
Marty Crighton
Hello all, We are relatively new owners of our SM. This community has been a fantastic resource and was one of the reasons we decided to purchase an Amel. (There is great comfort in numbers and even more when those numbers are other owners all of whom have far more knowledge and wisdom and are willing to share.) In keeping with that tradition I want to alert all SM owners of an issue we found that I suspect exists across the fleet, and one I have not seen addressed recently in this forum. The issue is standing water in the engine room exhaust cavity inside/under the portside cockpit combing. On our boat the drain hole for that cavity is just behind the aft-most hinge of the portside cockpit locker. However that is not the lowpoint in that cavity. The low point is the corner just aft of the drain hole where the cavity, combing and bulkhead meet. This creates space for water to stand. The second issue discovered is that the bond between the cavity, the combing, and the bulkhead is an adhesive bond. On the inside the corners/edges are not glassed. On our boat that adhesive bond began to fail and that led to water damage along the bulkhead in the aft head. Given the hidden point of the water ingress there was no way to fix the issue until there was visible damage. This potential weak point is well hidden. I'll leave it to those much smarter and experienced with these great boats to explain why a vent cover was not installed, but based on the standing water we found in that cavity, and the condition of the adhesive we are installing a vent cover to limit the amount of rain water that accumulates. We did a week of testing to determine how much water gets into that cavity under normal conditions and found it to be significant. In a steady rain the inboard edge will collect over a 1/4 inch of water in 30 min. Based on the age of these boats thought those who were not aware might benefit from what we have found and learned and would be grateful for any insights anyone has as to further prevention. Respectfully, Marty
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Marty and Angela Crighton
Nada, SM2K #327
Grenada
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Marty,
Thanks for posting. Can you give a description for each of these 3 photos? I randomly assigned numbers to them 1-3 below.

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CW Bill Rouse
Amel Owners Yacht School
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Address:
720 Winnie, Galveston Island, Texas 77550
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toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Hello all, We are relatively new owners of our SM. This community has been a fantastic resource and was one of the reasons we decided to purchase an Amel. (There is great comfort in numbers and even more when those numbers are other owners all of whom have far more knowledge and wisdom and are willing to share.) In keeping with that tradition I want to alert all SM owners of an issue we found that I suspect exists across the fleet, and one I have not seen addressed recently in this forum. The issue is standing water in the engine room exhaust cavity inside/under the portside cockpit combing. On our boat the drain hole for that cavity is just behind the aft-most hinge of the portside cockpit locker. However that is not the lowpoint in that cavity. The low point is the corner just aft of the drain hole where the cavity, combing and bulkhead meet. This creates space for water to stand. The second issue discovered is that the bond between the cavity, the combing, and the bulkhead is an adhesive bond. On the inside the corners/edges are not glassed. On our boat that adhesive bond began to fail and that led to water damage along the bulkhead in the aft head. Given the hidden point of the water ingress there was no way to fix the issue until there was visible damage. This potential weak point is well hidden. I'll leave it to those much smarter and experienced with these great boats to explain why a vent cover was not installed, but based on the standing water we found in that cavity, and the condition of the adhesive we are installing a vent cover to limit the amount of rain water that accumulates. We did a week of testing to determine how much water gets into that cavity under normal conditions and found it to be significant. In a steady rain the inboard edge will collect over a 1/4 inch of water in 30 min. Based on the age of these boats thought those who were not aware might benefit from what we have found and learned and would be grateful for any insights anyone has as to further prevention. Respectfully, Marty
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Marty and Angela Crighton
Nada, SM2K #327
Grenada
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Marty Crighton
