Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
I have owned my 1992 WK since 2013. I have persistent small leaks from my cabin top. The water appears to come mostly from the 2 cutouts that hold cabin lights near the aft part of the cabin. The water is brownish tint. I have recemented all stancions, jib track screws, winch screws, and mast step ---I wonder if it could be from the tracks for the sliding cabin top where I might have small cracks I can't see. I have tried using a hose to find leak or leaks ????? The amount of water is maybe a cup or so from each side after a heavy rain. Any suggestions welcome
It's a common problem. When I was shopping for my C250, I looked at 6 or 8 of them, and every one had the same leak.
On my boat, the biggest source of the leak was the plug for the masthead lights. I replaced it with a brand new one and rebedded with 3M 4000 or 4200 (can't remember which) and the leak was eliminated. If I were to do it again, I would use Bed-It Butyl Tape. (Do not use any other brand, nothing else has the correct properties for marine environment. Trust me, you'll waste your time using stuff from the RV store or anything else.)
I may have also had a smaller problem water coming through the compression post tabernackle. For those small crevices, a few applications of Cap'n Tolley's seemed to help. No need to remove anything or re-bed.
After those two fixes, there were never any further leaks.
Rick S., Swarthmore, PA PO of Take Five, 1998 Catalina 250WK #348 (relocated to Baltimore's Inner Harbor) New owner of 2001 Catalina 34MkII #1535 Breakin' Away (at Rock Hall Landing Marina)
Thanks,I thought those areas could be a problem but there is a ceiling panel near the mast tabernacle and almost below the electrical plug you mentioned (a little to starboard of the mast tabernacle) and it is dry as a bone . Besides my hand I tried sticking a thin cloth further in and no moisture at all???
Any place you have a bracket, cable, brightwork, stanchion or screw you have an opportunity for a leak. Best bet is trace out the source and rebed the components. Some folks like polysulfide life caulk and others like butyl tape. Both are fine, just don't use 3M 5200 because while it promises a permanent solution, any leak the subsequently develops will ALSO be permanent.
So sorry to bug you guys again but I left my boat here in Florida for 60 days and when I returned I have brown streaming marks running down from the small cover in the ceiling of the head above the Porti-potty. It ran down with multiple streaks and after evaporating left a brown tarnnish - almost tar-like residue on the floor. I have rebedded stanchions and have checked other attachments . Could it be coming from the rail grooves the cabin hatch slides in??? I know I don't have the tape others have mentioned in those grooves. ANY suggestions welcome!!!!!! Thanks again for your time Al
Winches? Clutches? Those would seem to be the most obvious ceiling penetrations in that area.
Rick S., Swarthmore, PA PO of Take Five, 1998 Catalina 250WK #348 (relocated to Baltimore's Inner Harbor) New owner of 2001 Catalina 34MkII #1535 Breakin' Away (at Rock Hall Landing Marina)
Our nearly 60 year old Cal 25s have a few minor leaks and I put a 6X8' silver tarp on it with 4 bungees. It's better if you can find and stop the leak, but a tarp is an easy way to protect the boat from damage until you can find the leak. I found some leaks late last fall and the $6.00 tarp will protect it until I can caulk the leaks in the spring. I keep the tarp on it habitually, just as a precaution.
Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind" previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22 Past Commodore
Hi Folks, This is Enrico and this is my first time in the forum.
I am the owner of a Catalina 250 WK (2005), #828, located in Italy, top north of the Garda Lake, a fantastic windy place. I bought 2nd hand my C250 three years ago and this year I would like to carry out some maintenance jobs, and the priority is the top leaking. My main leaking is coming through the open hatch placed on the top of the stern stowage lockers. (not sute it's the proper name, please refer at the picture below)
Last year I sealed internally leaving the water discharge outlets open. The problem remained and I think the best option would be to seal completely also the outlets. Have some of you done the same job on the boat?
Welcome! It's a great place here for current and former owners.
Sealing the little outlet holes may make the problem worse, as it traps water in the cubbies.
Before you do anything more, make sure that's where the leak actually is. There are lots of other places it could be coming from (winches, stanchions, bulkhead penetrations), and it could be traveling within the hull. Put a hose on one area at a time. Or put in dyed water if needed.
Rick S., Swarthmore, PA PO of Take Five, 1998 Catalina 250WK #348 (relocated to Baltimore's Inner Harbor) New owner of 2001 Catalina 34MkII #1535 Breakin' Away (at Rock Hall Landing Marina)
The cockpit cubby hole leaks are a common problem. Mine leaked too. The most common place to spot the leak is behind the aft cabin bulkhead. Open the access door, where the battery is stored and you usually see water stains on the port or starboard side, aft of the cockpit cubbies.
Usually the leak is caused by loss of sealant inside the cubby itself. You can fix the leak from the cockpit. Use a mirror from the cockpit and look at the inside of the cubby. Use caulk or some sealant and fill all the joints. Let everything dry, the check with a water test.
2 cabin top cam cleats were the problem. PO had not used stainless bolts and bolts were badly rusted. New cam cleats bedded in butyl and problem gone. Couldn’t believe so much water in past from those cleats!
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.