Leaky Companion way

[Randall Schmidt]

I dropped by my 1984 Oday 28 today in the rain and noticed that a considerable amount of rain is making its way into the cabin via less than tight fitting slider hatch over the companion way entry boards. I've attached a photo. I stuffed plastic trash bags in the loose fitting corners that helps some but it comes thru at the top of the top board, The hatch slides aft but only far enough to align with the entry-way boards below. If it went another 1/2 to 1 inch past (aft of) the boards I'd have a much better seal. I tried putting an insulation strip just on the inside top of the board but it still drips thru. When I get a storm dodger than will help but mean time I'd appreciate any ideas on how my fellow Oday boat

owners are dealing with this challenge. It also leaks thru around the mast. Any tips there would be appreciated as well.

 

[agprice22]

Your slider needs to slide over the top of the crib boards. If it does not, try to see if something is stopping it from sliding all the way closed. The weather stripping will not stop the rain. You may need to add a brow to the outside face of the slider to extend it over the outside edge of the crib boards, but it was originally built to slide that far, so a brow should not be needed. Look at the forward end of the slider to see if something is blocking it from sliding fully aft.

 

[Randall Schmidt]

thanks, I'll try that when I go there next - it is an hour+ drive. I know the slider abruptly stops before it is able to move aft of the boards which certainly seems wrong

 

[Davidasailor26]

You may be able to lift the aft end of the slider a little to raise it above the boards, then pull it back over them.

 

[Pat]

I do all of the above to try and solve this issue....The sliding hatch on the 272LE has the same issues if not closed and lifted above the plexiglass hatch boards...the only thing that partially solves the issue is that 90 percent of our storms here feature a westerly wind, to NW to N and our boats sits at the slip facing those directions so the wind component does not aggravate the situation. I don't believe a bimini will solve the issue, but a dodger should reduce the leakage some. The entire situation was not a good design and seems like a factory short-cut to me. The solution mentioned above would certainly help....Patrick

 

[Randall Schmidt]

I'll try it. I pull it as far aft as I can and it just lines up with the boards - no overhang. I have a latch and a lock on the hatch slider to the top board which also tends to enforce the strict alignment of the two. I'll try to put a spacer on the board's side of the latch so it can align with the slider once I figure out how to slide it further aft.

 

[Apex]

i have the same issue with my 28. i am thinking of adding teak trim on the sliding hatch to allow it to go over the boards. the po had weather strip on top crib board

 

[LoveTwoSail]

We had a problem with mud dobbers getting into the cabin through small openings at the edge of the hatch. They made a mess inside the cabin with their mud nests. Our fix for that problem might work for you to keep the rain out.

We always keep a stash of sunbrella and velcro on hand. Glue a strip of the HOOK velcro to the inside edge of the slide top. Sew or make a 3-4" strip of sunbrella the width of the slide hatch. Sew the proper length of the LOOP velcro to the top edge of the sunbrella. Now velcro the sunbrella to the hatch, and make sure it is over the entry boards when you leave the boat. This should keep out the rain and bugs, while still allowing some venting around the edge of the hatch.

 

[Randall Schmidt]

Interesting. I had mud dauber issues also with an ODay 25 on the Potomac River. I stuff plastic trashbags in the gaps on both sides of the slider. that helps but it awkward. I may try your approach for my 28. I guess it does not work though if you are in the boat when it is raining, right?

 

[LoveTwoSail]

How are you in the boat with the entry boards in place? If you are not sailing, say anchoring for the night, you could just push the material over the entry boards with a butter knife.

What we did is add snaps down each side of our hatch, then sewed an entry cover hatch out of sunbrella that snapped into place and replaced the entry boards when we were in the cabin. This has velcro at the top and attaches to the sliding hatch after removing the small bug/rain strip. We also made a small window on one side and added a zipper down the middle so we could exit the cabin without having to remove the "sunbrella entry door".

 

[agprice22]

Look on the forward end of the slider. Make sure there is nothing under the forward end impeding the slider from coming all the way aft. There could be some weather stripping under there.

