I live in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York, and last August Hurricane Irene swept away my 1995 Key West 1900CC Sportsman (and trailer) about a mile downstream on what is usually a tiny creek that you can hop across and not even get wet. Neighbors tell me that in the height of the flood, the entire boat was submerged and water was flowing over it like it was a rock. I've finally got the boat back as the motor needed to be rebuilt (silt in the block, injectors, etc) and it's running good now. Remarkably, the hull was for the most part saved due to the fact that it remained on the trailer (which was destroyed). Structurally the hull is sound, but there is some cosmetic damage to the fiberglass on the rub rails which I plan on repairing. See attached pictures.
My biggest problem is that from the boat being on it's port side in the trees, all of the silt from the flood has settled within the hull and there is a lot of it based by how bad the boat list to the port side. The silt is packed in there hard and most of the drain tubes are completely sealed up with this silt. It basically was in a liquid form and has solidified and is everyone inside the hull on the port half. When in the water the port side is about 6" lower than the starboard side. My biggest problem is gaining access inside the hull so I can flush it properly. The gunnel rod holders are pretty much glued to the hull with the foam, and there is no way that I'll get them off without breaking it.
I removed the rod holders on the top of the gunnel, and from the rear holder I was able to get good access to the hull where I was able to get a small percentage of the silt out. The front rod holder is completely surrounded by foam so it doesn't help me much.
I removed the 6" hatch on the floor of the center console to reveal the sending unit on the top of the gas tank. There is silt there too, but when I tried to flush that out it just filled up with water and didn't drain properly. I imagine that most of drain tubes are completely filled up with silt as well. I'm planning on running a wire snake thru them tomorrow to try and brake it up. I've been using a garden hose, but I just got a pressure washer and will try that as well. If I have to I'll remove the center console to get at the floor panel, but that will be a last resort as that is a ton of work.
I may try removing the rub rail and drilling 3/4" holes and try to drain the hull that way (which will require putting the boat on top of old tires on the ground and then tipping the boat on it's port side again). If I have to I will install round hatches in the gunnels to gain access, but I'm worried that I will just get foam. I really don't want to cut open the floor.
Please let me know if you have any suggestions as I'd really like to be able to get the majority (if not all) of the silt out so I can use the boat again. Also, if you know where I can find any schematic diagrams of the hull, that might be helpful. Thanks in advance for your time and any help you may be able to offer.
Mike
My biggest problem is that from the boat being on it's port side in the trees, all of the silt from the flood has settled within the hull and there is a lot of it based by how bad the boat list to the port side. The silt is packed in there hard and most of the drain tubes are completely sealed up with this silt. It basically was in a liquid form and has solidified and is everyone inside the hull on the port half. When in the water the port side is about 6" lower than the starboard side. My biggest problem is gaining access inside the hull so I can flush it properly. The gunnel rod holders are pretty much glued to the hull with the foam, and there is no way that I'll get them off without breaking it.
I removed the rod holders on the top of the gunnel, and from the rear holder I was able to get good access to the hull where I was able to get a small percentage of the silt out. The front rod holder is completely surrounded by foam so it doesn't help me much.
I removed the 6" hatch on the floor of the center console to reveal the sending unit on the top of the gas tank. There is silt there too, but when I tried to flush that out it just filled up with water and didn't drain properly. I imagine that most of drain tubes are completely filled up with silt as well. I'm planning on running a wire snake thru them tomorrow to try and brake it up. I've been using a garden hose, but I just got a pressure washer and will try that as well. If I have to I'll remove the center console to get at the floor panel, but that will be a last resort as that is a ton of work.
I may try removing the rub rail and drilling 3/4" holes and try to drain the hull that way (which will require putting the boat on top of old tires on the ground and then tipping the boat on it's port side again). If I have to I will install round hatches in the gunnels to gain access, but I'm worried that I will just get foam. I really don't want to cut open the floor.
Please let me know if you have any suggestions as I'd really like to be able to get the majority (if not all) of the silt out so I can use the boat again. Also, if you know where I can find any schematic diagrams of the hull, that might be helpful. Thanks in advance for your time and any help you may be able to offer.
Mike
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