posted 07-10-2005 11:05 AM ET (US)        

I stripped the boat down to the bare hull and removed all of the thruhulls and drain plugs on the transom. After I pried out the lower drain tube, to my dismay I have discovered a trickle of water seeping out of the composite wood/FG transom.

The hull is solid as a tank w/ no soft spots, the gelcoat is thick and has minimal damage. The transom wood has no rot to speak of, just some moisture on the lower parts..

The boat sat in the weather at a marina for the past year and when I did the initial cleaning, a good bit of gunk was located in the bilge. Also, deck screwhole penetrations were problably not sealed as well as they could have been. These boats have a center channel convex bilge w/ a deck plate.

So, looking for tips on my next strategy. I do not feel that the hull is majorly watersoaked, however, there is definitely some moisture seeping out. Currently I have the bow elevated to an extreme and the boat sits tarped to prevent rainwater intrusion in open screw holes.

The Boat was cons't in 1985 and I do not know if Mckee was using wood stringers or if the foam injected was closed cell or not.

Wondering what to do next?? Do I....

a) let it sit tarped in the sun and see if the drain hole eventually dries out??

b) drill a 1/4-1/2" hole in the keel just fwd of the transom to facilitate draining??

c) cover the boat in poly and rig a dehumidorfier venting out a thru hull?? (as suggected in other threads)

d) Put an electric blanket on the rear portion of the deck and "cook" it for a week??

f) forget about all of the above, install new brass drain tubes gooped w/ 5200, mount a new engine and go fishing??

Just looking for input from veteran restorers.

Project can be seen at:

http://www.utradeinc.com/mckee/mckee.html