The following may be of use to others who have issues with water intrusion to the v-berth.
I purchased this, my first boat, a '92 Ericson 34-II last December and am getting ready for her first launch.
The boat showed signs of significant water intrusion to the v-berth. I'll try to be as brief as possible.
- Symptoms: bad smell and water collected in the storage spaces under the v-berth, some mold on the v-berth cushions, cushions damp on the bottom, very wet boat manuals on the shelf in the v-berth, mold discoloration on the fabric above the 'shelf" running along the hull on both sides of the v-berth.
- my surveyor noted a drop of water hanging from one of the anchor locker screws during her inspection (it was not raining at the time of the inspection)
Investigation / solution:
- a couple weeks ago I removed the anchor locker 'lid' and removed the perimeter screws. Some were stripped, others mis-sized, a bolt used in place of a screw in one place. The perimeter showed evidence of prior fix attempts including tape, new caulk etc.
- Using various tools I then removed as much of the old sealing material as possible. I hooked a halyard to the anchor fixture that secures the bitter end of the anchor rode and hauled. No movement. I pushed as hard as possible from the v-berth. No movement. I took a "Dremmel" tool, bent one of the cutting attachments to a 90 degree angle leaving a 1/4 section that I slipped under the lip of the anchor locker and removed as much caulk material as possible from under the lip of the anchor pan. Still could not remove the anchor locker.
- Next I located one of the solid wooden blocks used to support cradles in the yard (or keels) and placed that in the v-berth, upon which I perched my car jack. I put a piece of wood on top and cranked while a friend eyed the deck above to make sure I didn't cause noticeable deflection of the deck which I gently cranked the jack up about 1/2". Still not movement at all, but some concerning noises sounding a bit like splintering wood (see below *).
- Next, I crawled into the v-berth with a flashlight, looked up at the aft end of the anchor locker and saw what appears to be a sealed seam between the teak v-berth trip (running between the port and starboard sides) and the anchor locker. I took a screwdriver and worked at chipping away the cement like material. Then a chisel. Then a putty knife. After working at this for some time and making a mess, I again tried to push the anchor locker out with the jack. I heard some crackling, then "BANG"... and success.
- upon removeal of the trim and inspection I could see that a) the trim piece was attached only to the anchor locker, b) the trim was backed by two long pieces of plywood, one partially rotten, that had been screwed and plugged to the teak trim, and further secured with fiberglass resin sequentially: the teak connnected to board #1 connected to board #2 and then finally about 1/2" of fiberglass material running nearly the entire length of the aft portion of the anchor locker. The bond was about 5" high. It appears that upon manufacture, Pacific Seacraft permanently secured the trim to the locker rendering it nearly impossible to remove and reseat the locker. The only reason I succeeded in breaking the bond was that the first layer of fiberglass cloth on the anchor locker, thankfully, separated from the anchor locker (* the source of the cracking noises I believe).
- Associated problem: Some of the screws that secured the anchor locker lip to the deck did not fully "hit" the lip. Prior to rebedding the locker in a very thick bead of Polysulfide I wrapped fiberglass cloth and resin around those 5 points in order to create a target for the new screws that I will install now that the Polysulfide seal and fiberglass has cured.
- Next up: removing the plywood and fiberglass mess from the trim piece, then reinstalling it. I have in mind industrial strength velcro, placed both on a few spacers secured to the back of the team trim, and also to the aft surface of the anchor locker.
- I left the anchor locker exposed for two weeks without reinstalling the cover, through rain storms, and it appears the long suffering v-berth will hencetoforth be a dry space where I can park my teenage daughters when we sleep on the boat.
- before I launch I'll plug the anchor locker and fill it with water from a hose to see if I can make it leak.
- Once I am sure the problem is fixed I'll replace the hull fabric to eliminate the black mold stripes. I bought replacement fabric from Jamestown along with spray adhesive.
I'm on a plane right now and will upload photos when I have the opportunity.
I hope this helps someone out there who may have a similar problem!
