I have a 2018 Catlina 315 and last winter we had water leaking on the cabin by the starboard port window in the main cabin We are moored in Van cover ,Canada so it rains lots in the winter. this past weekend we had rain for 2 day sand we had another leak along the same side about 4 feet back from the port window I will attach some photos. Has anyone had a leak like this and if so what is the remedy. My hunt is that water is pooling along the grab rail seat and maybe leaking in there?
Cabin waterleaking
- Thread starter Perphoto Canada
- Start date
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 24,623
The dirty crack on the trim certainly is suspicious. I’’d look at the deck above. Did a screw poke through creating the crack?
Water is certainly a challenge to keep outside of our boats. I found the best attack is to seal it from the outside. Not patch format he inside. This may mean removing hardware that is on the deck and recaulking any and all fittings. The boat has seen a few seasons. It is about this time that the caulking begins to fail.
The insidious fact about boats, is that this happens gradually and in different places about the boat.
Water is certainly a challenge to keep outside of our boats. I found the best attack is to seal it from the outside. Not patch format he inside. This may mean removing hardware that is on the deck and recaulking any and all fittings. The boat has seen a few seasons. It is about this time that the caulking begins to fail.
The insidious fact about boats, is that this happens gradually and in different places about the boat.
I was looking at the grab rails on the outside deck and there was water pooling in there do you think this could be a source of the Leak.
and also all winter the starboard port window had drips of water coming in. My theory could be either port windows seal or lease related to this leak from the hand rail. ?
and also all winter the starboard port window had drips of water coming in. My theory could be either port windows seal or lease related to this leak from the hand rail. ?
This absolutely could be a source of water intrusion, along with the 100 other holes in the deck. You can test your theory by running a hose on the suspected areas starting from the window and moving your way up to the hand rails.
To reseal the handrails, and most other fittings, remove it, clean the old sealant off the surfaces, countersink the gelcoat and fiberglass and apply BedIT, reinstall the fitting, cut off excess BedIT. Here's a detailed article on the subject. Resealing windows requires a different technique
Attach lots of photos from the outside as well as the inside. No one ever complained about too many pictures. Be sure to mark the exterior pictures showing exactly where the interior leaks are located.
I would think this pretty obvious but remember when you're taking the photos "Help us to help you". It often doesn't work that way here.
For everyone's reference, the cabin rail bolts are located between the interior grab rail and the window shade
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 24,623
Window seals are among the usual suspects. The boat is in constant flex motion when out on the water. The window and the boat flex differently. Then there is the thermal contraction and expansion issue. With all they is going on it is a wonder that water stays outside of the boat, At least for the most part.
@Perphoto Canada , I appreciate these shots were taken last year with no thoughts of using them for info this year but I think you can see the problem others at SBO would be facing. We have no reference as to up (probably looking up) or down or what else is in the area.
I would suggest hi-res shots from further back so we can see surrounding conditions, obstructions, etc, etc, first and then we can magnify that shot to look inside the point of leakage. Some of my internal leaks have defied logic as to how they got to where they got to, EVEN WHEN STANDING IN FRONT OF THE BLOODY LEAKS IN PERSON.
The forecast says the rain will back off for 30 sec. this afternoon so grab your camera, the oilskins, and sou'wester and lets see what you've got. I hate to say it but with the slop we've seen over the last few days, the floor may also be awash
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Good idea on your part to attack this leakage problem now rather than later as it looks like you may be at the start of some wood rot.
I would suggest hi-res shots from further back so we can see surrounding conditions, obstructions, etc, etc, first and then we can magnify that shot to look inside the point of leakage. Some of my internal leaks have defied logic as to how they got to where they got to, EVEN WHEN STANDING IN FRONT OF THE BLOODY LEAKS IN PERSON.
The forecast says the rain will back off for 30 sec. this afternoon so grab your camera, the oilskins, and sou'wester and lets see what you've got. I hate to say it but with the slop we've seen over the last few days, the floor may also be awash
.Good idea on your part to attack this leakage problem now rather than later as it looks like you may be at the start of some wood rot.
I'm seeing two different windows in the pics. As @Ralph Johnstone mentioned, some reference would be helpful. Which area are we concentrating on?
Just to reinforce the criticality of detailing all of your next pictures, I thought we were looking upwards at the leaks in your post #7 which were, of course, taken last year. Leaks from holes in the deck, for rails, and other attachments start at the top of the port. And then, by accident, I saw the shroud attachment through the glass in photo TEMPLMAGE5L4XP.PNG and realized we were now looking DOWN on a different leak.
Whole new leak source. Water has a hell of a time running uphill. Is the acrylic in a frame (I see a rubber gasket) or is it a frameless attachment directly to the cabin ?
I thought I knew what this was
But I guess I didn't
The devil is in the details.
Whole new leak source. Water has a hell of a time running uphill. Is the acrylic in a frame (I see a rubber gasket) or is it a frameless attachment directly to the cabin ?
I thought I knew what this was
But I guess I didn't
The devil is in the details.
There are 2 issues here, the separation between the the deck and the fiberglass headliner and a water leak.
