Wet interior of M-26

[blackdogleader]

After a rain, I find water in the space beneath the aft sleeping area. To run down the source of the leak(s) I tape paper towels high in the hull interior hoping to find wet paper towels following a rain which will lead to the leak source.

I have not installed any item that requires thru hull screws or other fasters which might penetrate the hull.

 

[alexco38]

When I had my M-26, after a lot of tracing around with food coloring dye etc, finally found the sources. The chain plate and stanchion base.

Once water gets inside, it travels all over the place.

I use food coloring soaked cotton make up pads. Different color for each section.

You can use a garden sprinkler to simulate rain. It may take hours !!

 

[Sumner]

Not sure if the M-26 means you have a M or just M for MacGregor. We have a S. If you have a S or D also check to see if the cockpit drain lines that go through the Laz are ok. If the hose clamps there are loose and/or the lines are plugged with junk from the cockpit they can leak after a rain.

On our it was the chain plates at the shrouds and a little around the windows. Some 3M 4000 and about 30 minutes took care of that,

Sum

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[finding41]

Welcome to the site. There is this stuff called Butyl tape. Great stuff! You will only need a roll.
I found every piece of hardware on top of my boat leaked into the cabin. I could almost predict rain by looking inside the bilge! Butyl It fixed all that! Here is a link. http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/butyl_tape
I even used it on my truck.
Note: First picture, top hole is flanged or tapered correctly. Bottom is not.

 

[Ray Bowles]

A good trick to view areas that you can't get down into is to use a digital camera and display it on your lap-top. That was how we found a leak in an area that even the kids could not get into.
Ray