I just bought a 25' Cape Dory. We launched her this past weekend and I found a leak on the port side where it looks like the gound wires attach through the hull. There are two wire ground cables attached to what it looks like a brass plate. She's not leaking much, but I would like to fix it. Please write back with any sugestions. Thanks.
Dave D.
duncandavidm@msn.com
25' Cape Dory w/ leak? Sugestions needed.
Moderator: Jim Walsh
-
Bill Goldsmith
Re: 25' Cape Dory w/ leak? Sugestions needed.
Dave:
Congratulations on becoming a CD owner!!
Sounds like the bedding compound has dried up and no longer sealing and/or the bolts holding the grounding plate have loosened up. It's possible one or both of the bolts has been damaged by corrosion The permanent fix is to haul the boat, remove the hardware holding the plate on, clean up the hull from old bedding compound and dry everything. Then reinstall the plate using new hardware and a good underwater bedding compound/adhesive sealant like 3M 4200 or 5200.
You may want to try just tightening the nuts on the bilge side to see if that reduces or stops the leak but that would only be a quick fix. Be careful because if the hardware is compomised by corrosion you could end up with an even bigger leak. Even if tightening works, you still ought to reinstall and rebed the plate at next haul-out.
Bill Goldsmith
CD 27 #173
Second Chance
goldy@bestweb.net
Congratulations on becoming a CD owner!!
Sounds like the bedding compound has dried up and no longer sealing and/or the bolts holding the grounding plate have loosened up. It's possible one or both of the bolts has been damaged by corrosion The permanent fix is to haul the boat, remove the hardware holding the plate on, clean up the hull from old bedding compound and dry everything. Then reinstall the plate using new hardware and a good underwater bedding compound/adhesive sealant like 3M 4200 or 5200.
You may want to try just tightening the nuts on the bilge side to see if that reduces or stops the leak but that would only be a quick fix. Be careful because if the hardware is compomised by corrosion you could end up with an even bigger leak. Even if tightening works, you still ought to reinstall and rebed the plate at next haul-out.
Bill Goldsmith
CD 27 #173
Second Chance
Dave Duncan wrote: I just bought a 25' Cape Dory. We launched her this past weekend and I found a leak on the port side where it looks like the gound wires attach through the hull. There are two wire ground cables attached to what it looks like a brass plate. She's not leaking much, but I would like to fix it. Please write back with any sugestions. Thanks.
Dave D.
goldy@bestweb.net