Passage 42 water leak at aft cabin bulkhead

[Wanderwind]

Hi everyone,

Well, we did it. We bought a Hunter Passage 42. However, it seems to have a leak and I'm trying to figure out where it's coming from. I'm thinking it's the aft-most of the two Lewmar ports leading to the cockpit but hoping someone can help me figure this out before it does too much damage.

I removed the inner trim from the port but really didn't see anything that looked like water streaks or the like. So I'm a little stumped. Where could it be coming from? Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[Terry Cox]

Had leaks there, too. Some possible sources:

1. Lewmar port lights. What I did was to use Loctite brand sealant around the exterior frame edge, working it in with my fingers then wiping away any residue with a wet cloth. So far so good.

2. Sun deck SS grab bars need to be re-bed. Ours seem to be okay.

3. The FRP sound box was allowing rain water to enter thus following the wire chase that enters the SS arch; our sound box was leaking rain water that would flow through that wire chase down the SS arch and into the boat interior. What I did was to place a drip loop in the wire chase before it entered the SS arch tube.

The aft cabin water leaks that we had seem to have stopped. Ditto the leaking large window in the main cabin. Over the years the original sealant had separated in places so I used that Loctite sealant, working it in with my finger and wiped away the residue with a wet cloth. That seems to have fixed that leak.

That is what boats do, they leak.

 

[Wanderwind]

Hmm, the plastic conduit on the speaker box on the port side has completely disintegrated. I didn't think to put 2 and 2 together. I'm going to fix that and see if it helps.

I also put the bimini back up. It was taken down for sea trial and it seems suspicious that it was dry at that time, but, now that the bimini has been down for two weeks, it's wet.

Is it normal to caulk the inner trim on those Lewmar ports? These are both caulked on the lower and side edges. Seemed odd since I'd probably rather they leaked on the inside so I could tell if they leaked on the outside rather than the water all going between the liner and hull.

I will also check out the aft sun pad grab bars.

I know all boats leak sooner or later. I'm planning on rebedding/recaulking pretty much everything.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Wanderwind]

Terry, thanks for your suggestion. You were completely right about the wiring up the arch. It rained all day today here in Annapolis and I spent the day on the boat working on the engine. I had left the trim off the Lewmar port and it was dry.

I noticed water dripping in the corner above the desk in the aft cabin. I took off the little vented cover over the desk. Inside I found water dripping down the wires that run up the arch for the speakers/lights.

Outside I found that the wires from the speaker runs through split wiring loom tubing that was turned with the split UP and mostly disintegrated. So it was basically acting like a scoop and pouring the rain water into the arch.

I pulled the split tubing back and bent the wires down to form a drip loop, but it seems like something should be covering them so they aren't exposed to the sunlight and get damaged by the UV...?

I think I'll put new split loom tubing on it and this time face the slot downward. Maybe caulk the hole as well, I dunno. What did you end up doing with yours?

 

[Terry Cox]

Glad to hear that worked for you and you are most welcome.

I observed the same thing; rain water following the wires down the SS arch tubing into the aft cabin. Ours also had that same split loom conduit that had disintegrated.

The PO ruined the FRP sound box on our boat by installing lots of snaps for the cockpit enclosure. Some had come loose, others broken off, some gone allowing rain water in thus rusting the speakers and volume control. So I repaired and refinished the box with new speakers and volume control. Turned out great.

Wires from the box came through a small short piece of plastic conduit, then into a SS nipple welded into the frame tubing; four or five wires altogether. I used that plastic wire wrap stuff http://mmnewman1.tru-m.com/heli-tub...anizer&utm_content=1766301x537101477987339997 that helps to organize wire, then wrapped that with electricians tape, making sure I had a good drip loop. No more water leaks there. Ditto the aft cabin port lights and large saloon window.

Went to the boat today after several days of good rain. Boat is dry.

One water source to keep an eye on are the lazaret locker drains. Some times they will become clogged with debris, fill up the trough around the lip, spill over and down into the quadrant area. One indication is a well by the quadrant that will fill up with water from this source then flow into the aft cabin area. Each spring when I clean the boat I use a water hose nozzle to blow out the drain lines. I also keep that well dry and check it periodically for water.

 

[Wanderwind]

Yep, thanks, I know about the lazarette drains because most of the 42's we saw had ruined cabinetry on the port side of the aft cabin due to the drains getting clogged! I made sure they were all draining.

I will have to check the quadrant area. Now that I own the boat, I find it even more intriguing...where is the quadrant?

Ours doesn't have a nipple on the arch for the wiring. Just a hole with a very slight outward lip on it, 1/16" or so.

By the way, I have not found access to the engine to be as terrible as it looks. The cockpit drain thru-hulls are another story. Surveyor claimed they were stuck but I got them moving with a liberal application of elbow grease.

 

[Terry Cox]

Access to the quadrant requires that you remove the aft cabin bunk mattress. There, where your head rests are two large plywood panels on either side of the rudder post. The port side one comes off first on ours, since it rests on a bracket secured to the starboard panel. Removing those two panels opens up the entire quadrant area.

That well, as I recall, is located athwartship behind the rudder post. Ours was full of rain water when we took possession in 2002. I check it each season to make sure it is dry and, while in there, inspect and adjust (if needed) the steering cables, turning blocks, quadrant and autopilot system. I also apply a non-petroleum based grease to the cables and work the system to get the grease inside the cable conduit, oil the turning block sleeves, etc.

This is also the area where Hunter installed the aft cabin heat pump, which some P42s do not have. Usually, the boat will have a Genset needed to operate the heat pumps while away from shore power.

I try to operated all the sea cocks each year to make sure they open and close. Our cockpit drain ones are stiff, too.

 

[Puesta del sol]

Agree on watching the drains ... I did not cover mine one winter and found the bilge full of water where it leaked down inside. Same thing throughout the season. I use the hose to be sure drains are clear. I also have a bilge pump in the rear under the bed. Not sure that it ever actually runs. I test it each spring to be sure.

 

[Terry Cox]

I also have a bilge pump in the rear under the bed.

Good idea, Keith.

 

[Terry Cox]

Well, we did it. We bought a Hunter Passage 42.

Please excuse my crassness.

Congrats on the purchase of your new P42. We think that this model is one of Hunters best built boats. I hope you enjoy yours as much as we have ours.