R Lazarette

Lazarette - The open deck seams and loose deck fittings caused rainwater to leak down into the sub decking and cabins below. The leaking rainwater caused the wood to rot and develop mold and mildew on the walls and overhead.

The original steel fuel and water tanks were badly rusted. That is, the two, two hundred gallon diesel fuel tanks that sit on the port and starboard side and the 125 gallon water tank sits in the middle.

Everything that was not fastened down was removed. Next came the initial cleaning and then a detailed inspection.

Using the old tanks as a pattern three new, custom made, ABYC approved, 5086-H116 aluminum tanks were fabricated and installed. To help promote ventilation and drainage the new tanks were placed on top of "Dri-Dek" self -draining, interlocking panels.

Lazarette - The entire area was thoroughly cleaned and inspected. The new fuel and water tanks was insolated from the wooden deck with dri-deck flooring. The tanks were all double strapped for added safety and security.

In order to present a clean neat appearance, any unused brackets, screws, plumbing or wiring was removed. Any protruding screws were cut off.

Abandoned screw holes were re-drilled and then plugged with hardwood dowels. The dowels were buttered with West System 105 / 205 epoxy and then driven into the screw holes. Later the top of the dowels were cut off and the wood sanded smooth with 120-grit sandpaper.

The Lazarette was then painted using Interlux - #863 Bilgekote - Gray.

Lazarette ~ Rudder Port - The starboard rudder port had a constant leak and was much greater when underway. Under the guiding principal of what is done to one side should be done to the other, the decision was made to drop both rudders and inspect both rudder ports.

Orientation: Facing toward the starboard side.

Lazarette ~ Rudder Port - The steering arms and rudder port were removed and cleaned with a power wire brush for inspection.

Lazarette ~ Rudder Port - Disassembling the rudder port revealed that the starboard rudder port backing plate (mahogany wedge) was completely rotted and the cause of the leak in the Lazarette. (The purpose of the wedges is to keep the rudders perpendicular to he keel given the curvature of the boat bottom.)

Using the good port side rudder port backing plate and portions of the starboard side plate a new starboard side wedge was cut and shaped.

Lazarette ~ Rudder Port - There was some surface rot on the inside of the bottom around the rudder port bolt holes and opening for the rudder port.

The inside and outside of the bottom hull around the openings for the rudders and bolts were sanded smooth and then painted with three applications of West System 105 / 205 epoxy. The epoxy was thinned 100% by volume with lacquer thinner to the consistency of water. This process allowed the epoxy to slowly seep into and seal the wood. After each application had dried for 24 hours, it was lightly sanded with 120-grit sandpaper. The whitted-out epoxy was then vacuumed and wiped-down with a cotton towel and paint thinner.

West System 105 / 205 epoxy that was thickened with West System 404 high-density filler was used to fill the small depressions left from the rot.

Orientation: Facing starboard side bottom showing hole for rudder hardware.

Lazarette ~ Rudder Port - The inside hull bottom was painted with two coats of Interlux - #863 Bilgekote - Gray

Both rudder port backing plates were thoroughly coated with 3M-4200 and then fastened to the bottom with 1 1/2" Silicon Bronze screws.

The rudder ports were then installed after being coated with heave beads of 3M-4200

Orientation: Facing starboard side bottom showing the rudder port hardware and the rudder port backing plate.