s/v Discovery

Spent the past week tearing apart Discovery's engine room. After the engine was removed, I began by cleaning the oil and sludge with oil absorbent pads, and after finally getting the bilge dry I was able to really get in and do some damage. finally reached the bottom I took a closer look at the engine bearers, which are timbers glassed to the hull and forward bulkhead, I had planned to through bolt aluminum angle to them, then through bolt the engine mounts to the angle. Tapping on the bearers produced a totally hollow sound. Oh Boy. I cut a couple of patches out, and after a bunch of water and sludge drained out, I discovered what I already knew deep down, they were completely rotted. The factory had left a couple of spots at the forward corners for water to get in, along with oil, sludge and anything else in the bilge water. I cut away the fiberglass shell, and the port side bearer literally crumbled apart. At some point one of the PO's had re-powered with ...

Water tanks, inspecting and cleaning. This project actually started shortly after moving aboard and filling our two 65gal stainless water tanks.  Fooling with the tank selector switch, I noticed it did not work as smoothly as I would like(actually this was bothering me from the day we took possession). Our fuel and water selector valves are mounted to the side of the sink cabinetry, as well as the corresponding gauges, which are also nagging at the back of my mind, since they don't seem to work either. before This coupled with the musty smell in the under sink cabinetry prompts a slight inspection.  after removing the covers to the selector valves, no leaks are found, although by now I have already decided to replace the sticky selector valve for the pressure pump-to-water tanks.  The old galley faucet is leaking however, which explains the moldy smell in the cabinet that will not dissipate. Me: "Found the leak." Sam: "Yay! what is it?" Me...