I have a ’79 that I have just found to have water leaking from the light just above the nav station. I took off the light fixture and notice water coming from the hole for the wireing. Has anyone else ever seen this? I am a bit panicked for fear that the water is coming from inside the foam core. I cant feel or hear any soft spots (from tapping). It is obvious to me that the windows have been a problem for the PO in that there are “gobs” of silicone underneath the window trim. Anybody have an suggestions?
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Yes! Water leaks everywhere there.
In my 1981 Cat 30, water comes in through all the old screw holes in the cabin above the nav station. When I did a temporary repair on a leaky window, I discovered the fibreglass has delaminated at the bottom of the window under the frame. The real repair that I plan on doing is to remove the windows, dry out the fibreglass, and inject epoxy to seal it up, and then reseal and reinstall the windows. I found out yesterday that about 2 feet aft of the nav station light holds a lot of water. I removed a screw holding up an old stereo and water streamed out. I was toying with the idea of putting a small drain there leading to the bilge. I'm not sure how far back the low point is. I do know that on my boat, if water is coming out that light, there's a lot more water sitting further aft. Ideally I could seal up all the leaky windows and there wouldn't be a problem, but that's probably not going to happen. Nothing ever ends up perfect on my boat! I would be interested if anyone else has put a small drain there. Consider also that the electrical panel is probably getting wet too. Good luck!
In my 1981 Cat 30, water comes in through all the old screw holes in the cabin above the nav station. When I did a temporary repair on a leaky window, I discovered the fibreglass has delaminated at the bottom of the window under the frame. The real repair that I plan on doing is to remove the windows, dry out the fibreglass, and inject epoxy to seal it up, and then reseal and reinstall the windows. I found out yesterday that about 2 feet aft of the nav station light holds a lot of water. I removed a screw holding up an old stereo and water streamed out. I was toying with the idea of putting a small drain there leading to the bilge. I'm not sure how far back the low point is. I do know that on my boat, if water is coming out that light, there's a lot more water sitting further aft. Ideally I could seal up all the leaky windows and there wouldn't be a problem, but that's probably not going to happen. Nothing ever ends up perfect on my boat! I would be interested if anyone else has put a small drain there. Consider also that the electrical panel is probably getting wet too. Good luck!
leaks
Hi Rob we have all had leaks, and more leaks. I think you should go out and buy a cheap construction tarp to cover the deck and then go to the source of the leaks and fix them properly one at a time. If you stop the water coming in you wont have to drill a hole to drain.Check the bedding on your main sheet traveller supports and any place else where the teak hand rails and trim is attached to the deck.I have found that often times the source of the leak is not the obvious one?? good luck
Hi Rob we have all had leaks, and more leaks. I think you should go out and buy a cheap construction tarp to cover the deck and then go to the source of the leaks and fix them properly one at a time. If you stop the water coming in you wont have to drill a hole to drain.Check the bedding on your main sheet traveller supports and any place else where the teak hand rails and trim is attached to the deck.I have found that often times the source of the leak is not the obvious one?? good luck
Yes
I agree, finding the source is the way to go. I just recieved my window gasket and caulk from Catalina Direct (us Canadians get hosed on the across-the-border shipping costs - $50 US worth of the stuff cost me $120 CAD after paying all the shipping costs!) I'm waiting for spring to seal everything up. In the meantime a tarp is keeping things dry inside the boat. Cheers!
I agree, finding the source is the way to go. I just recieved my window gasket and caulk from Catalina Direct (us Canadians get hosed on the across-the-border shipping costs - $50 US worth of the stuff cost me $120 CAD after paying all the shipping costs!) I'm waiting for spring to seal everything up. In the meantime a tarp is keeping things dry inside the boat. Cheers!
R
R Kolb
My light leaked
I had the same problem, a rusted out light where water entered through the wiring hole. For me it turned out to be a leaking chainplate. Don't assume it is the window just because the window is all gooped up. I also had delamination which I fixed by injecting epoxy from underneath using an automotive lubricant gun. I drilled several holes in the delam area and had several corks to seal the holes up. I drilled a hole through one cork and pushed the needle nose of the lube gun through it. Then I pumped a quart of epoxy through the holes (moving the corks around to seal the holes) and weighted down the deck with sand bags. It is now rock solid and the exterior wasn't touched at all. I used a penetrating epoxy from Dr Rot.
I had the same problem, a rusted out light where water entered through the wiring hole. For me it turned out to be a leaking chainplate. Don't assume it is the window just because the window is all gooped up. I also had delamination which I fixed by injecting epoxy from underneath using an automotive lubricant gun. I drilled several holes in the delam area and had several corks to seal the holes up. I drilled a hole through one cork and pushed the needle nose of the lube gun through it. Then I pumped a quart of epoxy through the holes (moving the corks around to seal the holes) and weighted down the deck with sand bags. It is now rock solid and the exterior wasn't touched at all. I used a penetrating epoxy from Dr Rot.
R
Rob
Leaks
This is very common on the C-30. I just removed all of my windows last spring and re-bed and re-installed them using the same kit as mentioned above. That helped my leak problems but did not fix it 100%. Even though your windows do not leak at the glass-to-frame point, water could be entering where the external frame meets the cabin-deck and travels down between the cabin liner and deck (not immediately visible until it drips out at an obvious point- i.e. light fixture holes). Water could even find it way down into the aft Q-berth area. Other spots to check are the hand-rail stanchions, deck mounted hardware (winches, blocks) and any other cabin-top mounted items. The entire upper and lower deck of our boats are in constant flex due to the stresses of waves, wind, engine vibrations, etc. That being said, the silicon or sealer used to waterproof all points that attach to the deck are going to eventually break down and leak...although the sealant may look good the seal-to-deck may be leaking. It is advisable to use a material RV supply stores sell called Butyl Tape - it is a gooey tape-like material that never cures hard and remains pliable and sticky. I didn't use it but will eventually need to remove and re-seal everything with it. Good Luck! Rob
This is very common on the C-30. I just removed all of my windows last spring and re-bed and re-installed them using the same kit as mentioned above. That helped my leak problems but did not fix it 100%. Even though your windows do not leak at the glass-to-frame point, water could be entering where the external frame meets the cabin-deck and travels down between the cabin liner and deck (not immediately visible until it drips out at an obvious point- i.e. light fixture holes). Water could even find it way down into the aft Q-berth area. Other spots to check are the hand-rail stanchions, deck mounted hardware (winches, blocks) and any other cabin-top mounted items. The entire upper and lower deck of our boats are in constant flex due to the stresses of waves, wind, engine vibrations, etc. That being said, the silicon or sealer used to waterproof all points that attach to the deck are going to eventually break down and leak...although the sealant may look good the seal-to-deck may be leaking. It is advisable to use a material RV supply stores sell called Butyl Tape - it is a gooey tape-like material that never cures hard and remains pliable and sticky. I didn't use it but will eventually need to remove and re-seal everything with it. Good Luck! Rob
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