Leaks

[Gerry]

I was told that about 1/2 of the Macgregors leak water in the rain. Leaks come from deck fittings and bubbles and blisters in the gelcoat. Any truth to this? How common is it? What did Macgregor do about it for you when it occurred? Did they take care fo the problem without any hastle?

 

[Kevin Barry]

I just got a 26x two weeks ago. I was working on it during a rain storm, pretty heavy rain, and the water was running in through the starboard forward window and trickling along the liner on the starboard side. Called the dealer right away and he suggested that the sealant might have come lose during shipping or trailering (on the window) and that the only way to localize the other leak was to use a hose while someone sat inside and monitored the area. The dealer stated that they usually leak test the boats before delivery. I'm not so sure about this, or the quality coming from the factory. Anyway, they sent me a tube of black sealant for the window, and I localized the other leak in one of the deck fittings and put in some white sealant. I didn't want to drive an hour to the dealer for this work, which they would have done. I'm pretty happy with the boat overall, but the quality is something you have to adjust to and improve upon as you go. Fair winds to all....

 

[Marc McCrory]

I found my leaks & fixed quickly

For several seasons, I was going nuts trying to find the leaks in my 26x. There was nearly always some water in the bilge on both sides & water leaked in onto the table inside. It led to a musty smell and some mold. My sailing friend found out that 26x's tend to let rain in through the through the deck fittings. A dealer on the west coast (far more helpful/understanding/knowledgeable than our dealer) suggested treating the through the deck fittings with silicon. The dealer offered to Fed Ex out the silicon.I was too impatient to wait & I immediately used "Marine Goop" gel adhesive to basically caulk over the through the hull fittings at the shrouds, back stay and at the base of the jib. It dries clear & is nearly invisible.The leaks instantly stopped. 100% dry ever since. The cost was less than $1.00 and the time was less than five minutes. I'm a happy camper now. Last year, trying to dry out the boat, I installed a solar powered vent fan on the top hatch. It really helps keep the boat cool during the hot summer by constantly changing the air in the boat.