What is this hole above my rudder attachments?

[KootsChewt]

While doing a bit of work on the boat last weekend, I noticed some holes that seem to go through the hull? I had it all tarped up and kids wanted to go, so I didn't crawl back inside to verify. Is my boat missing something? I just bought it a few months ago and it went in storage almost right away, so not yet that familiar with it.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/l5pm0kox0zgdy ... 0.JPG?dl=0

[Retcoastie]

Do both rudders have that hole? I'm guess it was for a depth sounder and/or a speed pickup wire. Do you have either or can you see where either might have been in the past?

Interesting anyway. Let's see what more knowledge folks offer.

Ken

[NiceAft]

I have the same holes on my 2005 M.

My guess is, they are for equalizing pressure when the hull flexes. The holes are original from the factory though, not some mod done later.

If my guess is wrong, hey, don't let it concern you. After twelve years of ownership, I certainly am not going to be concerned now


Ray

[paul I]

My guess is, they are for equalizing pressure when the hull flexes.

I guess I don't understand that. What pressure?

[KootsChewt]

I have the same holes on my 2005 M.

My guess is, they are for equalizing pressure when the hull flexes. The holes are original from the factory though, not some mod done later.

If my guess is wrong, hey, don't let it concern you. After twelve years of ownership, I certainly am not going to be concerned now


Ray

Do they actually go through the hull then? Will water come through on a following sea or...?

[Russ]

Drain holes for rudder posts. It's normal.

When I saw them I wondered also.

--Russ

[NiceAft]

Drain holes for rudder posts. It's normal.

When I saw them I wondered also.

--Russ

There you go KootsChewt.

Now you can go back to dreaming about next years sailing.

Ray

[KootsChewt]

Phew! Thanks all!

Just bought our new dinghy last night too, a Walker Bay 8 with the inflatable kit. Hoping to find the sail kit eventually to teach the kids with.

[Highlander]

Phew! Thanks all!

Just bought our new dinghy last night too, a Walker Bay 8 with the inflatable kit. Hoping to find the sail kit eventually to teach the kids with.

I have Walker Bay 10 & bought the sailing & tube kit combo
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... qzmcxq.jpg

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 7b2b3f.jpg

http://walkerbay.com/wp-content/uploads ... 10-web.jpg
J

[ULLR]

Same holes in my 2008 as well...I did have a look in side and they do not go through. It looks like fibreglass is double wall in that area and it looked to me it looked like it may connect to ballast tank. I assumed it was some sort of ballast vent, but did not research further once I found it didn't go through to the bilge.

[bwygirl]

The small holes that are seen on the transom just above the rudders on each side of the boat, 26M are rudder post drain holes. On the inside of the rudders are fiberglass dams. When the boat motors fast water under pressure from the speed of the boat can build up and spill over the rudder post. This water goes into the dam area, and if too much builds up the water spills back out the drain holes. These should be kept clean so the water can flow out. The boat was designed with this.

[Catigale]

They are actually mounting holes for the optional henway - a rare bird indeed.

[Mac26Mpaul]

Be aware that you can certainly get water in your boat through those holes

Never let your boat dry out on a very steep angle like this stupid bloke did! He was playing around in the water behind the boat and realized those holes were under water. He jumped in the boat to find the rear of his rear berth matresses under water! He quickly plugged the holes with bits of foam rubber and started bailing. Then it took him a couple of hours to get all the water out and he had to dry the matresses out on the upper deck. Unfortunately he was too worried about getting the water out to think of taking a photo of the pool in the back of his boat for us to laugh at, but notice the rear berth cushion drying out on top of the cabin this photo


See the little bit of blue where the hole is, thats a bit of foam rubber that he quickly stuffed in the holes to stop the ingress.






The silly ba#$tard swore he would make some bungs up for them in case he ever found himself in that situation again, but of course, hasn't bothered

Now, I must confess that I am kind of related to this goose....

[KootsChewt]

Ah! Thanks for that post. I think I'll be ok on the lake, since I don't think they'll ever be submerged for any length of time. Will keep in mind for any trips to the coast where tide + sand beaches might yield a situation similar to yours!

[Mac26Mpaul]

Yep, you need not worry about those drain holes if lake sailing, and in fact, I have dried out at least a hundred or more times over the years in tidal waters on some pretty steep beaches without issue. This was the one and only time I had this problem. Unfortunately the boat had already taken the ground before I realized just how bad the angle was..