You've had a nice long sail with your family to your favorite anchorage. Down goes the hook and it's time for snacks and drinks in the cockpit as the sun goes down. Later that night, you hear the rumble of thunder. Not long after that the rain begins. The first drop of water to land on your nose doesn't wake you, but the ensuing drops do. The boat is leaking -- again! You could have sworn you fixed that leak last season. Is this a new leak or the old one? Some say all boats leak now and then. Some leaks are minor, some are more serious. If water can find its way into the core of your deck, it may mean a major repair is in your future. But perhaps your leak can be fixed with a little caulk here and there. Whatever works, works. What has been your experience with leaks on your boat? How have you found their source and repaired them? Tell us how you took your leak, then take the Quick Quiz on the home page. (Discussion topic and quiz by Warren Milberg)
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stations and other small leaks
I tried 5200, 4200, silicone, and found the best sealer was using a glue gun! You could put in a lot or a little, and it holds well too.
I tried 5200, 4200, silicone, and found the best sealer was using a glue gun! You could put in a lot or a little, and it holds well too.
Lucky
Knock on fiberglass, I've been lucky. My 20 yr old boat has no apparent leaks. Had a few stains around the inner sides of the ports some time ago that disappeared after a few lines of caulk around the inner bezel. Also, after powerwashing the deck -- which really works well on non-skid -- I found that I had actually washed out some old caulk around the forward hatch. Replaced that with new stuff and hope the boat lasts another 20 yrs....
Knock on fiberglass, I've been lucky. My 20 yr old boat has no apparent leaks. Had a few stains around the inner sides of the ports some time ago that disappeared after a few lines of caulk around the inner bezel. Also, after powerwashing the deck -- which really works well on non-skid -- I found that I had actually washed out some old caulk around the forward hatch. Replaced that with new stuff and hope the boat lasts another 20 yrs....
I've got two that I'm aware of on my 272
I've had a small leak from under the forward hatch trim ring. I cleaned and caulked it last weekend and will look after the next hard rain to see if I caught it. If not, I'm afraid I'll have to remove the hatch, clean off old caulk and start fresh. Also a light drip around the instrument cluster that is mounted in the aft end of the cockpit. Discovered it when I was looking for a leak that I thought came from the cockpit drain. Luckily it was raining when I was searching and I found that the leak was from higher up, and dripped down onto the drain line. Caulked around the instrument cluster face plate. Hopefully that caught both of them!
I've had a small leak from under the forward hatch trim ring. I cleaned and caulked it last weekend and will look after the next hard rain to see if I caught it. If not, I'm afraid I'll have to remove the hatch, clean off old caulk and start fresh. Also a light drip around the instrument cluster that is mounted in the aft end of the cockpit. Discovered it when I was looking for a leak that I thought came from the cockpit drain. Luckily it was raining when I was searching and I found that the leak was from higher up, and dripped down onto the drain line. Caulked around the instrument cluster face plate. Hopefully that caught both of them!
boats leak!
I don't think I've ever been on an "older" boat that didn't have a leak or two. When you look at the literally dozens of "breaks" in the deck where water can penetrate, it's amazing those boats don't leak more than they do! I have two that I know about: one at a port, and one at my deck hatch. I live with it until I can "get around" to removing and re-bedding. Bill on STARGAZER
I don't think I've ever been on an "older" boat that didn't have a leak or two. When you look at the literally dozens of "breaks" in the deck where water can penetrate, it's amazing those boats don't leak more than they do! I have two that I know about: one at a port, and one at my deck hatch. I live with it until I can "get around" to removing and re-bedding. Bill on STARGAZER
Where's the Leak
Where's the leak? seemed to be my constant phrase in the first year I worked on my old Venture. Although I went through all the likely places the first year, I still had quite a few leaks(and a lot of condensation as well). Last spring here in jersey though, I was never able to finish any project on the boat without it raining(often heavily)on me. Being trapped inside the boat for many storms gave me the opportunity to find where the leaks were pretty easily (chainplates were the most frequent culprits). Bruce on "WIND IS FREE"
Where's the leak? seemed to be my constant phrase in the first year I worked on my old Venture. Although I went through all the likely places the first year, I still had quite a few leaks(and a lot of condensation as well). Last spring here in jersey though, I was never able to finish any project on the boat without it raining(often heavily)on me. Being trapped inside the boat for many storms gave me the opportunity to find where the leaks were pretty easily (chainplates were the most frequent culprits). Bruce on "WIND IS FREE"
Leaks
It seems most boats leak somewhere - I have never had one that wouldn't leak at least a little in a downpour. Just got a new/used boat last season with a butterfly hatch. One night we had a tremendous rain and that hatch leaked all along the hinge. I had every pot out on the floor catching the water. Under normal rain it seems OK.
