Water Collecting in the Cabin Floor "Tub"

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Jun 21, 2007
2,117
Hunter Cherubini 36_80-82 Sausalito / San Francisco Bay
Hi All:

I will eventually discover the solution to the below, but perhaps someone on the Cherubini forum has already encountered and fixed:

The 3/4" teak/holly plywood veneer cabin floor in my 1980 Hunter Cherubini 36 resides in a basin molded into the interior liner. From what I can determine, there are no holes in the bottom of the basin to allow drainage for any water that might get into it. I have never actually removed any section of the floor, but it appears that the plywood rests directly on the floor of the basin which has the same approximate depth as the thickness of the plywood veneer; and without stringers to provide a gap between the two. The design seems a ready-made recipe for water collection problems.

Anyway, water is getting into the basin and the teak/holly veneer around some of the edges is darkening from the wetness. Its a small amount of water, since nothing visible is oozing up around the edges. But, I've got to correct soon, because it's just a matter of time before the flooring becomes irreparably damaged.

My fiberglass hull and liner are not sweating, so its more than simple condensation. I've already spent several hours looking/probing for the source, but to no avail. And I have drilled some drain holes at the lowest points of the basin bottom, but they haven't alleviated the problem. I'm suspecting that a hull/deck joint leak instead of flowing between the liner and the hull then into the bilge is somehow being diverted into a crack or gap somewhere on the basin's side. The plywood veneer floor then is slowly getting saturated.

Before I drill through the floor bung plugs and start to unscrew/remove the floor so that I can inspect better, has anyone encountered this situation before? Solution?

Despite 30 years, the original cabin floor had been looking very good after my refinish a few years ago. I would like to avoid the need to replace.

Thanks/regards,

rardi
 
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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
Is this the entire perimeter of the main salon tub? Or is the concentration in one area like around the galley? Maybe you remember how my muffler leak caused the same issue except that I had a lot more water. It snuck under the galley cabinetry but was only visible on one tack. On the other or when level it went into the bilge. It came bubbling up under the galley stove with no way to explain where it came from.
 
Jun 21, 2007
2,117
Hunter Cherubini 36_80-82 Sausalito / San Francisco Bay
Hi Ed:

No, not the entire perimeter. The moisture affected area is around the main salon floor and then forward 3-4 feet towards the v-berth at which point the flooring (and the underlying tub bottom) slopes upward. The area where the moisture is darkening the floor is the lowest and levelest section.

I really didn't think anyone would have encountered this specific situation on their Cherubini H36, but in the remote chance, I threw the question out nonetheless. I'll just keep pressing on.

As for actual sailing, although temps have been fine out here, wind has been almost non-existent for about a month now. Anyway at least for the 3-4 days each week when I'm not in the mountains skiing. Last weekend my wife and I motored out towards the central SF Bay, unfurled the 135 Genoa and watched it hang limp for an hour before rolling it back up. Then we just drifted in the current, enjoyed the sunshine, and listened to the radio. A Marin County sheriff's boat pulled up close to us and hailed -- wondering if engine problems might be the cause of our directionless meandering. Tax $'s at work.




regards,
rarid
 
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