I have owned my 1997 H-26 for six years, and until last year had no leaks. Now I am dealing with a stubborn one. When it's raining, water appears inside the cabin on the starboard side in the joint where the head liner meets the felt-faced hull interior below the windows. Water emerges and oozes down through through the felt and emerges onto the seat base. Here is what I have tried so far to fix it: I have re-set deck hardware on the starboard side including the deck organizer and the stanchions. I have replaced the starboard plexiglass windows, and have re-set them in Boatlife Lifecaulk. I keep a tarp tied in place over the companionway slider and cover, so there has been no water intrusion there. I am now wondering about the possibility of water coming in through the hull-deck joint where the rubrail is attached. Could water be entering through the screw holes that tie the rubrail to the hull? Have any of you experienced this problem with the H-26 or similarly designed boats in the water-ballasted series? If you have encountered this problem and solved it, please let me know. Thanks! Don S.V. Anodyne
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Don, I think you're on to it
with the rub rail idea, especially since you've done so much checking and repairing the other obvious areas. I have the little sister to your boat, a 23.5; and have had water problems at the rubrail aft where it curves around the coaming to the transom. Two things I noticed when I peeled back the rub rail was lots of holes...lots of holes. Some were filled with sealant, some not. As you would expect, there are holes for the rubrail screws. I don't know what all the other holes are for; maybe to let sealant force from the joint when assembling. In any case after sealing the screw holes for the rubrail and all the other holes I am finally watertight. Also, my rubrails have little half-round end caps at the aft termination. These were tight fitting and held water that ran down the rail. Before reinstalling these I filed weep holes in the lower corners. Good luck!
with the rub rail idea, especially since you've done so much checking and repairing the other obvious areas. I have the little sister to your boat, a 23.5; and have had water problems at the rubrail aft where it curves around the coaming to the transom. Two things I noticed when I peeled back the rub rail was lots of holes...lots of holes. Some were filled with sealant, some not. As you would expect, there are holes for the rubrail screws. I don't know what all the other holes are for; maybe to let sealant force from the joint when assembling. In any case after sealing the screw holes for the rubrail and all the other holes I am finally watertight. Also, my rubrails have little half-round end caps at the aft termination. These were tight fitting and held water that ran down the rail. Before reinstalling these I filed weep holes in the lower corners. Good luck!
Similar Problem
We have a 1986 Hunter 28.5. This boat also had a leak in the aft-cabin where the head liner meets the felt lining. After much investigation, we found a large hole drilled through the deck under the toe-rail. It sounds like you have a very similar problem. Good Luck!
We have a 1986 Hunter 28.5. This boat also had a leak in the aft-cabin where the head liner meets the felt lining. After much investigation, we found a large hole drilled through the deck under the toe-rail. It sounds like you have a very similar problem. Good Luck!
Thanks, guys!
Christopher and Dennis, Thanks so much for your help. My next job is to remove the rub rail and screws and fill the holes with sealant. I am optomistic that this approach will solve the "mystery". Don
Christopher and Dennis, Thanks so much for your help. My next job is to remove the rub rail and screws and fill the holes with sealant. I am optomistic that this approach will solve the "mystery". Don
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