It seems most boats leak somewhere - I have never had one that wouldn't leak at least a little in a downpour. Just got a new/used boat last season with a butterfly hatch. One night we had a tremendous rain and that hatch leaked all along the hinge. I had every pot out on the floor catching the water. Under normal rain it seems OK.
Leaks? on my boat? NOT!
She sat uncovered all winter in Maryland and the bilge was dusty dry when I opened her last month. Books, papers, bedding, and clothes stay on the boat year round. Every hole that penetrated the hull and deck was counter sunk before bedding the fittings. I used premium Acrylic caulk, oversize backing plates, and locking nuts on all threaded fasteners.
She sat uncovered all winter in Maryland and the bilge was dusty dry when I opened her last month. Books, papers, bedding, and clothes stay on the boat year round. Every hole that penetrated the hull and deck was counter sunk before bedding the fittings. I used premium Acrylic caulk, oversize backing plates, and locking nuts on all threaded fasteners.
Lower gudgeons
The lower gudgeon on my C22 would leak while under motor power. The stern would drop a little, submerging the gudgeon. I fixed it by cutting a rubber gasket (Home Depot plumbing section) to fit the gudgeon bracket. Problem solved. The other place that leaked was the cabin ports. Had to remove them, rebed them in a special industrial window adhesive/sealant and now they are dry too.
The lower gudgeon on my C22 would leak while under motor power. The stern would drop a little, submerging the gudgeon. I fixed it by cutting a rubber gasket (Home Depot plumbing section) to fit the gudgeon bracket. Problem solved. The other place that leaked was the cabin ports. Had to remove them, rebed them in a special industrial window adhesive/sealant and now they are dry too.
26x leaks at chainplates
I had some initial problems with leaking at the chainplates. I caulked all of them with silicon, and that seems to have resolved the problem until this year. We had an unusually wet year this year in California. I had to dry the bilge a couple times this winter. Looks like it's time to redo my caulking. --Mark
I had some initial problems with leaking at the chainplates. I caulked all of them with silicon, and that seems to have resolved the problem until this year. We had an unusually wet year this year in California. I had to dry the bilge a couple times this winter. Looks like it's time to redo my caulking. --Mark
sneaky leak
After a sail there would be water in the bilge of my 22. Finally figured out it was coming from a crack in the thru-hull that drains the sink. When the boat heeled over, the thru-hull submerged, allowing water to travel up it and leak at a crack where the hose clamps on. As the fitting is normally above the water line, I was able to remove and replace it at the dock.
After a sail there would be water in the bilge of my 22. Finally figured out it was coming from a crack in the thru-hull that drains the sink. When the boat heeled over, the thru-hull submerged, allowing water to travel up it and leak at a crack where the hose clamps on. As the fitting is normally above the water line, I was able to remove and replace it at the dock.
26 X center board leak
I've had a leak for 3 years. 25 miles of powering would produce 5 liters of water in the bottom. It wouldn't leak under sail, just powering. I finally found the leak where the centerboard line passes through the centerboard tunnel into the mast support tube. During assembly there was insufficient caulking used at this point allowing a small leak. I have no leaks from the deck yet
I've had a leak for 3 years. 25 miles of powering would produce 5 liters of water in the bottom. It wouldn't leak under sail, just powering. I finally found the leak where the centerboard line passes through the centerboard tunnel into the mast support tube. During assembly there was insufficient caulking used at this point allowing a small leak. I have no leaks from the deck yet
Every boat leaks
If someone says their boat does not leak they just haven't looked hard enough. Every boat new or old in my experience leaks somewhere. Maybe you just haven't got her wet enough to see it, but she'll leak somewhere.
If someone says their boat does not leak they just haven't looked hard enough. Every boat new or old in my experience leaks somewhere. Maybe you just haven't got her wet enough to see it, but she'll leak somewhere.
Old-fashioned remedy
I recently bought a 1976 O'Day DaySailer 2 in excellent condition considering her age and everything. The only thing I can find wrong with her is where the mast steps through the cuddy top - it looks like the mast may work a little, judging by the way the former owner's bead of silicone didn't stay put. Wedges are out of the question (no king plank), so I'm going to try a mast boot made of painted canvas. This is the traditional way of dealing with this situation, and has worked fine for me on other sailboats I've owned.
