Water Woman
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Posts posted by Water Woman
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Thanks Rick. I picked up a wet vacuum yesterday and am doing it as we speak... well, I am stopping for a cup of tea now and look outside at the good weather I am missing. If you want to PM me I can give you details of where I am etc. if you are going to pass by, thank you
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Thank you everyone. Feel free to add advice as you see fit. I am now off to see a solicitor who may make my bouncy floor seem like childs play. I suppose asking for legal advice here is a little ... ermmm off topic!? I will pop back later to read all the posts and make a plan, of sorts.
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Oh hell
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Blue String Pudding, first of all I love your name.
Secondly, yes there is a bit of bounce and there are three parts where I believe if I bounced too much I could end up standing on steel. Other parts are solid as anything, but the bouncy parts are all in a line down from where the leak was. I am sure that in time it will be the boat of my dreams !!
... and will a floor like this fail the BSS that is due in July? The correct answer would be no, by the way.
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Oh heck it may that OSB. Just let me run and have another look. I think it looks more like OSB. I feel that I should point out that in my own professional area of expertise I am not as dumb as this!!
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The most likely composite materials for your floor, as has been said, are
Plywood
which is thin layers of wood glued together in a sandwich,
or
Chipboard
which is small wood-chips, or sometimes little more than coarse sawdust gued together.
can you identify what you have ?
The right grade of plywood, (weather and boil proof - aka WBP), is very much more resilient than any chipboards.
Unfortunately most chipboards will not take much exposure to water before they start to fall apart quite dramatically, at which point they are behond saving.
Yes it is chipboard certainly. Thank you.
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Errrmmm I am at the side of the K and A that they call The Shroppie ! I have not changed my profile I see, but I did a marathon haul up to here a couple of months ago. Maybe there are some people up this way too. I do not know any boat people this way on yet. I am in a marina which is a first for me, I have only ever been on the cut. The jury is still out as to the advantages of marina living, but that is a whole other topic !
What do you mean by composite? Plywood is a composite of sorts, but then again so is chipboard!Quite a few boats seem to have been fitted with chipboard floors which (unless there's a water-resistant grade of which I'm unaware), is not really suitable for the job. Green MDF might be ok, but not chipboard.
In any case, any floor which has gone soft really needs to be replaced. Whether it's expensive depends on how much you can do yourself. The materials don't cost a fortune but the labour does if you have to pay for it.
I think it is chipboard which seems a really stupid thing to use in my opinion. But I will get all carpets, lino, laminate up over time and see what is what. I will try to do as much as I can myself to keep costs down. Thank you for your input, much appreciated.
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Water can get 'stuck' behind the cross bearers, unless they all have been provided with drain channels. And provided that the boat is trimmed correctly.
In a worse case scenario, parts of the floor will need to come up, which may involve parts of the build in fit-out having to be removed as wel. I would makes sure to check the parts of the bilge tht you can see, very thourough, after drying them out, to check if any internalk corrosion has taken place. The notion that all bilges drain to the stern and can be simply pump out is not that simple. Also, check what balast you have. Concrete absorbs water, and can do serious damage underneath it because it doesn't dry out properly. (pig)iron bars rust like you would not believe (as I found out on my boat), unless treated with red oxide or such.
Do not assume that because you removed the water, all is well.
Thank you. I think there are concrete blocks under there. I will get it as dry as I can then explore further. It looks like my time after work is going to be taken up for all eternity! I will do as much as I can before enlisting professional (or happy amateur) help. I have been misled somewhat but take responsibility for not checking out what I was told. Lesson learned.
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As I understand it - assuming the boat is trimmed correctly - all the water really should run to the stern - - which is where it should be easiest to pump/suck out the stuff.
Secondly - - if you've soft bits of flooring - it would suggest that you've had water problems for a while . .
If I were you, having removed the offending water, I'd spend some time having a really good look round your boat identifying where there are floor problems - (hoping for a nice dry warm summer as you do)
Damp / potentially rotting timber doesn't smell nice, and isn't particularly good for you, your belongings or your electrics.
I hope the problem isn't as bad as you fear (<<that's the sympathetic pat on the shoulder
Thank you. I won't bore you with complex personal matters but yes it has been a while and I was led to understand that it had been fixed and was 'drying out'. This has proved not to be the case and I have been left with a bit of a pig in a poke. But.. I will sort it and hope for a hot summer in which to do as much as I can myself. Thank you
You just never know your luck, maybe when fully dried out the soft bits will firm up.Make sure the bilge can ventilate to speed up drying, the inspection hole under the bed will help, perhaps consider putting more inspection holes front and rear to aid ventilation and water removal.
It takes time for the water to move around the bilge so you might be removing water for three or four days or so after your initial 'pump out'.
Ditchdabbler
Thank you. I have started by moving out of my bed and putting the dinette bed up and moving onto there. I will leave as much open as possible to allow warm (?) air to circulate. I will keep sucking for a few days and then dry up with nappies anything I can. More inspection holes? Yes I will try that. I will also try to keep smiling
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I have had a plumbing drip, a leak in a pipe. I think this is now fixed and it seems dry and well. But on close inspection I have got water under the floor. I have some soft bits of floor which I can associate with all this. What I want to know is ... once I have dried everything out and I no longer drip will the floors be ok or will the damaged bits have to be replaced? I know it will be difficult to answer without seeing them or knowing what they are made of so I will try to explain. They are made of wood that is not solid but more 'put together' in bits a sort of composite. Then, if parts do need replacing is it an expensive job? Under my bed the inspection hole is showing quite a lot of water which must have been there for some time. I am quite worried about it all, not that I am going to sink or anything but that it is going to be a massive job. I know that getting it all dry is the first job and I am awaiting a wet/dry vacuum to be loaned to me in the next day or so. Any advice or even a sympathetic pat on the shoulder would be appreciated.
