Stringer weep hole leaking water - 23' Tsunami

[abl1111]

Hey guys. Odd! My starboard stringer, where the aft, original rubber weep hole is, just started leaking a small amount of water, not through the rubber hose itself, but around it from the stringer/foam cavity.

Where can this water be coming from ? It's not coming from the scupper, nor is it coming anywhere up along the the stringer ( I checked w/ a mirror and a light ).

It is coming from inside the stringer. Can this be old, old water just finally making its way aft and finding a way out ? Or, is there a way, toward the bow, for new water to enter the stringer via the anchor rode hole, or front vent ?

Is the fiberglass stringer fully encapsulating the foam core from front to stern ? I have a 23' Tsunami w/ an i/o.

Thx. Boats !

[FELLOW-SHIP]

Ha Abl

Ya the foam is totally encapsulated with glass. When I re did my boat that little hose was clogged up and water from above the stringer was seeping around the hose and out into the bilge area. You might want to run a little wire like a gun cleaning brush reaming out that hose see what you get. Also you might need to drill a hole in that general area of the stringer and see if water is coming out the new hole. I don’t know if I would do much more that drain it and plug it up unless you are planning on doing a major job like replacing your fuel cell unless you got a i/o or inboard power plant with easy access to that whole area.

FellowShip

_______________________________________________

My motto: Just for the Grins

[abl1111]

Thx for the reply FS. There is no water on the 'high side' of the stringer so a clogged hose isn't it. I just want to know that it's "nothing". I plan on drilling a little hole there to see what comes out.

Typically, the only time I even get water coming through the weep hose, is when I wash the boat down and spray water into the forward ( or rear vent ) - then water can pool on the high side of the stringer and weep through the hose, the way it should.

But this is different. I know the hull is solid so that is not it. Just a little confusing as to how water may have gotten there, post resto. I am hoping that the water is just residual water from when I opened everything up a few years back - the foam was exposed for a few weeks to weather.

Can you think of where water might make its way in otherwise ? I can't taste if it is salt or not - it is clear however.

Initially, before I got a mirror and light, I thought it was my floor scupper leaking through the wood block, running down to the high side of the stringer and out the hose. But, it was all dry all around there, and the water was leaking around the hose, not through it. The water leaves a brown, water-stain on the f.glass where it is leaking ( it cleans up w/ soap ).

Curious !?

[strick]

I guess it can be getting in thru the forward vents. Is there a way you could check around the stringers up toward the bow? I have a little endoscope that would be perfect for that. I'm not to keen on the anatomy of the Tsunami. How about your rub rail is it all sealed well?

The water may be getting in there from when you wash the boat or when it rains. Sorry not much help. You just have to do some exploring.

strick

[Finster]

It may be hard to interpret this photo but the stringers are basically enclosed except for the weep hole and several holes on top that they used for foam filling (see pic). It's almost impossible to tell how water gets into them but it does. Maybe condensation or other means by way of working it's way into the foam fill holes?

[abl1111]

Thx for the replies, guys. I'm away on business so I cannot check it further right now. I did check the high side of the stringer w/ my head jammed in between the i/o motor and the i/o engine cut out w/ a mirror and a light. The water does not seem to be coming from anywhere along the high side of the stringer - it's dry. Even if water did come in from a vent, the water is coming from inside the stringer. Unless, the water did come through the vent, down the length of the stringer, and the hose/ weep hole is not a tight fit, the water could leak intot he stringer via a bad hose fit, soak the foam and then come out through the other side via that same bad hose fit.

Or, it's old water -- or -- I cannot imagine it, nor would I want to, but, hypothetically, there is a crack along where the stringer meets the hull and water is coming in from the vent and running back inside along the stringer and out near the weep hole.. That is a horrible thought and one that I really think is waaay too pessimistic.

I will further investigate it of course and let you know. The idea of water getting in through holes where the foam was originally poured in seems to be a long shot, but I certainly like that idea better than any damn crack ( just typing the idea hurts !!!!)

I think I would feel better if water was creeping out the other side too...

Any other ideas, let me know.

[bigeasy1]

abl, i know how you feel,i'm in the process of redoing a 74 Tsunami I.O.,and have found wet foam in the bottom part only of the port side box stringer.

I have checked everwhere that i could get to.The engine is out,so it,s easy to get at the rear area,but i couldnt find any major problems in that area.

I removed the fuel tank,and drilled a few holes in the lower and upper part of the box,and have found wet foam in the bottom part of the foam.

Thats about as far as i can go,because the deck is solid,so i don't want to tear that up.

Like you,i think of all kinds of terrible things like,what if there's a crack in the hull,or what if the box is delaminated somewhere under the deck where i can't see.

Friends of mine in the glass business,and others who have done restorations,tell me i worry to much,and that it's probably old water,as the boat sat uncovered for five years in a field,and wasn't well cared for even when it was being used.

I had a fracture in the corner where the transom meets the port side,(above the waterline though)and was thinking that water may have entered and somehow got into the box stringer and migrated toward the front.

I'm also wondering why the bottom of the foam is the only part thats wet,If it was leaking from above,why wouldn't the upper foam be wet?
Foam is like a sponge,when it gets wet,water dosen't drain,it just mostly stays where it is.

I think i'm just going to leave it as is for the most part.i did however drill a few holes in the box with my hole saw along the lower section where the box meets the hull.
Hopefully any water will drain to some degree,and some air will dry it out ,at least a little.
If you find out where your water's coming from let us all know,and as most have told me,it's most likely not a major structural issue.

[EBEACH]

Alan,

While on my 73 Tsunami yestarday, I noticed that the port stringer is open on the forward end. My foam is dry, and the foam was out beyond the end of the stringer. You can see it through the access panel on the port side in the cabin.

Jim

[abl1111]

Jim,

That is the exact info I was waiting to hear !!!! Thx. That makes more sense ! I don't know why that would be done that way, but I would think of glassing it closed if I were you. Why have any water entry point at all ?!

Maybe they did this so the foam, when poured, could expand out to avoid cracking the stringer ? However, somehow, water can and does get in there and eventually finds it's way to the stern.

Is there any access to seal this for a boat that is completely assembled ?

Thx, Jim, you answered a riddle that had my brain smoking from trying to rationalize the, how's, if's and why's ?

[1bayouboy]

I'll check that on my '74 Tsunami...maybe they made little changes to the build over time.