empty.
No it wasn't hole drilled in wrong place we only managed to drain the after locker.
My brother has to go to work at this time( keeping the RAF flying) so it is out with the buckets and 2 hours of solid bailing for me. the rain was pelting down and i was standing in 6 inches of water, so did not fancy getting the mains powered drill out again.
The hull is plywood fully coated in expoxy resin AND has not appeared to have moved in any way.
Anyway I am now back home with boat, first cup of tea finished and looking forward to a ham sandwich and a beer.

Happy Christmas
Mike

[Jack Innes]

Mike,

Is it too late to suggest a garden hose siphon?

Jack

[87gn@tahoe]

Oh the joys of owning a boat have already started!

Do you have any pictures of her?

[Lopez Mike]

All too common. I decided to break with my personal tradition and actually installed a drain plug in Folly before it happened to me (again!)

I bought a nice Catalina 22 sailboat a few years ago for cheap as it had been, "sunk in the parking lot." Fortunately all I had to replace was three wires.

Thanks for posting. it will save someone else a repeat of your misfortune.

Mike

[87gn@tahoe]

When my father bought the hull for his 40' boat project "Persistence" up in Bellingham, Washington it was chuck full of water. Luckily steel is relatively easy to repair when you drill holes in it.