Leaking Toe Rail- Stanchions?/ Soft Hull

[Don Roberts]

On my '82 Hunter 25, I have leaking when it rains & when heeling. After much work & investigation, I find it can only be the toe rail and/or stanchions. Do I need to completely remove toe rail (will the hull/deck joint spring out of shape?), or loosen & caulk each screw? I can't use my lockers & my boat is always cluttered. Should I drill weep holes in lockers?Also, the boat has a custom trailer, & the pads were not installed at stringers. The boat sat on the trailer 4 years before I bought it. Needless to say, I have soft spots in the hull. I want to glass in re-inforcement stringers. Any suggestions, comments? I believe most Hunters sold in this area had trailers built by the same company, but have not talked with anyone to see if they have this probllem.

 

[John Allison]

Look Before Leaping

Before doing anything, I would try to isolate the leak. Look for water drips around specific screws/bolts. Also, remember that leaks can travel a long way before becoming apparent. For instance, overhead leaks at the mast cathedral can run inside the cabin liner into the storage bins in the head area before presenting themselves. Once, you are fairly certain where the leak is, then it is time to act. If it appears to be toe rail related and if it is specific to one spot, try removing, resealing/rebedding the applicable screws. If this does not work, then the toe rail must be pulled and resealed. But this is a big job and should be thought of only as a last result.