Association Forum - Battery Spill HELP!

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Battery Spill HELP!

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Mark Maxwell
Captain

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USA
329 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/28/2006 : 21:05:52

It seems that my battery spent the winter on it's side. All of the acid spilled out and has settled in the bilge. I have a fin keel so the lowest point is the area that the keel is bolted to the hull. I've cleaned the entire bilge with sodium hydroxide to nutralize the acid. any idea on the affect this will have on the fiberglass? I've noticed some discoloration to the keel just about where the 'smile' usually is located. I sprayed it with the caustic and got a small reaction. So I'm sure that some of the acid followed the keel bolt to the keel...not lead it's iron. What other concerns should I have....I'm sick about this.

Mark-
'Impulse...�
1978 C25 #533 SR/DIN/FIN ~_/)~
Bakersfield, CA.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2006 : 00:17:33

Mark M,

Holy cow!

What an ugly situation! I would suggest you start by contacting the Catalina Yachts factory tech support folks. Ask them about the chemical interaction between battery acid and the resins they were using at the time your boat was built. The potential damage to the fiberglass matrix would dictate the extent of the work involved in your next two big issues.

Although I don't own the fin keel model, I seem to recall there's a plywood stiffener in the keel stub. I never thought the plywood was a particularly good idea, but under these circumstances it seems like a spectacularly bad idea.

I agree you should be very concerned about the condition of the keel bolts. I'd replace them all. Others might suggest inspecting them first, but that's just about exactly the same amount of work as replacing them. I would also be very concerned about acid still trapped down in there where it could eat the new keel bolts.

Talk to Catalina, and collect some very knowledgeable and experienced opinions (as opposed to the other kind, which I expect you'll be receiving a few of as well

). It might also be worthwhile to talk with the tech support folks at some of the big battery factories. Who would know more about the effects of acid spills?

I can imagine it coming down to removing the keel, digging out all the acid soaked plywood, then reinforcing the keel stub with lots of fiberglass and epoxy. (But no more plywood.) How much of the old fiberglass would need to be ground away, and how far up the sides of the sump the new glass needs to extend, would depend on how the acid affected the original resin, and how deep the bilge water got while there was acid in it. While the keel is off, thoroughly clean between the keel and hull, and replace all the keel bolts.

And don't get discouraged. This may sound like a disastrous amount of work, but it will go fast once started. Good luck! And let us know how it goes. Every repair like this shared with the C-25 community adds to our store of knowledge and potential future advice.

-- Leon Sisson