Hello everyone and thanks for the suggestions and advice. Gary, I am starting to wonder if perhaps I was taking water occasionally through the pendant hole and just didn't notice. I did get quite a splash through it when I raised the centerboard the last time we were out. I will probably finish the previous owner's cut around the base of the centerboard trunk and using some thickened epoxy and fiberglass just re-enforce the joint. I at least feel better knowing what was under the caulk that the previous owner had layed down. I checked under the boat this morning after pouring 5 gallons of water into it and none seemed to have leaked out. I sucked the water out this morning with the shop vac and it looks like I was able to recover all 5 gallons so at leas I don't think the water is still trapped somewhere in the boat. That would be bad since my pole barn is not heated and it is about to get really cold in MN. So I at least have the piece of mind knowing that at least that part of the boat is waterproof. Bones, I plan on removing the centerboard in the next couple of weeks, the pendant looks relatively new and the centerboard looks recently painted, but I think I would like to get a layer of epoxy on it, besides it gives me something else to do since we can't be out on the water. Has anyone ever installed an access hatch in the keel trunk? It would sure make future pendant replacements a lot easier and give better access to assess the centerboard's condition. Regards, Chad On Oct 24, 2007, at 11:03 PM, GILASAILR@aol.com wrote:

Chad, My name is Gary Oberbeck, I own a M-17 #316 and have (for years) had a small amount of water in the area below the cabin sole. On my boat, I believe it comes in from the hull deck joint and a small amount from the CB pennant hole at the top of the trunk, we have cut a small hole into the cabin sole to check for condition and it seems to stay drier witht the added ventilation. I have on occasion vacuumed the area with a shop vac -good results. I am in the process of chasing down the exact cause, but I was reminded again this last weekend while sailing at Lake Havasu, the CB pennant hole in the trunk allows a fair amount of water into the boat - especially in waves or chop conditions. A friend of mine cut the cabin sole out of his boat, ground the surfaces clean and 'buttered' the two surfaces with thickened epoxy and set the sole back in place with weights in place to hold while epoxy cured. This will at least remove the void below the cabin sole and make any water more quickly evident. as you have filled a part of the bilge There is a good article in the archives about someone installing access to the bilge at the area you describe on your boat - I think he installed the equivalent of garboard drains he had custom machined for the application. I will try and find the article - included pictures. Good Luck. Keep us informed. Feel free to ask any other questions as they arise.

Take Care, Have Fun, Go Sailing Gary O. M-17 #316a

Team Geezer Racing.....Old and in the Way Arizona Sailing Squadron

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.