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.
We have a 1981 SR/SK dinette version. It is moored in salt water but after heavy rains water collects in the port aft dinette compartment. I can detect no obvious leaks in the hull to deck joint or the cockpit compartments. The deck hardware also shows no obvious leaks. The leak is fresh water and not salt water. The fresh water tank remains at a constant level. It seems to collect on the starboard side along the water tank but migrates behind the companion way steps behind the galley and into the port compartment. The windows are tight. Today I pumped out two gallons so I discount condensation besides I keep an oil filled radiator on the boat to maintain about 55 degrees.
Any ideas GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike
Mike Chariots of Fire 1981 Cat-25. sail number 2230 SR/SK Dinette Version
Maybe the companionway boards? When i lived right in front of where i kept my boat, I would go down and close myself in during a big rain event with a book and see if I could start spotting the leaks. There are other methods as well. I've heard spreading baby powder should leave you with a wet path that the water has taken.
Captain Rob & Admiral Alyson "David Buoy"-1985 C25 SK/SR #5053
Your 1981 cockpit probably drains through little brass tubes that go through the transom. If so, I have heard they sometimes develop leaks. I think Catalina Direct has replacements for them. You can check them by tossing a bucket of water on them and look below and see if you see water coming in.
Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind" previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22 Past Commodore
Maybe the companionway boards? When i lived right in front of where i kept my boat, I would go down and close myself in during a big rain event with a book and see if I could start spotting the leaks. There are other methods as well. I've heard spreading baby powder should leave you with a wet path that the water has taken.
When I first saw the post I also suspected the companionway boards. I have had to make a cover for my companionway boards because in a rain I get water in the galley but... NOT two gallons. Just two big sponge fulls. I also have a troublesome leak near the mast. I think it is the radio fitting but even that just leaks a cup or two at most.Two gallons is serious. I would search every tell tale sign of water on bulkheads and any wood near by.
Thanks for all the replies. As it was raining today (surprise, Seattle area) I shined a flashlight aft under the companionway. There was a small trickle coming from what seemed to be the middle of the dumpster. Maybe it is running from further aft of that because the dumpster itself is dry. As noted earlier windows are tight, no water noted near fresh water vent or fill line, we have a dodger and companionway cover so that is not the issue. I think I will remove the aft bunk cushions and look further aft. There just isn't that much boat to inspect.
Again thanks for all the tips.
Mike Chariots of Fire 1981 Cat-25. sail number 2230 SR/SK Dinette Version
I am slowly fixing water leaks (5 out of 6 windows). My latest was the hinges in the fuel locker on port side. The screws went through into the dumpster. A fiberglass channel goes along the edge where the screws were and was collapsing after 36 years. Not a big problem other than they would leak water a lot more than I expected. I got inside and had a buddy spray with a hose and saw the leak real quick. Put new hinges on and relocated the screw holes. Filled old holes with epoxy. Will test next month when I get back down to Florida with the boat.
Wesley Allen "Breaking Wind" 1982 C-25 SR/TR/SK #2773 Hemlock, MI
A rainwater leak into the dumpster (aka "sail locker") could be from any of several hardware attachments: the bases of the stanchion are a common source, especially because the side deck serves as a gutter, but there's the winch base, several cleats, and possibly an AC connection jack. But I found that the large cowlings for ventilating the aft bilge areas (including the dumpster) are a significant source of intrusion. Someone here had created a dam across the lower portion of the opening on the forward-facing cowling to prevent water on the deck surface from entering.
But finding a rainwater leak can be at least as vexing as it is in a building, and as a former building contractor I can tell you that water leaks can be the bane of any contractor.
Maybe you could do something like Rob did, lowering yourself into the dumpster during a rainstorm and watch.
Ok, maybe not such a good idea...
Good luck!
The trouble with a destination - any destination, really - is that it interrupts The Journey.
Lee Panza SR/SK #2134 San Francisco Bay (Brisbane, CA)
There are so any places for leaks to occur and with the liners so much distortion on were they pool . Chalk lines will show where water runs from on flat surfaces it dissolves the chalk line where it crosses . then a few small sponges to fit between the liner and deck on each side of deck fittings etc will give a guide .they stay wet for a while and also can redirect the water to the inside of the liner were chalk identifies it. Best of luck.
I am envious that your 81 has dry windows... I've had to rebed mine twice in the past ten years and still need crack filler inbetween rebedding sessions...
Again thanks for all the tips. The hull liner makes pinpointing the intrusion really difficult but the aft transom scuppers could be a problem. Since I leave the swing keel down all the time the boat is slightly down by the bow and water tends to pool in the cockpit so those scupper/drains could be an issue. I have wedged myself in the dumpster while raining and saw no leaks.
Mike Chariots of Fire 1981 Cat-25. sail number 2230 SR/SK Dinette Version
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.