Posted by pura vida on 11/02/08 - 7:07 AM
#1
Ok we just recieved a late 80s 17 whaler and the rigging tube has an aluminum tube in the ringging channel possibly wraped in glass but unknown at this time. we have never seen one like this before. the tube has started to pit and corrod. anyone have any ideas is this original or installed after the fact? any ideas on how to repair it?
kurt
Posted by pura vida on 11/12/08 - 5:14 AM
#3
I have done more research on this and there is definitly a metal tube inside the rigging tube and it is wraped in fiberglass.I still have no idea why this is here but my solution so far is to spray sprayable fairing in the tube to seal the pitting we can see. i have been able to spray from each end and from where the fuel line was run. anyone have any idea why there would be a metal tube in there????
Posted by Tom W Clark on 11/12/08 - 7:37 AM
#4
The aluminum tube *is* the rigging tunnel. All 16'-7" Whaler hulls built from 1961 to the early 1990s used a piece of aluminum pipe to form the rigging tunnel.
The aluminum pipe was inserted between the molded ends that are part of the deck mold and then the entire mold, including the aluminum pipe was covered with fiberglass during the lay up process.
It is not uncommon for this aluminum pipe to have corroded away after all these years, especially in boats used in salt water. However, because the entire pipe is encased in fiberglass, it should not pose any problem in terms of water intrusion to the hull's core.
Edited by Tom W Clark on 11/12/08 - 7:40 AM