To Replace or Not To Replace
It’s spring commissioning time, full of activities from washing and waxing the hull and painting the bottom, to oiling the teak and a dozen other tasks. Now, while it appears that many of these annual rituals involve black and white decision making with little gray area, the reality is oftentimes just the opposite. Some are simple and relatively risk free – wax the hull once or twice, or prep and paint the entire bottom or just scuff up and paint the water line smile. Others are more complex and impactful –replace a critical engine hose or swap out a funky operating main starting battery. This spring a suspected “weeping” thru hull fit into the latter category and the decision to address it was a measured one to be sure.
The thru hull was suspicious in that a very small, almost microscopic, flow of water was observed around the fitting last season during launch, but the water trickle ended shortly afterwards and the flow could have been attributed to half a dozen causes. Honestly, my first impulse was to tighten the thru-hull nut and otherwise let sleeping dogs lie, and this may have very well solved the issue, if there really was one. But, as I reflected on the possible impact of a compromised seal on the ability of the boat to stay afloat, and recognized the continued input of a savvy marine mechanic, I decided to remove and re-bed the thru-hull fitted many decades ago.
It was quite a process, removing hoses that had not been off fittings in years, and using pipe wrenches to rotate massive bronze fittings that hadn’t been turned for the same length of time. The thru-hull nut was so firmly attached it had to be chiseled into two pieces for removal, and the actual thru-hull required more than a little hammer-based persuasion to remove its death grip on the hull. Finally, all the pieces were out and the refurbishment process began with the prepping of the main fittings, and hull hole, and addition of other pieces no longer serviceable. A few days later, the re-installation process took place, with plenty of goopy sealants applied to the hull and fittings, and fastidious securing of all joints. Soon it will be time to check the result in the ocean water, but I feel certain the result will be positive.
So, contrary to popular opinion, there are a lot of gray areas encountered in the spring commissioning process. Some are more important than others, which can raise the emotional charges associated with them. Based on my experience, I suggest you listen to experienced marine pros you consult with and consider being open to moving forward into key spring-time maintenance activities. The payoff will be a calm feeling that you’ll enjoy all summer long.
