Sailing Uma · video

What this video covers

The crew of the 38-ft sailboat Uma rebuilds their chain locker to eliminate water ingress into the bilge.0:37 The project involves removing all deck hardware, including the windlass, forestay chain plate, and bowsprit, to address a "swiss cheese" of old, improperly filled holes in the forward deck.12:55 After grinding the underside of the deck, the crew applies three layers of fiberglass to seal the hull-deck joint and create a watertight bulkhead.21:43 They construct a new, elevated floor inside the locker using plywood and expanding foam, positioning it above the waterline.26:48 Finally, they drill two drain holes through the hull, one on each side, to ensure water entering the locker from the chain or deck spray exits overboard rather than draining into the bilge.31:23 This modification isolates the chain locker from the interior, successfully stopping the primary source of bilge water.32:59 Sealing the chain locker and installing dedicated overboard drains prevents saltwater and debris from contaminating the bilge.

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