Powerboat leak

[Britt]

Hi Powerboaters.
I have just noticed a rain water leak over the head closet on our 28' Flybridge cruiser. The water is dripping from the inside closet ceiling directly behind and port of the toilet.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Britt



emily4444@hotmail.com

[Walt Bilofsky]

I have just noticed a rain water leak over the head closet on our 28' Flybridge cruiser. The water is dripping from the inside closet ceiling directly behind and port of the toilet.

I don't recall whether there's a hatch on the overhead, as there is on our CD 30 powerboat. I had to reset the hatch early on to cure a leak. I also recently found a 1/16" hole in the joint between the top of the front windows and the flybridge deck - it was astonishing how much water came through that tiny hole in a chop. The other possibilities that come to mind are a poorly bedded throughbolt on some deck hardware, and a leak at the bottom of the front window that may be traveling behind the paneling. The front windows are a common source of leaks because of the relative lack of structural support due to all the glass; however, the head enclosure adds rigidity so leaks are usually on the opposite side.

Once water gets behind the headliner or paneling - which did not happen in our case - it can travel a ways before becoming visible. So some detective work is often needed to locate a leak. Try having one person stand inside the head while another squirts a water hose at different places on the exterior - this may be easier than trying to trace the leak back from the inside.

If you need to reset a window or hatch, remember to shim it away from the body about 1/16" to 3/32", then let the caulk cure well and finish tightening the hardware. This forms a gasket so the seal will last better as the boat "works" in sea conditions.



bilofsky@toolworks.co,

[Paul Anastassiadis]

Britt I also had the problem you describe on my 28. I solved the problem be sealing the front windows.It was exactly as Walt described it.

PA



Paul.Anastassiadis@SMSC.com

[Walt Bilofsky]

One other thing - if you've located a leak around the outside of a window frame, it is futile to try to just smear some caulk on it. It won't work for long, if at all. And it is definitely futile to try caulking where the leak is coming out on the inside. The one fix is to remove and reset the window.

In an earlier message, I've described in detail how I did my windows. <a href="http://www.toolworks.com/cgi-bin/tw/wwb ... 444">Click here</a> for a look.

Regards,

Walt



bilofsky@toolworks.com