Brad
I purchased this, my first boat, a '92 Ericson 34-II last December and am getting ready for her first launch.
The boat showed signs of significant water intrusion to the v-berth. I'll try to be as brief as possible.
- Symptoms: bad smell and water collected in the storage spaces under the v-berth, some mold on the v-berth cushions, cushions damp on the bottom, very wet boat manuals on the shelf in the v-berth, mold discoloration on the fabric above the 'shelf" running along the hull on both sides of the v-berth.
- my surveyor noted a drop of water hanging from one of the anchor locker screws during her inspection (it was not raining at the time of the inspection)
Investigation / solution:
- a couple weeks ago I removed the anchor locker 'lid' and removed the perimeter screws. Some were stripped, others mis-sized, a bolt used in place of a screw in one place. The perimeter showed evidence of prior fix attempts including tape, new caulk etc.
- Using various tools I then removed as much of the old sealing material as possible. I hooked a halyard to the anchor fixture that secures the bitter end of the anchor rode and hauled. No movement. I pushed as hard as possible from the v-berth. No movement. I took a "Dremmel" tool, bent one of the cutting attachments to a 90 degree angle leaving a 1/4 section that I slipped under the lip of the anchor locker and removed as much caulk material as possible from under the lip of the anchor pan. Still could not remove the anchor locker.
- Next I located one of the solid wooden blocks used to support cradles in the yard (or keels) and placed that in the v-berth, upon which I perched my car jack. I put a piece of wood on top and cranked while a friend eyed the deck above to make sure I didn't cause noticeable deflection of the deck which I gently cranked the jack up about 1/2". Still not movement at all, but some concerning noises sounding a bit like splintering wood (see below *).
- Next, I crawled into the v-berth with a flashlight, looked up at the aft end of the anchor locker and saw what appears to be a sealed seam between the teak v-berth trip (running between the port and starboard sides) and the anchor locker. I took a screwdriver and worked at chipping away the cement like material. Then a chisel. Then a putty knife. After working at this for some time and making a mess, I again tried to push the anchor locker out with the jack. I heard some crackling, then "BANG"... and success.
- upon removeal of the trim and inspection I could see that a) the trim piece was attached only to the anchor locker, b) the trim was backed by two long pieces of plywood, one partially rotten, that had been screwed and plugged to the teak trim, and further secured with fiberglass resin sequentially: the teak connnected to board #1 connected to board #2 and then finally about 1/2" of fiberglass material running nearly the entire length of the aft portion of the anchor locker. The bond was about 5" high. It appears that upon manufacture, Pacific Seacraft permanently secured the trim to the locker rendering it nearly impossible to remove and reseat the locker. The only reason I succeeded in breaking the bond was that the first layer of fiberglass cloth on the anchor locker, thankfully, separated from the anchor locker (* the source of the cracking noises I believe).
- Associated problem: Some of the screws that secured the anchor locker lip to the deck did not fully "hit" the lip. Prior to rebedding the locker in a very thick bead of Polysulfide I wrapped fiberglass cloth and resin around those 5 points in order to create a target for the new screws that I will install now that the Polysulfide seal and fiberglass has cured.
- Next up: removing the plywood and fiberglass mess from the trim piece, then reinstalling it. I have in mind industrial strength velcro, placed both on a few spacers secured to the back of the team trim, and also to the aft surface of the anchor locker.
- I left the anchor locker exposed for two weeks without reinstalling the cover, through rain storms, and it appears the long suffering v-berth will hencetoforth be a dry space where I can park my teenage daughters when we sleep on the boat.
- before I launch I'll plug the anchor locker and fill it with water from a hose to see if I can make it leak.
- Once I am sure the problem is fixed I'll replace the hull fabric to eliminate the black mold stripes. I bought replacement fabric from Jamestown along with spray adhesive.
I'm on a plane right now and will upload photos when I have the opportunity.
I hope this helps someone out there who may have a similar problem!
Brad