Michael, When we purchased and first launched Calypso in 1998, we also experienced water seeping into the bilge from hull laminate. We quickly re-hauled and started digging into the polyester “bog” filler used to fill/level the space around the mast step. The leak had been happening for a long time allowing water to follow channels under the nearby plywood bulkheads then wick up into the plywood causing rot.
(When I had the boat surveyed in 1998 I specifically asked the surveyor about why the bilge pump cycled on/off, was there a leak? His rather terse response indicated I was “kicking fly sh*t out of pepper” and it was only condensation. I did obtain a full refund of the survey after the reality was discovered.) What we found is the hull laminate had micro fractures that, we believe, were caused by the boat being aggressively raced using max rig/backstay tension over many years. The stress was maximized just forward of the mast step. As Calypso is hull #1 of the 43s the design/build teams were able to learn from the results. In the build drawings I obtained from the Maritime Museum I discovered both the 43s and the 61s had extra reinforcement in this same area added. During our restoration project we added 2 “I” beams made from G10 and plywood that were thoroughly bonded and glassed in place. We rebuilt the bottom 18” of 3 bulkheads in the area. They are now thoroughly sealed in epoxy preventing a recurrence for future owners. So, my suggestion is to continue your search for the cause and insure the seepage does not migrate to any wood elements of your boat’s structure. Martin DeYoung Calypso 1971 C&C 43 Seattle/Port Ludlow
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