Two years ago I was having blistering problems on the keel. It was professionally redone, but the blisters came back the following year and were repaired again. So I opened up the floor of the bilge to access the sealed compartment and found lots of waterlogged foam in there. The exterior fiberglass was in good condition, but the floor of the bilge had some delamination where it joined to the walls. So I presume rainwater and splash water that sat in the bilge was slowing working its way into the sealed compartment and then into the foam. This would then migrate into the exterior fiberglass, causing blisters. I cut away the bilge floor, dug out all the foam, painted the compartment with barrier paint, and then reglassed the compartment. I cut an inspection port in the bilge floor so I can ensure the compartment is staying dry. I also installed an automatic bilge pump, which I didn't have before. The blisters did not return last year. So perhaps you have water entering the compartment through the bilge floor? It may get soaked up by the flotation and then slowly released back into the bilge? I'm happy to talk to you about what I found if you like.

Steve Heinzelman
Canandaigua Yacht Club
585-586-8253

Wisconsin winters require precautions against freezing water in the bilge. This is done with a simple drain hole, plugged with a 1/4 “ bolt and sealant before the boat is in the water. It took me a couple tries to get the correct hole location. You can see in the picture that a hole below the bottom of the bilge, with lead behind the fiberglass, yields a trail of water. The picture was taken last fall some weeks AFTER I put a ShopVac against the hole and sucked out a pint or so of water. Repeat the ShopVac.

Return last week, and a new trail of water is evident, just like in the picture.

A couple other points that may or may not be relevant:

• Last season I had a very slow leak into the bilge (less than a cup of water per day) that I assumed was a poor job of sealing the plug,
• When we took the boat out of the water last fall, I filled the bilge with water and waited to see if the level dropped or if seeping water was evident anywhere around the rudder. Nothing,
• There are no visible cracks or repairs on the underside of the keel,
• This is a vintage hull given the “full Ensign Spars treatment” in 2015, with a molded fiberglass cabin floor installed. I note the bilge is blocked off fore and aft as shown in the drawing, unlike any of the 26 Ensigns at the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center. Assuming there is additional flotation in the sealed off areas,
• When the weather warms, I plan to hold a hose with a fat rubber seal against that hole, and look for water all over.

Our Yard Operations Manager at the Sailing Center hasn’t seen this before, although he hasn’t gone looking either. None of these tough old boats has any ice damage. Any comments from members with experience in this area would be most welcome.

Dick Beverly
Tracy #983