All the older boats I've seen were glassed over. We install the lead ballast then after topping lead ballast with mat (a complete layer in the middle) and resin, we glass the entire top over 10 inches on either side, up towards the bow and nice and neat over the ballast dam that defines the bilge. We use Mat and Woven roving. This gives the boat (s) another bottom in case a Great White bites off the keel. All of Jerry's boats are built that way as well. I suspect that this exception was an attempt to repair or dig out some of the steel shot and it never was re-glassed. I would definately keep water out of the steel ballast area. Fair winds Bob Stanley Winarski wrote:
Norm,
The bilge sump on my boat (#177) is glassed in and it came that way. I can not imagine why any were ever left open.
Stan m-15, #177, Carol II
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