When it rains, water enters the cabin through the pipe and damage my wood table. Hunter 260

[Pichin]

Hi, Happy new year.!!

I have a 2005 Hunter 260, every time it rains, water enters through the pipe from the top of the roof of the sailboat.
the water runs through the outside of the tube and has damaged the wooden table, specifically in the hole in the table where the tube passes.

I want to repair that leakage of water into the interior which obviously is coming from outside through the hole where the tube enters.

Can someone recommend me how to seal the water leak and how to repair the damaged hole in the wooden table?

if it is not very difficult I want to do the repair myself.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

The best way to stop leaks at the mast step is remove the mast to see where water can enter the cabin. It's usually around the wires but regardless of the entry point, any good flexible sealant should help. It also is necessary to ensure all weep holes in the step are no clogged.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Your bio shows a Hunter Edge 27 but you ask about a hunter 260. I just need to ask which one for sure. Former dealer who introduced both boats at Annapolis for the 260 and Edge 27 respectively in 1997 and 2009

 

[Pichin]

Hi Dave, my boat is a Hunter 260 , manufactured in 2005. I correct now that information on the perfil. thanks.

 

[Pichin]

Hi Don , Thank you for your answer, I understand it well and I would try to find the entrance of water and try to seal it, but I would try to do it without removing the mast, that is very complicated for me at this moment.
Do you think that you can achieve access to seal without removing the mast or is it not possible?

 

[Pichin]

What could you recommend to seal that water inlet without having to remove the mast?
It is not much water, but it is damaging the wood of the table and the floor.

I would be very grateful if you give me any idea how to remove the wooden table and repair the damaged hole in the table due to the water.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Hi Don , Thank you for your answer, I understand it well and I would try to find the entrance of water and try to seal it, but I would try to do it without removing the mast, that is very complicated for me at this moment.
Do you think that you can achieve access to seal without removing the mast or is it not possible?

I doubt it is either easy or practical to fix a mast leak without stepping the mast. Everyone I know who has tried has failed. Water enters the mast and has to go someplace. About the only choice you have short of stepping the mast is to ensure all drainage holes are clear at the step presuming your boat has them. That might reduce water ingress but not completely.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

@Pichin
Sometimes and I do not think this is it but using a hose with a pressure nozzle, water will find it's way inside between the swing up companionway slider hatch top. If that is when you find the water, then stop as it will on any boat like that go down and under as I would say.

The most common water leak on top of the table and then spilling on top of the teak and holly sole floor would come from the teak slider stop that is across the up side of the lexan as you cannot see it. You will see a series of about 4-6 stainless steel screws of course oval. What is happening, the silicon of the bottom of that teak strip above or on top of the lexan slider has broken it's seal. You would then have to remove that lexan. This is a two person job for safety from injury also keeping it from falling due to weight. Ouch badly if it hits your foot. Suffered a couple of broken toes once doing it by myself. To get the slider lexan off, there are about four screws hold a teak side piece accessible on each side of the slider companionway hatch. Remove only one side. Once the lexan is out, remove the teak stopper and clean off old caulking. DO NOT USE ACETONE HERE AS IT WILL CRAZE THE LEXAN. Recaulk the entire length of the bottom of the teak stopper and a little extra around the sscrew holes. When you reattach with the screws also put some caulk on the threads. Once done clean off with alcohol. Not the kind for grog or ale use. Har har. This keeps water diverted to the side drip trays vs. coming in. Generally that is the case. Water then flows onto your composite teak and holly sole or floor.

However if you are seeing water coming down that stainless steel post right below the ceiling, that will be another matter but in all likihood, the mast will need to come down and mast step off with compression post removed. I think you have a U.S. Spars mast and mast step but please take a couple of photos one of the mast and the other of the base of the mast with the centerboard line coming out onto the deck. Ok, please post the photos.

Hope this helps you sir.

 

[JamesG161]

water enters through the pipe from the top of the roof of the sailboat. the water runs through the outside of the tube

On mine, that stainless pipe is the fresh water tank vent. Makes a great grab bar too.

Mine did the same until I took off the Fiberglass mast line cover on the deck[cover to allow mast lines to cockpit runs] and located that vent nozzle.

The drainage slots had become fouled. After I cleaned that and did a caulking on the outside of the pipe, no leak.
Jim...

 

[Pichin]

Thank you very much Dave, it is very clear to me what you have explained and I definitely see that the water goes down the stainless steel post just below the roof because there is an ugly "mark" on the stainless steel tube where the water goes down and It has damaged the wooden table exactly in the hole that is close to the stainless steel tube.
There really is little water that enters when it rains but if it has damaged part of the table; I wish I could seal the entrance of water through the mast without having to remove it, but for what you and Don tell me it will not be easy to seal well without removing the mast.

Then also when I fix the water inlet, I will have to repair the hole in the table as it has rotted and enlarged so the table is unstable.

Tomorrow I will take pictures and send them for clarity.

AN ADDITIONAL QUESTION: to remove the wooden table to repair it, the mast will need to come down and we will need to remove the compression post as well or is there any other easier way to remove the wooden table for the outside of the sailboat to take it to repair? ?

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

That is correct. For the record I was included in that design

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Take a photo where the stain mark you mention so I can better assist

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

I have been in touch with the poster by PM and will report back what is happening.