Cabin Light Leak

Status
Not open for further replies.
H

Hopeful Rookie

.
Sep 17, 2011
12
Hunter 26 Iuka, MS
I'm having a terrible time finding a leak. I found water in my cabin light next to the compression post. That was after two days of rain. The mast was lowered to move the boat to its new slip. I tried sealing the plate the mast sits on (didn't have time to test it before the move). Now its sitting in the slip with the mast up and I'm finding a small leak at the same spot.

I tried to test with the hose and the most likely spot is the centerboard pulley. I tried more sealer (no luck. seems to be down to a drip).

Has anyone had this problem before?

Thanks
 
S

Steve Dion

.
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
HR: It may help to state the make/model of your boat and/or update your profile so someone knows what boat that you may be referring to.
 
C

Crazy Dave Condon

.
Jun 8, 2004
10,532
-na -NA Anywhere USA
For the impossible hidden leaks, many yards will not divulge this trick. On a nice clear day with two people, you can find them. What you need is an leaf blower and a bucket of heavy suds and brush.

Close off the opening ports and put tape around the opening hatch seals. Then cover the companionway with plastic and tape all around. Then put a small slit into the plastic, insert the leaf blower and tape the plastic all around. Then, start the leaf blower. What you are doing is presurizing the cabin. Where there are leaks, air will escape out. The second person needs to take a brush dipping it into the real heavy soapy water and then brush all fittings, rub rails and when you see air bubbling, bada bing, bada boom, you found that pesky leak.

Crazy Dave
 
sailcruiser

sailcruiser

.
Sep 6, 2011
435
I am guessing your boat has a balsa core. ( don't know your specific boat). Water gets in and gets wicked to saturation and drips. I would try Crazy Dave's suggestion and look for ANY leaks. This could he port lights, chain plates are VERY common, any deck hardware etc. I personally would set up a dehumidifier in the boat in the mean time to try and dry things out before rot occurs or gets any worse. Some use dyed water but I like the soap thing much better because of less mess. SC
 
H

Hopeful Rookie

.
Sep 17, 2011
12
Hunter 26 Iuka, MS
after some thought. I'm pretty sure this leak started after the mast went up (sat on a yard for about 6 months working on it). New leak around the forward hatch window. This to started after the mast went up..

Could shrouds being to tight cause deformities in the deck to open up leaks?

Might be able to try the Crazy Dave approach this weekend....OR

may just go sailing.
 
sailcruiser

sailcruiser

.
Sep 6, 2011
435
Hopeful Rookie said:
after some thought. I'm pretty sure this leak started after the mast went up (sat on a yard for about 6 months working on it). New leak around the forward hatch window. This to started after the mast went up..

Could shrouds being to tight cause deformities in the deck to open up leaks?

Might be able to try the Crazy Dave approach this weekend....OR

may just go sailing.
Click to expand
If you do go sailing keep an eye on things. Bulkhead rot is a common cause of dismasting in deck stepped boats. Saw it happen to a buddy. SC
 
M

MABell

.
Dec 9, 2003
232
Hunter 26 Orygun
Think I fixed mine

I pulled the compression post once to reseal the area under the mast base plate. It worked for a couple of years, then started leaking again. Decided with the amount of flex that must be going on there, I would always have a problem. So...
Have you noticed larger boats use a mast boot? I was trying to mimic that, but I use (double) blocks on each side of the mast base for halyards, outhaul and reefing lines. So I couldn’t figure out how to use those when they attach inside the boot. Then I struck on this idea. The base plate on my ‘98 H26 is two pieces. I removed the upper plate and put a layer of heavy (rubberized) material down on the lower plate, then screwed the upper plate back on. So it’s like a skirt. Using it this summer in a couple of heavy rain spells, it seemed to work.
Also, on the side underneath the deck plate, where the centerboard haul line dives in. The compression post is notched out right there and the deck surrounds the rest. Impossible to get caulk in there. So, I “damned up” the bottom of the notch in the deck where the up haul line lays with 5200. Something to keep the water from just running down in there. So far, so good.
 

Attachments

BrianW

BrianW

.
Jan 7, 2005
843
Hunter 26 Guntersville Lake, (AL)
MaBell, do you remember what the rubberized material is called and where you got it. Great idea for a common problem. BrianW
 
M

MABell

.
Dec 9, 2003
232
Hunter 26 Orygun
I apologize, I can’t remember where I bought that. Could have been www.sailrite.com
I get stuff from there often.
It’s like a nylon mesh with a very heavy vinyl coating.
I used it to make a front cover (“bra”?) for my inflatable. The shorelines where we cruise are wickedly sharp with barnacles.
I think most anything would work. I used that because it’s weight keeps it laying flat.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top Bottom