How bad?

[SVJOCO]

We discovered some rotten wood directly below our shaft seal yesterday. It’s been suggested that this wood may have been used to help hold the shaft tube in place for fiberglassing, and may not be integral.

How big of a problem is this? Seems like a nightmare place to have to work with fiberglass...

Cheers,

[SVJOCO]

[Spot]

Hello,

-What is the make and model of boat?
-Is the boat in the water or on land on the hard?
-Are there any signs of leaking from the troubled area?
More information will probably yield more answers.

[SVJOCO]

‘84 HR352 (Hallberg-rassy)

Boat is in the water.

Still determining if water is entering the boat through that spot.

[SVJOCO]

*Bump

[sailormed]

Nice clean Volvo shaft seal. Sorry no idea about the rotting wood, but your boat being a HR, I don’t think it is structural.
Is that whole area wood? What about the outside?

[billknny]

Originally Posted by SVJOCO

*Bump

Why not call Hallberg Rassy? One of the advantages of a boatbuilder still in business (and there are few enough of them) is you can ask questions like this.

We get parts and advice from the maker of our 25 year old boat all the time.

Wood is used to form stringers in a lot of boats. It is easy to machine to complex shapes and is reasonably light in weight. The wood is not structural. The fiberglass laid over it is the part that carries the load.

It's hard to see in the picture, but I suspect that's what you have here.

[Don C L]

I ain't no Hallberg Rassy expert but that photo would not cause me to lose any sleep. Why not contact some owners at these groups for tips:
Cruisers & Sailing Forums - Hallberg Rassy
https://forums.sailboatowners.com/fo...berg-rassy.88/
https://www.hroa.co.uk/

[SVJOCO]

Thanks to you all for the thoughts.

[BaccaSean]

You might also try asking at Groups.io – Hallberg-Rassy Sailing.