Found Rotten Wood - Now To Fix

[fallingeggs]

Bilge pump was going off way too often in the last 24 hours, so I went hunting for a leak today while anchored in a beautiful bay in Martinique. Joy.

Tracked the problem, at least part of it, to the shower sump. Turns out Sabre installed an access plate from the shower sump to the main bilge/hull to give access to the forward most keel bolt. Not a bad idea, except it was leaking water from the shower sump to the bilge due to the plywood plate being rotten.

While poking around, I also saw rotten wood all along the bottom of the shower sump! I knew I had some rot in the cabin sole due to the mast step, but didn't think it was connected to the shower sump or that the bulkhead would be affected! Blah!!!

While I really wanted to ignore it, I took my multitool and a pick to the area and removed all the wet plywood l that I could. The area runs right on top of the stringer for the mast step, but it is well encased in fiberglass and doesn't look to have any damage.

Here is what I'm left with...

This is taken in the shower looking at the affected corner:


I took out the tabbing higher up on the bulkhead until there was no more rot:


View of the cabin sole:


View of that keel bolt access plate:


View from the saloon :-(


All and all, not terrible. The rest of the bulkhead (including the entire forward section of the boat) is dry and the tabbing in great shape, so I doubt I have any lasting structural issues. I have also sailed some 1,500+ miles down the Thorny Path this past six months and the boat didn't fall apart.

What's the fix? I think the goal should be to add some strength back to the bottom of the bulkhead and door frame, and making the shower sump water tight. I am thinking of layering some fiberglass (have strand mat and bi-axial) with West System epoxy. Will make it at least 3/4" thick. I'm not too worried about the view because the trim and the shower floor covers the gap. (Come to think of it, that is probably why this issue wasn't seen before...)

It's beer time. Thanks.

[fallingeggs]

Btw, bilge pumps were really being caused by the salt water galley foot pump deciding to spring a leak. Not something I have a replacement for, oh well.

[jkindredpdx]

I'd use marine plywood, cover with fibreglass cloth and resin, finish with bilge paint.