We are first-time boat owners ( 1995 H26) and in the month we've owned our boat, we're quickly learning that there is always something to work on! Good thing we like doing chores...anyway, it appears we have a leak, which I think is coming from the hatch. After it rains, there is always a little pool of water right at the left edge of the teak flooring, right near the head. Anybody else have this problem? If so, what kinds of things have you done to fix it? Someone told me when I mentioned that my husband and I were going to buy a boat before we knew how to sail that sailing was a hobby...it was a lifestyle! We're certainly figuring that out. BTW, We leave for sailing school next week! Carol
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Hayden Jones
I know this sounds silly but,
sometimes the only way to find a leak is to get aboard, close her up and have someone use a hose to simulate rain showers. Don't point the hose directly at the hatches. POint it up in the air and let it hit he deck like rain. You can concentrate the location and keep checking for leaks. Above deck water can come from many places, run along the inside of the deck and deposit itself on the teak deck (in your case, near the head).
sometimes the only way to find a leak is to get aboard, close her up and have someone use a hose to simulate rain showers. Don't point the hose directly at the hatches. POint it up in the air and let it hit he deck like rain. You can concentrate the location and keep checking for leaks. Above deck water can come from many places, run along the inside of the deck and deposit itself on the teak deck (in your case, near the head).
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Alan
Do you pull the sliding hatch cover as closed as..
possible? If mine is not all the way to the stops water can get in. Also, overvigorous washing down can allow water to leak. alan
possible? If mine is not all the way to the stops water can get in. Also, overvigorous washing down can allow water to leak. alan
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marv otto
h26 -- hatch leaks
I have just spent the last several days solving, I hope, a similar leak in my h26. There is a "dam" at the forward end and on top of the hatch. I found that the screws on the ends, where the "dam" is narrow, had punctured the teak and water came in there. Also, the support/handle on the bottom side of the hatch had come loose and water came in there also. I through-bolted the handle, epoxied the "dam" screw holes and re-set both with silicone caulking. I am today waiting for that all to cure so I can "make it rain" this weekend to see if this solves the problem. Fix it as quickly as possible. I was gone last summer when a hard rain from a tropical storm left a lot of water in the cabin. The teak veneer warped terribly and I had to take it out. It can be replaced at Hunter for about $300.
I have just spent the last several days solving, I hope, a similar leak in my h26. There is a "dam" at the forward end and on top of the hatch. I found that the screws on the ends, where the "dam" is narrow, had punctured the teak and water came in there. Also, the support/handle on the bottom side of the hatch had come loose and water came in there also. I through-bolted the handle, epoxied the "dam" screw holes and re-set both with silicone caulking. I am today waiting for that all to cure so I can "make it rain" this weekend to see if this solves the problem. Fix it as quickly as possible. I was gone last summer when a hard rain from a tropical storm left a lot of water in the cabin. The teak veneer warped terribly and I had to take it out. It can be replaced at Hunter for about $300.
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Carol P
Good ideas...thanks
Hi, Marv: Thanks for the suggestion. Now that you mention it, we did notice some loose screws. We tightened them up. I think we need to caulk, etc. as you suggest. Alan, your idea of watching how we pull the hatch closed is also helpful. Since this is our first boat (and we're pretty clueless about a lot of stuff), I'm sure we don't have the exact right closing approach...We've noticed there is an awful lot of play. Thanks!
Hi, Marv: Thanks for the suggestion. Now that you mention it, we did notice some loose screws. We tightened them up. I think we need to caulk, etc. as you suggest. Alan, your idea of watching how we pull the hatch closed is also helpful. Since this is our first boat (and we're pretty clueless about a lot of stuff), I'm sure we don't have the exact right closing approach...We've noticed there is an awful lot of play. Thanks!
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Douglas Miles
Companionway canvas.
I may have leaks (haven't seen any) also but I chose to cover the area with canvas to reduce the chances of developing them. Less than $125 can solve this as well as protect the hatch boards!
I may have leaks (haven't seen any) also but I chose to cover the area with canvas to reduce the chances of developing them. Less than $125 can solve this as well as protect the hatch boards!
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Carl
my 23.5 did the same thing
i always had water coming in the cabin during rainstorms it was leaking in where the plexiglass slider meets the track i used adhesive velcro from home depot the 3/4 inch stuff fits perfect i simply opened the slider and proped it open on its legs then put the velcro (fuzzy side) on the companyonway slider track i put it all the way on both sides so when i lowered the hatch it rested on top of the velcro now it is much easier to slide back and forth and it poured this weekend and not a drop inside the cabin
i always had water coming in the cabin during rainstorms it was leaking in where the plexiglass slider meets the track i used adhesive velcro from home depot the 3/4 inch stuff fits perfect i simply opened the slider and proped it open on its legs then put the velcro (fuzzy side) on the companyonway slider track i put it all the way on both sides so when i lowered the hatch it rested on top of the velcro now it is much easier to slide back and forth and it poured this weekend and not a drop inside the cabin
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Carol P
Velcro rocks!
Thanks Carl! We'll head to Home Depot this weekend! I'm amazed at the things we've found at Home Depot and Lowes that work for our boat! We used to be home remodelers...now we're boat remodelers! Carol
Thanks Carl! We'll head to Home Depot this weekend! I'm amazed at the things we've found at Home Depot and Lowes that work for our boat! We used to be home remodelers...now we're boat remodelers! Carol
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Mark Millham
Check you side ports as well
I recently had water settling into the areas below the seats. I ofund the seals around all the permanent ports(windows) were deteriorated, and the large ports port and starboard had started to pop out their bedding. I pulled them out as far as they easily went, adn used 5200 to re-bed them. Once it cures, the "rain test" will hopefully show the problem solved.
I recently had water settling into the areas below the seats. I ofund the seals around all the permanent ports(windows) were deteriorated, and the large ports port and starboard had started to pop out their bedding. I pulled them out as far as they easily went, adn used 5200 to re-bed them. Once it cures, the "rain test" will hopefully show the problem solved.
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Rob Ullinger
Another solution
Our 23.5 had this same problem. Rather than using Velcro, which will eventually mildew, or some other form of weather stripping which will eventually wear out, I took another aproach. The problem occurs when the water flows around the edges of the plexiglass, and clings to the underside of the slider and moves inboard till it drips on the cabin sole. I removed the plexiglass slider, and used a router to cut a groove on the port and starboard side, the length of the slider, on the underside of the plexiglass. This grove is only 1/16" or less deep, and close enough to the edges to be over the drain gutter that is supposed to drain the water to the cabin top. When the water flows around the edge and clings to the underside, it cannot get passed this groove, and drips into the gutter, and not in the cabin. Since this modification, our cabin has been dry. Rob
Our 23.5 had this same problem. Rather than using Velcro, which will eventually mildew, or some other form of weather stripping which will eventually wear out, I took another aproach. The problem occurs when the water flows around the edges of the plexiglass, and clings to the underside of the slider and moves inboard till it drips on the cabin sole. I removed the plexiglass slider, and used a router to cut a groove on the port and starboard side, the length of the slider, on the underside of the plexiglass. This grove is only 1/16" or less deep, and close enough to the edges to be over the drain gutter that is supposed to drain the water to the cabin top. When the water flows around the edge and clings to the underside, it cannot get passed this groove, and drips into the gutter, and not in the cabin. Since this modification, our cabin has been dry. Rob
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