17-footer Rigging Tunnel

Repair or modification of Boston Whaler boats, their engines, trailers, and gear
jstahlman
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon May 07, 2018 11:33 am

17-footer Rigging Tunnel

Postby jstahlman » Fri Jun 01, 2018 5:56 pm

The 17-foot boat has a rigging tube running down the middle under the deck. As I'm sure everyone knows, [the rigging tunnel is] used to route cables and fuel lines to the stern. My 17-footer seems to have three access points. Two are ovals and one, closest to the stern, is a round hole. Then a final exit oval at the stern which also has a drain.

In the middle oval access that is a spot than is deeper than the main tube. (Later I will get a photo.) This access point currently has a wire sticking out that has been cut off right about deck height.

This deeper spot holds water which seems strange. My thought is to fill it to the bottom of the tube as I can see no reason to have it. Before I screw up, I figured I better ask. My guess is the wire went to the front lights. Anyone know for sure?

jstahlman
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon May 07, 2018 11:33 am

Re: 17-footer Rigging Tunnel

Postby jstahlman » Fri Jun 01, 2018 7:28 pm

20180601_172225A.jpg
The dry area is the bottom of the tube. The wet area is this extra area I mentioned.
20180601_172225A.jpg (162.41 KiB) Viewed 5049 times

jstahlman
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon May 07, 2018 11:33 am

Re: 17-footer Rigging Tunnel

Postby jstahlman » Sun Jun 03, 2018 10:02 pm

Now that I have it cleaned out, [the extra opening] appears to be lined with caulk. I'm pretty sure this was added for some reason.

Mattwarner
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Re: 17-footer Rigging Tunnel

Postby Mattwarner » Mon Jun 04, 2018 7:27 am

I would say someone has tried to install a hull-mounted transducer, and the wire is from tranducer.

jstahlman
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon May 07, 2018 11:33 am

Re: 17-footer Rigging Tunnel

Postby jstahlman » Mon Jun 04, 2018 9:23 am

Yep I'm thinking the same thing. Now to figure a good way to plug it.

jimh
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Location: Michigan, Lower Peninsula
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Re: 17-footer Rigging Tunnel

Postby jimh » Mon Jun 04, 2018 11:12 am

Based on the appearance of the opening--which looks like something a prison inmate might accomplish with a sharpened spoon working on a cell wall and certainly nothing like anything Boston Whaler would have done--I agree that this opening was made after the boat left the factory.

The suggestion that the cable--presumed to be an electrical conductor of some sort--might be from an embedded SONAR transducer is a very good guess. It had not occurred to me, but an embedded SONAR transducer might be just the thing that would required such a big opening and produce a cable coming from nowhere.

In the image (posted above) interpretation of the the material in the opening was difficult for me. It looks like some sort of resin has been used to fill the opening. Or is that standing water in the opening?

jstahlman
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon May 07, 2018 11:33 am

Re: 17-footer Rigging Tunnel

Postby jstahlman » Mon Jun 04, 2018 1:19 pm

In the photo it is standing water. I used a wet vac to suck it out and it is about 2" deep and lined with caulking. This boat was a fish and game boat but I guess a SONAR transducer is possible. In any case I plan to fill it. The catch is what to use that will stick to the caulking in that hole?

jimh
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Location: Michigan, Lower Peninsula
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Re: 17-footer Rigging Tunnel

Postby jimh » Mon Jun 04, 2018 1:22 pm

I suggest you get rid of the water in the opening and apparently now in the foam of the inner area between hull and liner, before you cover and seal the hole.

jstahlman
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Joined: Mon May 07, 2018 11:33 am

Re: 17-footer Rigging Tunnel

Postby jstahlman » Mon Jun 04, 2018 5:49 pm

Yep. Agree. The hole does hold water in the area. I'm not sure how much water got in. I drilled some holes in the bottom and nothing came out. I weighed the boat and trailer and got 1,400-lbs. I figure the trailer is about 350-lbs, which gives me 1,050-lbs for the boat without the engine. That is a little heavy.