I recently bought a 1976 O'Day DaySailer 2 in excellent condition considering her age and everything. The only thing I can find wrong with her is where the mast steps through the cuddy top - it looks like the mast may work a little, judging by the way the former owner's bead of silicone didn't stay put. Wedges are out of the question (no king plank), so I'm going to try a mast boot made of painted canvas. This is the traditional way of dealing with this situation, and has worked fine for me on other sailboats I've owned.
what kind of glue ?
What kind of glue did you use in the glue gun.. or did you use Silicon in the gun ? Thanks
What kind of glue did you use in the glue gun.. or did you use Silicon in the gun ? Thanks
Leaks into Deck Balsa Core
Had an Alberg 37 with deck leaks. It had a slightly soft deck, cracks around the deck stanchions (That year, Alberg didn't get around to putting solid fiberglass or plywood directly under the rail stanchions--so pushing on the stanchion squeezed the balsa and cracked the deck). Figured I'd just cut the top laminate off around the spots, chip out the wet 1/2" balsa core, and replace it with closed cell foam. Simple, eh? Well--if your deck is soft, expect to cut out at LEAST twice the area that feels spongy. We ended up cutting out the entire deck because there was no dry balsa anywhere. A fun Summer project. But we ended up with a nice, dry boat.
Had an Alberg 37 with deck leaks. It had a slightly soft deck, cracks around the deck stanchions (That year, Alberg didn't get around to putting solid fiberglass or plywood directly under the rail stanchions--so pushing on the stanchion squeezed the balsa and cracked the deck). Figured I'd just cut the top laminate off around the spots, chip out the wet 1/2" balsa core, and replace it with closed cell foam. Simple, eh? Well--if your deck is soft, expect to cut out at LEAST twice the area that feels spongy. We ended up cutting out the entire deck because there was no dry balsa anywhere. A fun Summer project. But we ended up with a nice, dry boat.
Knock on Steel
I had a ten-ton steel schooner that I lived on for five, then cruised for six years, 11 year total.Leaked nary a drop except at the packing gland where it was suppose to, knock on steel. Most boats do leak, and all the others did except for a Freedom. Eric, replacing the end-cut-Balsa core in the deck is a real job.People often push a vessel off from the berth using the stanchions, and breaking the bond to let water in to rot the core.Another way is by attaching a halyard to the lifelines, see it all the time. Lifelines and stanchions should be left entirely alone.
I had a ten-ton steel schooner that I lived on for five, then cruised for six years, 11 year total.Leaked nary a drop except at the packing gland where it was suppose to, knock on steel. Most boats do leak, and all the others did except for a Freedom. Eric, replacing the end-cut-Balsa core in the deck is a real job.People often push a vessel off from the berth using the stanchions, and breaking the bond to let water in to rot the core.Another way is by attaching a halyard to the lifelines, see it all the time. Lifelines and stanchions should be left entirely alone.
Mast leak
So far my biggest problem is water coming down the mast (inside) and into the cabin during a heavy rain. Haven,t had the mast down since we brough her to check, so Iguess thats next.
So far my biggest problem is water coming down the mast (inside) and into the cabin during a heavy rain. Haven,t had the mast down since we brough her to check, so Iguess thats next.
Compass leak
I spent several weeks just looking for leaks. I had a leak where the mast head light plugs into the deck and then several spots where the hand rail was bolted through the cabin sole. I thought I had found and repaired all the leaks but one in the aft has been driving my nuts. I think I have the same problem with the gudgeon, thanks Randy for the tip. I just put a compass through the balk head and now the compass leaks. It has an "O" ring but it is leaking around the compass ball and not the mounting. Not sure how I am going to fix this one. I know all boats leak but I don't like them and try to track them down when they happen.
I spent several weeks just looking for leaks. I had a leak where the mast head light plugs into the deck and then several spots where the hand rail was bolted through the cabin sole. I thought I had found and repaired all the leaks but one in the aft has been driving my nuts. I think I have the same problem with the gudgeon, thanks Randy for the tip. I just put a compass through the balk head and now the compass leaks. It has an "O" ring but it is leaking around the compass ball and not the mounting. Not sure how I am going to fix this one. I know all boats leak but I don't like them and try to track them down when they happen.
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