Bill - sorry should have done that when I sent it. All three photos are of the inside of the exhaust cavity looking inboard from the exhaust hole towards the wall of the cavity parallel to the cockpit combing. The throughbolts belong to the aft-most hinge of the portside cockpit locker. Photo1 is a close up of the drain hole. Photo 2 is a wider angle of the drain hole with the adhesive visible. Photo 3 is of the low spot in the cavity aft of the hinge and drain hole. In our experience, this area collects water and where the adhesive deterioration took place and the point of water ingress. Marty
NADA, SM2K #327 Grenada
-- Marty and Angela Crighton
Future Amel Owners
Pyeongtaek, South Korea
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Craig Briggs
Hi Marty, Sounds like the notorious "Amel stern squat" may be causing water to pool in the aft portion of the vent compartment - often exacerbated by "stuff" on the stern (arch, davits, outboard in rear lazarett). Add 10 shots of anchor chain forward and see if it fixes it. Craig - SN68 Sangaris, in Oriental, NC "the sailing capital of North Carolina"
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Marty Crighton
Craig - sound advice, thanks. We will add that to our preventative measures. Still can't see any good reason to have an opening like that in the first place without a vent cover. In our testing it was surprising how fast and how much rain water runs into and through that compartment. Even if one gets the boat better balanced, when the adhesive bond breaks down, and it will at some point, there will be water ingress and no one will be the wiser until it is too late. Between that compartment and the bulkhead there are significant voids many filled with foam. In fact there is foam partially filling the void just behind the corner aft of the drain hole. That foam buts up against naked ply in the bulkhead.. Once that foam is saturated water has unlimited and long lasting contact with ply causing damage without any visible signs to an owner. Respectfully, Marty
Nada, SM2K #327 Grenada
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Hi Marty, Sounds like the notorious "Amel stern squat" may be causing water to pool in the aft portion of the vent compartment - often exacerbated by "stuff" on the stern (arch, davits, outboard in rear lazarett). Add 10 shots of anchor chain forward and see if it fixes it. Craig - SN68 Sangaris, in Oriental, NC "the sailing capital of North Carolina"
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Marty and Angela Crighton
Future Amel Owners
Pyeongtaek, South Korea
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On Annie SM37 we have not experienced water pooling up in that space, nor do I see exposed plywood. Would a flexible rubberized paint be a good preventative? Think “flexseal” as a continuous membrane throughout the small space?
Regards, John Clark
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Craig - sound advice, thanks. We will add that to our preventative measures. Still can't see any good reason to have an opening like that in the first place without a vent cover. In our testing it was surprising how fast and how much rain water runs into and through that compartment. Even if one gets the boat better balanced, when the adhesive bond breaks down, and it will at some point, there will be water ingress and no one will be the wiser until it is too late. Between that compartment and the bulkhead there are significant voids many filled with foam. In fact there is foam partially filling the void just behind the corner aft of the drain hole. That foam buts up against naked ply in the bulkhead.. Once that foam is saturated water has unlimited and long lasting contact with ply causing damage without any visible signs to an owner. Respectfully, Marty
Nada, SM2K #327 Grenada
Hi Marty, Sounds like the notorious "Amel stern squat" may be causing water to pool in the aft portion of the vent compartment - often exacerbated by "stuff" on the stern (arch, davits, outboard in rear lazarett). Add 10 shots of anchor chain forward and see if it fixes it. Craig - SN68 Sangaris, in Oriental, NC "the sailing capital of North Carolina"
--
Marty and Angela Crighton
Future Amel Owners
Pyeongtaek, South Korea
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Marty Crighton
John - the ply is the bulkhead. Only an issue if there is water ingress. Flexseal or similar might work. On our boat there is a black coating that is beginning to wear off that may have been a similar product used by Amel during manufacture. Respectfully Marty
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
On Annie SM37 we have not experienced water pooling up in that space, nor do I see exposed plywood. Would a flexible rubberized paint be a good preventative? Think “flexseal” as a continuous membrane throughout the small space?
