Water in external swim platform

[Piratesholly]

I'm a proud owner of a Carver 38 SS. I have owned her for 4 years. I was in the process of installing a base for a grill on my swim platform. Upon drilling the holes water was leaking from the underside of the platform. Seemed to me like a considerable amount. I believe the materials that make up the platform are 1. Fiberglass 2. Aluminum 3. Foam 4. Fiberglass in that order. I didn't see any wood in the shavings. Lucky the swim platform is external and not part of the boats structure. So my question is what to do about it?

[Cooler]

Not sure you would need to do anything. If you think the core is foam, then that is a product referred to as coremat. Kind of like foam, but will not absorb water. Carver used these panels as core in different places on different models. The wodd, ( balsa ), would absorb water and need to be dug out and replaced. er

[bud37]

Source of the post So my question is what to do about it?

Are you where there are freezing temps when the boat is stored ? If so those holes will at least act as drains maybe a few a bit more larger with small screens. You don't want the wet coring material to freeze and expand blowing the outside glass/gel apart.......look close to see if that has taken place already.

I have seen them remove and replace wet soaked foam core in skegs/keels for that very reason, they bleed in the spring after the freeze thaw cycle. It can be vacuum dried as well if they have the proper equipment.

[Viper]

I would have a pro properly assess its condition. If you're in northern NY, I wouldn't want any water in the over the winter. That could cause damage over time. To me it doesn't matter what the core is made up of, it should not be wet, but if it's balsa, eventually there will be nothing left. Get someone to confirm what the core material is and go from there, and find out how the water is getting in so you can remedy.