water between hull and floor

[Tom Novick]

I just took my 91 MacGregor 26 out of a four year retirement for a week worth of sailing in the San Juan Islands. When I got back home I noticed an inch to an inch and a half of water between the hull and the cabin floor. Is this normal, or should I be looking for leaks in the hull? Do other folks have bilge pumps in Mac 26's? Would that solve the problem? Thanks.

 

[Mark]

Water in the bilge

On my '91 Mac 26s I have small leaks all around where the deck joins the hull. After a heavy rain or hard day's sail on SF bay I'll have an inch or less in the bilge. I tried caulking around the rubber bumper that covers the joint with limited success.

 

[Robert Hoffman]

Try sealer

I noticed the same in my boat and found the leaks were from rain seeping between the deck and hull. The solution was silicone sealer around the gunwales top and botom from the outside.It took two tubes (about 10 bucks). A very small bead of clear sealer did the trick. No more water in the bilge on mine and I have it moored in water 9 months out of the year. There are other causes but this one is cheap and easy to fix. Good luck. Check it out.

 

[Richard Galindo, S/V Alzar Velas]

Soggy bottom too.

Sloshing bilges may also be from water "burping" up the center-board-cable-tube located under the galley sink. While heeling well-over on close hauled tack, with a healthy wave chop slapping the hull's exposed under belly, I've noticed water "burping" up and out of the clear plastic cable tube. Too late that time to save some "deep-storaged charts." Solution: use the same type of "stopper" supplied for the water ballast system vent hole to help stanch the spillage. Hope this is useful to you. Happy sailing and keep those bilges dry.  Sincerely, RG.