Water leaks have this annoying tendency to follow the structure of the boat and become visible far from the source of the leak. Fortunately, water only runs down hill. The search area should focus on any fitting that is uphill from the point where the water appears. Start with the nearest fitting to the leak and run water from a hose for a few minutes. If you are lucky, that will be the source, if not, move further uphill repeating the procedure until water appears in the leak. To complicate the search, leaks can have multiple sources.
Once the leaking fitting has been identified, it is time to remove and rebed the fitting. Here's an article on bedding fittings.
The other issue, the cracks between the liner and deck are fairly common. The space between the parts is often filled with a light weight filler. Over time the filler becomes more brittle and with movement of the boat cracks can develop. There is no burning need to fix those cracks.
Water leaks have this annoying tendency to follow the structure of the boat and become visible far from the source of the leak. Fortunately, water only runs down hill. The search area should focus on any fitting that is uphill from the point where the water appears. Start with the nearest fitting to the leak and run water from a hose for a few minutes. If you are lucky, that will be the source, if not, move further uphill repeating the procedure until water appears in the leak. To complicate the search, leaks can have multiple sources.
Once the leaking fitting has been identified, it is time to remove and rebed the fitting. Here's an article on bedding fittings.
Bedding Deck Hardware With Bed-IT Tape - Marine How To
Originally published December 2003 *Moved & Edited September 2017 Bedding With Bed-It Tape 5/20/2022 IMPORTANT UPDATE BED-IT TAPE IS BACK PURCHASE BED-IT TAPE Countersunk/Beveled Hole Over the years,
marinehowto.com
The other issue, the cracks between the liner and deck are fairly common. The space between the parts is often filled with a light weight filler. Over time the filler becomes more brittle and with movement of the boat cracks can develop. There is no burning need to fix those cracks.
Hey @Perphoto Canada . Haven't heard from you in a while and thought I'd see how the photos are coming along.
Just a suggestion, but winter is eventually headed for the Wet Coast and leak repairs are near impossible in cold wet weather.
Just a suggestion, but winter is eventually headed for the Wet Coast and leak repairs are near impossible in cold wet weather.
Thanks I live 500 miles from
W here my boat is moored and am back on it as of last night I took some pics this morning. As mentioned I have leaks last winter was by the port window 2 weeks ago was under this hand rail I noticed the water is pooling by the post attached to the deck but today I noticed a small chunk out of the window sill . Maybe that could be a source? I am not sure how to take that hand rail off to reseal it ?
W here my boat is moored and am back on it as of last night I took some pics this morning. As mentioned I have leaks last winter was by the port window 2 weeks ago was under this hand rail I noticed the water is pooling by the post attached to the deck but today I noticed a small chunk out of the window sill . Maybe that could be a source? I am not sure how to take that hand rail off to reseal it ?
Attachments
It's most likely these bolts that are holding the hand rail on. Mine are in nearly the same location. Using BedIT will be less messy, easier to service in the future, last longer, work better and be cheaper than 4200, or any other marine sealant out there. Please don't use silicone for bedding hardware. It's why it's leaking in the first place. See @dlochner's post for info on BedIT
Any chance to load the vids to a free on-line storage site like Dropbox for all to see ?
This shot :
.... may well be a possible source of water but where is a shot of the corresponding interior damage located ?
Solve one leak at a time showing the suspected water source and the interior damage.
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grabrails are the best in leaking..... water is standing on the flat outside survice. even more when the boat is healing over from wind. they should have been a sort of raised area at the bolt.
The inner and out shell / roof are not in the same angle, so when the bolts are tightend several times holes get bigger and the grabrail is pulled under an angle on to the roof. This improves the leaking
also the hollow in between the inner /outer shell is bad. ours had cracks in the roof at 2 of the holes.
Best to make the inner shell holes bigger so the bolts of the rail can be seated directly against the innerside of the roof.
shorten the bolts or make spacer to keep the bolts in same place.
due to temp changing the rail moves a little, so if you wanna go all the way? make (white plastic) spacer with a chamber for a Viton O-ring on the outside between roof and rails. about half inch height. Now there is a permanent watertight construction which can move a little.
The inner and out shell / roof are not in the same angle, so when the bolts are tightend several times holes get bigger and the grabrail is pulled under an angle on to the roof. This improves the leaking
also the hollow in between the inner /outer shell is bad. ours had cracks in the roof at 2 of the holes.
Best to make the inner shell holes bigger so the bolts of the rail can be seated directly against the innerside of the roof.
shorten the bolts or make spacer to keep the bolts in same place.
due to temp changing the rail moves a little, so if you wanna go all the way? make (white plastic) spacer with a chamber for a Viton O-ring on the outside between roof and rails. about half inch height. Now there is a permanent watertight construction which can move a little.
Project Mayhem explained how. When all of us got into boating and bought our first boats, we all had to learn how things were built and connected so that we could repair them. None of us was born a boat repairman. You need to look around and be inquisitive. Some answers are obvious, others take longer and help is much appreciated.
Handrails are among the easiest things to remove and rebed on a boat.
Learning proper nomenclature also helps us to help you.
I was looking t that small hole and It is almost directly above the leak I will get something to seal that up I am almost positive that would be the source. what would you recommend I use to seal it. and Epoxy or Silicon caulking? do you have any recommendations?