Leaks - How do you find them?

[jrocheleau]

I've been trying to solve a leak problem on my 1984 Oday 30. Water drips from the back corner of the interior window cowling. I've replaced and resealed the window twice, I've removed and resealed the handrail, tightened all the through bolts that secure the traveler track and I still have a leak. Anyone with any good ideas on how to find leaks like this?

 

[pateco]

I have a similar issue. I have resealed the Fixed port with butyl tape and DOW 795, and still have a leak inside. I am thinking it must be coming from above that port. However, that means I need to remove the cabin top bridge.

 

[njlarry]

Usual suspects: traveler or wench mounting holes, eyebrow or any deck penetrations on the deck house roof in that area. (Mine was the PO replaced eyebrow and PO added deck cleat. I have written the PO out of my will.)

 

[pateco]

Usual suspects: traveler or wench mounting holes, eyebrow or any deck penetrations on the deck house roof in that area. (Mine was the PO replaced eyebrow and PO added deck cleat. I have written the PO out of my will.)

My traveler mounts to the bridge, so it wont be that, but the bridge itself is a suspect plus the cabin top hardware.

 

[Bob J.]

Close the boat up & place a window fan in the companion way opening to pressurize the inside of the boat. Go around spraying a soapy water solution. When the soapy water starts bubbling, you found the leak.

 

[pateco]

Close the boat up & place a window fan in the companion way opening to pressurize the inside of the boat. Go around spraying a soapy water solution. When the soapy water starts bubbling, you found the leak.

I don't have covers for the Dorades, and my cockpit lazarettes have drains and vents from inside to outside so that will not work.

 

[SFS]

Usual suspects: traveler or wench mounting holes...

Nope, not gonna do it. Wouldn't be prudent.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Old sailors trick that many yards use in finding leaks.

Close all hatches and tape over the seals. On the companioneway, take a large piece of plastic and tape it down over the entire companionway. Cut a slit in it and insert a leaf blower and tape around the spout. Have a bucket of real good old soapy water with a brush. Turn on the leaf blower and have a second person brush every fitting and so forth. Where air is bubbling out, guess what you find leaks as you are in a sense pressurizing the cabin and air has to escape. Hope this trick will help you all.

 

[Ken Cross]

Old sailors trick that many yards use in finding leaks.

Close all hatches and tape over the seals. On the companioneway, take a large piece of plastic and tape it down over the entire companionway. Cut a slit in it and insert a leaf blower and tape around the spout. Have a bucket of real good old soapy water with a brush. Turn on the leaf blower and have a second person brush every fitting and so forth. Where air is bubbling out, guess what you find leaks as you are in a sense pressurizing the cabin and air has to escape. Hope this trick will help you all.

Some folks pressurize with a shop vac. Same procedure.

Ken

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Thanks Ken that is certainly a little safer but still takes two people.

 

[agprice22]

Look on the underside of your windows. They are often angled downward in the aft, so water runs along the underside edge and finds a gap. Then it leaks in and soaks the interior.

 

[Bob J.]

Some folks pressurize with a shop vac. Same procedure.

Ken

That's a great idea using a shop vac Ken!

 

[RoyS]

If your leak is substantial it probably is located where rain water pools. Most exterior surfaces on a boat are arranged to shed water toward the outside edges. Unfortunately this usually directs all the rain water to the toe rail which has fasteners penetrating the deck every few inches. Suggest looking at the places where water pools on your deck.

 

[montigre]

Thanks Ken that is certainly a little safer but still takes two people.

No, just 1 person. After the plastic is on the companionway, cut a small hole in it for the shop vac and then duct tape around the vac hose. Then you're free to scrub down your boat with the soapy water.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

If the boat is in the water and a foolish power boat comes wizzing by fast, I prefere someone holding the fort on the shop vac.