Regards, John Clark Craig - sound advice, thanks. We will add that to our preventative measures. Still can't see any good reason to have an opening like that in the first place without a vent cover. In our testing it was surprising how fast and how much rain water runs into and through that compartment. Even if one gets the boat better balanced, when the adhesive bond breaks down, and it will at some point, there will be water ingress and no one will be the wiser until it is too late. Between that compartment and the bulkhead there are significant voids many filled with foam. In fact there is foam partially filling the void just behind the corner aft of the drain hole. That foam buts up against naked ply in the bulkhead.. Once that foam is saturated water has unlimited and long lasting contact with ply causing damage without any visible signs to an owner. Respectfully, Marty
Nada, SM2K #327 Grenada
Hi Marty, Sounds like the notorious "Amel stern squat" may be causing water to pool in the aft portion of the vent compartment - often exacerbated by "stuff" on the stern (arch, davits, outboard in rear lazarett). Add 10 shots of anchor chain forward and see if it fixes it. Craig - SN68 Sangaris, in Oriental, NC "the sailing capital of North Carolina"
--
Marty and Angela Crighton
Future Amel Owners
Pyeongtaek, South Korea
--
Marty and Angela Crighton
Future Amel Owners
Pyeongtaek, South Korea
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Right, the interior of that “amel dorade” is coated with a black paint like material. I never gave it much thought. Glad to be alerted to a sensitive spot.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
John - the ply is the bulkhead. Only an issue if there is water ingress. Flexseal or similar might work. On our boat there is a black coating that is beginning to wear off that may have been a similar product used by Amel during manufacture. Respectfully Marty On Annie SM37 we have not experienced water pooling up in that space, nor do I see exposed plywood. Would a flexible rubberized paint be a good preventative? Think “flexseal” as a continuous membrane throughout the small space?
Regards, John Clark Craig - sound advice, thanks. We will add that to our preventative measures. Still can't see any good reason to have an opening like that in the first place without a vent cover. In our testing it was surprising how fast and how much rain water runs into and through that compartment. Even if one gets the boat better balanced, when the adhesive bond breaks down, and it will at some point, there will be water ingress and no one will be the wiser until it is too late. Between that compartment and the bulkhead there are significant voids many filled with foam. In fact there is foam partially filling the void just behind the corner aft of the drain hole. That foam buts up against naked ply in the bulkhead.. Once that foam is saturated water has unlimited and long lasting contact with ply causing damage without any visible signs to an owner. Respectfully, Marty
Nada, SM2K #327 Grenada
Hi Marty, Sounds like the notorious "Amel stern squat" may be causing water to pool in the aft portion of the vent compartment - often exacerbated by "stuff" on the stern (arch, davits, outboard in rear lazarett). Add 10 shots of anchor chain forward and see if it fixes it. Craig - SN68 Sangaris, in Oriental, NC "the sailing capital of North Carolina"
--
Marty and Angela Crighton
Future Amel Owners
Pyeongtaek, South Korea
--
Marty and Angela Crighton
Future Amel Owners
Pyeongtaek, South Korea
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Mike Longcor (SV Trilogy)
Hi Marty,
We have this type of cover installed over our vent hole. It's angled down and aft so keeps out almost all rainwater. I'll admit it has been kicked a couple times but other than stray feet, it's mostly out of the way.
Cheers, Mike Longcor SV Trilogy SM23 NZ
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Hello all, We are relatively new owners of our SM. This community has been a fantastic resource and was one of the reasons we decided to purchase an Amel. (There is great comfort in numbers and even more when those numbers are other owners all of whom have far more knowledge and wisdom and are willing to share.) In keeping with that tradition I want to alert all SM owners of an issue we found that I suspect exists across the fleet, and one I have not seen addressed recently in this forum. The issue is standing water in the engine room exhaust cavity inside/under the portside cockpit combing. On our boat the drain hole for that cavity is just behind the aft-most hinge of the portside cockpit locker. However that is not the lowpoint in that cavity. The low point is the corner just aft of the drain hole where the cavity, combing and bulkhead meet. This creates space for water to stand. The second issue discovered is that the bond between the cavity, the combing, and the bulkhead is an adhesive bond. On the inside the corners/edges are not glassed. On our boat that adhesive bond began to fail and that led to water damage along the bulkhead in the aft head. Given the hidden point of the water ingress there was no way to fix the issue until there was visible damage. This potential weak point is well hidden. I'll leave it to those much smarter and experienced with these great boats to explain why a vent cover was not installed, but based on the standing water we found in that cavity, and the condition of the adhesive we are installing a vent cover to limit the amount of rain water that accumulates. We did a week of testing to determine how much water gets into that cavity under normal conditions and found it to be significant. In a steady rain the inboard edge will collect over a 1/4 inch of water in 30 min. Based on the age of these boats thought those who were not aware might benefit from what we have found and learned and would be grateful for any insights anyone has as to further prevention. Respectfully, Marty
--
Marty and Angela Crighton
Nada, SM2K #327
Grenada
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