Gunwale Foam has water in it, very nervous about what to do! any advice please!

[Bustedknuckle84]

Hull is a 2003 cape craft as described in the signature. I wanted to replace the seals around rod holders on the gunwale because the boat owner before me didnt know what he was doing. I pulled the rod holders our to see the top of the gunwales have foam but also has water in it. Very scared that the bottom of the hull has water in it now.

When I squeeze most of the foam I pulled out has water in it. What can I do, any way to air it out? Vacuum it? is their a fix? please help...

I dont wanna have to separate the top part of the boat from the bottom. Now the foam I pulled out and had on the deck dry out completely.

I have had an on going issue with the boat leaning to the starboard side and have to use about 50% (starboard) trim tab to keep boat even. I have a counter rotate motor but haven't found a fix yet. Hope this isnt the reason.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Gunwale Foam has water in it, very nervous about what to do! any advice please!

If there's water in the gunwales, it could very well mean your bilge/below deck is full of water.

Water seeks it's own level and goes down until it finds more water and joins with it. Unless your gunwales are sealed off from the bottom of your boat... your boat is full of water.

 

[Bustedknuckle84]

Re: Gunwale Foam has water in it, very nervous about what to do! any advice please!

i cant tell (pics 1 and 2) it looks like a very thin crack between the gunwales and the outside of the boat.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Gunwale Foam has water in it, very nervous about what to do! any advice please!

No fix/drying! Remove and replace. Fix the leak. Period.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Gunwale Foam has water in it, very nervous about what to do! any advice please!

Tip the trailer up as far as possible and pull the drain plug and see what comes out, if you get a little water and it stops that is good, if it keeps seaping out for days you will want to get it looked at.

I wouldn't freak out yet.