Rust stains in bilge, please help

[sandytows]

I have serious staining in the rear bilge area. I cant see far enough up to see a source. My first thought was bracket bolts, but those are stainless and I cant locate any in the right area to be the source. the boat is a 2002 2520 with bracket.
The stains seems to be getting worse.
Please help.

 

[SommerTime]

I have a 2520 but I can't imagine what could be causing that much stain. If you find out, please post your findings. Due you know if the stain is coming from the forward area, i.e. toward the pilot house? Wish I could help you.

 

[Bryan 2530]

Are you sure its rust? Can you visibly see metal rusting?

I don't want of be the bearer of bad news but it could be a symptom of a rotted stringer, lets hope not.

The tannins leaching out of the wood when it gets wet can look like rust, there was a forum member who had similar issue that turned out to be a rotted stringer, inspect the back of the stringers for cracking.

Here is the post.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5831&p=41155&hilit=rust#p41155

 

[TimC2520]

Are you sure its rust? Can you visibly see metal rusting?

I don't want of be the bearer of bad news but it could be a symptom of a rotted stringer, lets hope not.

The tannins leaching out of the wood when it gets wet can look like rust, there was a forum member who had similar issue that turned out to be a rotted stringer, inspect the back of the stringers for cracking.

I'll see if I can find the post.

That would be me, let me try to find the post.

 

[TimC2520]

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5831&p=41215&hilit=Stringer#p41215

Here ya go, feel free to call me with any questions you may have.
(267) 879-9432

Tim

 

[Bryan 2530]

I guess we were searching at the same time, anyway there is the post.

 

[Capt.Guy]

I agree with bryan, looks like rotting wood to me,there is a really good fiberglass guy that works out of south harbor marine in Waretown. He just redid a complete deck/stringer on 2520 and did an amazing job. he also replaced my pulpit last year.like new! his name is Harry.I can get you the # if you need it. (I hope you dont) :roll:

 

[ReelyNauti]

OHHH BOY if you want a clean bilge we all know its time to ASK MEGABYTE!!!!!....

His nick name is CLEAN BILGE!!!

 

[sandytows]

Rotted stringer? my heart sank.
I took another look today and the stains are not coming from the back of the stringers like in Tims pictures. I will try to invert myself in the bilge with a flashlight and mirror sometime soon.
PS the bilge is not usually that wet, but it was raining that day.

 

[TimC2520]

Sandy,

I'm not sure Parker uses anything below deck (or above for that matter) that could rust to cause that much staining. If it is wet wood, that's really strange that BOTH sides are "bleeding" as it appears in the photo. I had glass added to the port side stringer just in case, at the time there wasn't a problem on that side. Hard to tell from the photo, but that staining appears to be bleeding from areas behind that rear stringer cut out you see in my photos. Are you running a two stroke outboard? Yamaha remote oil tank brackets are notorious for heavy rusting. If you have them, and they are mounted anywhere near the aft corners, maybe they are bleeding rust down into the bilge?
Keep us posted.

 

[TomS]

Another tip is to take a digital camera or camcorder and take random shots where you can't fit your noggin to see firsthand. Digital is key so that you can immediately see whats going on and take more shots at a different angle if needed.

-- Tom

 

[susqking]

By any chance did you have the stains on top the bilge pump and float switch that you might have clean off before taking that picture? The reason I ask I had similar color drip stains a few years ago. I took the hatch off and removed the sealant, the edge of the plywood was raw and was not sealed properly with any resin. I dried the wood out drilled some holes and injected "Get Rot". If I remember correctly the holes to hold the hatch down just had sealant too. Check the inspection plate over the gas tank too.

 

[Sully]

Another tip is to take a digital camera or camcorder and take random shots where you can't fit your noggin to see firsthand. Digital is key so that you can immediately see whats going on and take more shots at a different angle if needed.

-- Tom

Great idea ! 8)
Ill remember that one :idea: