Bailer repair

[Kaan]

Hi, I have read lots on the bailer repair, tried to make a new rubber gasget..
That didn't work. Then I took out the whole unit and caulked every joint and seem with 3m 4000 marine sealant. Still leaked. So I covered the entire bailer with a layer of 4000, extended past the edges by an inch or so. Still leaks. Question: would it be better to buy whole new bailer, or remove bailer try to glass over the whole area. I don't mind the leak much, but worry that water will evevtually soak into hull. Suggestions? Thanks!

[Alan]

Somebody here did remove the bailer and glass it over recently. There's been a lot of discussion of bailers, so it's probably worth your time to search the forums.

[dannyb9]

have you checked the gudgeons? i had a mystery leak near the stern and discovered that the plywood backing for the gudgeons had rotted and become porous. i replaced the rotten piece (just the bottom half was rotten) and my mystery leak disappeared...

[jdoorly]

Danny, are you saying you replaced the plywood stiffener in the transom that is between the inner and outer fiberglass layers (the gudgeons being on the outer layer)? Having drilled some holes thru the transome and found the plywood wet I know I need to replace that wood but but I keep putting it off... How did you do it?

[Kaan]

I haven't yet, but I will. This leak happens almost the instant the bailer hits the water. Is it possible that the leak is in the centerboard well and the water is moving very quickly between the layers in the hull?

Thanks for the suggestion!!