Cabin Leak on a CD30

[Mike Burns]

Last summer we occasionally found water in the cupboard beneath the companionway and in the cupboard above the icebox on Ambrosia, our CD30C. I added "look for leak" to our list of future projects. Recently noticed discoloration and beggining of rot on the wood outside of these cupboards. So much for putting it off. Any suggestions as to where I might look for a leak that would drain into these areas. The drain hoses from the cockpit seats pass through, but both seemed water tight when I poured water through and inspected.



mburns@prodigy.net

[Ben Thomas]

Last summer we occasionally found water in the cupboard beneath the companionway and in the cupboard above the icebox on Ambrosia, our CD30C. I added "look for leak" to our list of future projects. Recently noticed discoloration and beggining of rot on the wood outside of these cupboards. So much for putting it off. Any suggestions as to where I might look for a leak that would drain into these areas. The drain hoses from the cockpit seats pass through, but both seemed water tight when I poured water through and inspected.

Mike, My cd30 is here in n.w. (portland) where we have a fair share of rain. I discovered rotting under companionway as well. the worst parts were where wood of aft cupboard sliding doors its base abuts the formica top of counters and major rot under formica in starboard aft corner of engine access. I had to pull trim off and scrap off the rotted material underneath both locations. after that I treated wood with rot out an epoxy based sealant and rot preventor from west marine.
after sealing those locations I installed new trim (old trim would not cover the negative space of door slide base. looks like new. for the engine access short of replacing entire counter top. I filled negative space with two part epoxy from west marine reinforced under side with new teak backing for engine cover and step.
discovered that the teak trim around companion way hatch was letting water pass between it and the fiberglass. this water was running down on the inside passage of trim and interior of cabin dripping onto counter then running off under the teak trim. doing damage along the way. the water passed between the battery switch and breaker panel on the outside of the glass and the teak companion way trim. there is a recessed space on either side of companion way you can run your finger down the inside. I ran a bead of life chalk on the exterior and interior seams of companionway. this stopped the leak but is not permanent as I discovered a few drops this past week. good luck and fair leads, let me know what you discovered. ben



btlandscapers@imagina.com

[Michael Stephano]

The leaks in the cupboards on my boat came from the Staunchion Bases directly over head. Remove and rebed them and that will take care of problem 1. The companionway was leaking through the frame of the sliding hatch. I removed the cover and cleaned the frame and then glommed 5200 around the whole thing and smoothed it out with my finger. I rebeded the cover for the hatch with polysulfide should I need to do further repairs. All my staunchion bases where leaking and the whole job with my self and an assistant took about 10 hours to repair. All the screws and nuts and in some cases the backing plates where replaced. My boat a 1977 30 K was built using mild steel for backing plates and chain plates a problem that I believe was corrected down the road.



mundo@visi.net

[Larry DeMers]

We had a leak in the cabinet under the companionway also, and found the source to be the starboard wood frame for the companionway. There was a slight separation between the teak trim that the companionway hatch rides on, and the fiberglass underneath it. THe water would wind it's way down the face of the cabin back side..just to the right of the companionway, getting people wet that were sitting there. It would also follow the joints of the wood pieces that make up the companionway trim, getting inside.

The cure was very easy..far easier than finding the problem.
Get some clear or white *marine* silicon sealant and place a small bead of it in the interface between the wood rail that the hatch slides on and the fiberglass underneath. Smooth it with a wet finger to the proper radius. That is it.

Regarding the rebedding of stanchions. The stanchions that came with our boat have large O rings in the base of the stanchion, which act as a sealing surface. If the stanchion is leaking, I would find matching O rings and replace them, then tighten down on the bolts until contact is made with the deck. I would also add Sikaflex 101 (?) to each bolt so that the holes are all sealed well.
If you have these O rings on the stanchion bases, you should not then add a sealant there also..it is not needed, and may prevent the O ring from working. This is what we have done on DeLaMer, and it has worked well for 10 years.

Good Luck!

Cheers!

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30

Last summer we occasionally found water in the cupboard beneath the companionway and in the cupboard above the icebox on Ambrosia, our CD30C. I added "look for leak" to our list of future projects. Recently noticed discoloration and beggining of rot on the wood outside of these cupboards. So much for putting it off. Any suggestions as to where I might look for a leak that would drain into these areas. The drain hoses from the cockpit seats pass through, but both seemed water tight when I poured water through and inspected.

demers@sgi.com