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But Richard, what would we find to talk about then?????
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I had a self pump out pump given to me, it was stored for emergencies. At some point I realised that I would never, ever use it as long as I had the orifice in my body that made pumping out necessary in the first place. I took it to the tip eventually and as I flung it into the skip something nasty flew out and hit a man passing by. Whatever it was must have been at least three years old.... shudder.
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Who's going?
I will be going at some point as I am not far away but I am not taking the boat as it is a family birthday weekend too and I have a few places I have to be all at the one time. But I will look out for boats with familiar names from here and I may be able to put a face to a name or two !
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I did my Hilperton to Chester in stages. I found the best way was to start at the first crack of a sparrow breaking wind then keep going till your crew are crying. Worked for me!! Seriously though, if you do not mind the long days you can do it much shorter times than the planner says. Good luck with it. Edited to add, I had lovely friends and family who did the car shuffle thing with me... that was the most tiresome part.
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This thread is of interest to me as my boat is of the 'railway carriage' design with all the heavy stuff on one side. I have tried to move things around to make it more even but I would like some ideas of evening things up without having to rip up floors and move ballast around. The list on mine was really bad recently and I got rid of all sorts of stuff that was surplus to requirements... did me good really to have a big clear out of junk. If I ever had another boat it would be more even in terms of fixed items ... but that is not likely in the near future.
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I don't even know why I started reading this thread. I ought to have known it would just get me all fired up... pity the same cannot be said the for the 'Erbers bastard' that is sitting there as cold as ever. So much money has been spent on it and so many hopeful 'oh I think it is getting warm' moments. I would not have one if it came free with a gold bow round it. End of rant!!!!
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I am really really fed up now. Reading the posts it looks like fun already and here am I with my blood poison type thing from a nasty bite on my back. It has spread to my lymph glands as I was slow to seek medical attention (I always know best about these things you see and will keep going to work or whatever till I drop) and have ended up with a very nast swelling under my arm which is more than a bit painful. I am not sure what (or who!! )bit me. I so wanted to come.... no I needed to come to the banter. I needed a laugh and a meeting with like minded people as I have now left my little group of friends on the K and A and feel a bit out of sorts till I get to know people here. I will keep an eye on the posts and enjoy the event via them. Have a great time everyone x
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do you want me to bring the chair legs? Speak now.....!
That would be good, thanks Bones. Much appreciated x
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I have been gently reminded by Rose of this event and as life is a bit hectic just now it was a good and timely reminder. I will be on my own and do not know anyone personally so feel a small bit .... something.... about coming. But I am going to come subject to booking a room, probably in the Premier Inn. I am looking forward to meeting people whose names online are very familiar to me. So please count me in!
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Ok food eaten and battery charger checked. It is a Sterling Marine Power 4 stage charger. I have read the small print on the charger and I understand it a bit better now that I have read the replies on here. Once again thank you so much for helping me. I have never asked a question on here and not been helped. Ok I may have been teased a bit and given a bit of 'stick' but nothing more than friendly banter. I am learning every day to manage the boat alone and the journey from the K and A up to Cheshire (some by me some by wonderful helpers when I had to work) was a journey never to be forgotten, a learning curve and a half. Again, thanks x
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I'm afraid this is a very tragic and severe case of cassette envy; a well known medical condition. You are aware that you've made the wrong decision and yet just can't bring yourself to utter the words. Fortunately there is a simple and effective remedy. Installing a cassette with spare tanks will cure all your symptoms and affect an instant and permanent solution. Cheer up; is that a cassette knight I see galloping over the horizon to rescue a damsel in distress?
Roger
It could very well be, Roger. I am actually thinking about it in a serious way. I am trying to make my very stressful life less so. I do not worry unuly about the toilet I just roll my sleeves up (actually and psychologically) but maybe the time has come...
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OOPs sorry about the batter typo, probably because I was hungry. I am eating egg on toast as I type so will go and look at the battery charger as soon as I have eaten. It is a 'proper' one though.
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I have always charged my batteries by running my engine for a couple of hours after work each evening. I am now on a mooring with a hook up which runs my 240 stuff. My problem is my battery charger. I don't know how long I ought to have it switched on for. Will it do any harm if I leave it on for too long? Will it 'overcharge' my batteries? I am sure I will get used to all this (it is only my third day) but I could do with pointing in the right direction. Thanks everyone.
Water in the bilges
in General Boating
Posted · Edited by Water Woman
Thank you John and Nick. Of course I knew about the COOL air thing.
Rushes to turn the fan heater placed to dry the place out down to cool
The heat in the boat has been killing me all day!!!
There was lots more water than I was expecting under there and this sucky up thing is brilliant. I am almost certain it was the leak under the sink which has been ongoing for a good while. I am hoping the bits of floor renewal is all I will need but I don't like the look of the shelves under the sink. But you never know.
I will keep giving it a suck over the next few days for any more to run down but if too much is there I guess I am going to have to look again for the source.
Remind me again why I am fighting to keep my boat????????
oh and this may be a stupid question but what is an oil extractor?
Edited to ask the above question.