 

[Randall Schmidt]

I like what I'm hearing! Where and how do you attached the snaps on the entry way... to the teak or both sides of the entryway on the fiberglass? Are you a sewing skilled sailor and did this all yourself or do you have an internet supplier to recommend for this custom canvas hatch project?

Now that we are talking about sunbrella, I noticed my bimini no longer beads or repels water. It just absorbs it. My local canvas shop says for $175 they can waterproof treat it. I'm thinking that should be a DIY job. if you have any experience or recommendations with that to share that would also be much appreciated.

 

[Randall Schmidt]

I will try that.

 

[Filledwithjoy]

I have had the same issue w/ our Hunter 30 and the Catalina 30 that we now have. I am having a canvas cover made that will snap over the entire companionway for when we are gone. In the meantime, I took a rubber swim noodle and cut it into 2 small pieces. I "ram" it in the spaces and it works fine. Certainly not ideal that's for sure!

 

[Brian S]

Now that we are talking about sunbrella, I noticed my bimini no longer beads or repels water. It just absorbs it. My local canvas shop says for $175 they can waterproof treat it. I'm thinking that should be a DIY job. if you have any experience or recommendations with that to share that would also be much appreciated.

303 Fabric Guard is what Sunbrella recommends for restoring water repellency.

It fared well in Practical Sailor's test: http://www.practical-sailor.com/issues/30_11/features/Water-Repellents-for-Sail-Fabric_4967-1.html (Though I didn't read the whole thing.)

 

[Stu Jackson]

303 Fabric Guard is what Sunbrella recommends for restoring water repellency.

Brian's right.

Randall, go to the Sunbrella website and read how to treat the material. You need to clean it thoroughly before you apply the 303, which is costly but a heck of a lot less expensive than having someone else do it for $175.

 

[Randall Schmidt]

Thx
I'm not sure the current bimini is made of Sunbrella. I do not see a label on it. I wonder if 303 will work on this and on my mainsail cover.

 

[SFS]

Don't know if my bimini is Sunbrella either, but a few months ago I did the research, picked up 303 Fabric Guard at a local auto parts store, and used it according to the directions, after cleaning the bimini first. Within a few weeks, the bimini fabric started shrinking and developing cracks. This may not be cause and effect, and the fabric may not be Sunbrella. I'm also aware that the fabric is old and probably nearing the end of its life anyway, but I was disappointed. YMMV.

 

[Brian S]

Don't know if my bimini is Sunbrella either, but a few months ago I did the research, picked up 303 Fabric Guard at a local auto parts store, and used it according to the directions, after cleaning the bimini first. Within a few weeks, the bimini fabric started shrinking and developing cracks. This may not be cause and effect, and the fabric may not be Sunbrella. I'm also aware that the fabric is old and probably nearing the end of its life anyway, but I was disappointed. YMMV.

Shrinking and cracks? This sounds like some form of coated material. Sunbrella Marine, as used for sail covers, biminis, and dodgers, is a breathable, woven, acrylic material, but it's not waterproof. Highly UV resistant, and treated to be water repellent. This would be appropriate for 303 Fabric Guard.

There are other flavors of Sunbrella that have a coating on them, such as Sunbrella Plus, which has an acrylic coating, and is waterproof, but not breathable. I know for sure there are polyester fabrics with acrylic coatings on them, which would be waterproof. "Top Gun" is one such fabric often used for trailering covers for racing boats, primarily because it's more abrasion resistant that Sunbrella Marine. SFS, it sounds to me like your bimini is one such coated fabric. I doubt the 303 did in your bimini. As a note, there are many outdoor fabrics which are primarily nylon with a urethane coating on one side, used for, say, tents, or backpacks and such. I can tell you that the urethane coating eventually breaks down, getting sticky, or maybe flaking off.

 

[SFS]

Thanks, BrianS, that's good to know. I have a sailbag that fits the description of your final sentence. The interior coating is flaking off.