July 2001
Serene, comfortable, and not a hint of trouble.
 But lift the sole boards and ...... |  Previously sistered cracks showing on two ribs in this picture. |
| A rotten rib to the right, delignification on the planks, and green bronze oxide dust surrounding the fitting show the ravages of electrolysis. BANANAS spent her life in a very HOT berth without benefit of "protection" via zincs, bonding, or external grounding rods surrounding the berth to carry the AC/DC current away to ground. Accordingly, the hull became a "ground" for everybody else's loose juice. |
 A view of the engine compartment. Floors were penetrable with a dull pencil. |  Another shot of the bilge showing more sisters. BANANAS had been sailed hard during her 9 national championship pursuits. Her cracked ribs were dutifully sistered. Unhappily, what we found upon close inspection and removal was that the sisters were nailed from above in the "laminate in place" process, but no screws fastened them to the planks from the exterior of the hull. If you will telephone me, I will tell you the name of the boatyard that pulled this stunt. |
 Floors aft of the mast step show the ravages of rot. Notice the black color. The lighter band appeared to be dust/mold. |  Another shot of the bilge aft of the mast step. As you will see in later pictures we gutted BANANAS in order to obtain access to the extensive work required. Otherwise, we would have had to been contortionists. |
| A view toward the stern from the engine compartment showing delignification of the planks. This loss of electrons from the wood is due to electrolysis. Notice the bottom of the rib just forward of the small bulkhead. Where it touches the planks there is delignification of the rib too. Almost every rib looked like this below the water line. Nail sickness ate the bolts holding the bulkhead to the rib. |