Hi,
Got some problems with leaks in my 1984 Mac 15, or more specifically with water in the bilge and on the cabin sole, and I’m not sure where it is coming from. Some background: in the middle of the 2016 sailing season, I briefly ‘ran aground,” with hitting the sing keel. I raised the keel and went on my merry way. I noticed some weeks later some water in the bilge, but I don’t really know if there was water in there beforehand. I looked under the boat and around the keel last winter and couldn’t see anything. I don’t recall there being much rain last winter, and certainly not enough for me to use my little manual pump to get any water out of the boat.
However, I’ve noticed lots of water in the boat in the last couple of months. Mostly, it’s in the bilge, but it’s also on the cabin sole under the table, and there is also water on the table, which suggests that not all of the water is coming in from underneath. Last winter, I replaced the seal around the pop top, but I’m not convinced that has worked. I also happened to see some water near the v berth, so I’m wondering if there is some kind of leak in the forward hatch.
Yeah, I know. A lot of places. Any idea where I should start? Should I have my wife spray water onto the pop top and deck to see where something comes in? And how would I check the keel, maybe from inside to see if that’s the source?
Any help you could provide would be appreciated!
Got some problems with leaks in my 1984 Mac 15, or more specifically with water in the bilge and on the cabin sole, and I’m not sure where it is coming from. Some background: in the middle of the 2016 sailing season, I briefly ‘ran aground,” with hitting the sing keel. I raised the keel and went on my merry way. I noticed some weeks later some water in the bilge, but I don’t really know if there was water in there beforehand. I looked under the boat and around the keel last winter and couldn’t see anything. I don’t recall there being much rain last winter, and certainly not enough for me to use my little manual pump to get any water out of the boat.
However, I’ve noticed lots of water in the boat in the last couple of months. Mostly, it’s in the bilge, but it’s also on the cabin sole under the table, and there is also water on the table, which suggests that not all of the water is coming in from underneath. Last winter, I replaced the seal around the pop top, but I’m not convinced that has worked. I also happened to see some water near the v berth, so I’m wondering if there is some kind of leak in the forward hatch.
Yeah, I know. A lot of places. Any idea where I should start? Should I have my wife spray water onto the pop top and deck to see where something comes in? And how would I check the keel, maybe from inside to see if that’s the source?
Any help you could provide would be appreciated!