Where is that darn leak?

[Bill Yale]

I have an O'day 20 that I purchased after it sat in a garage for 15 years. When I fixed the centerboard I went over all nicks and mold holes on the keel area with resin to seal them up. I also pulled the thru hull and reset it with silicone. When we installed the centerboard we siliconed the screw holes and put a silicone between the plates and the hull before they were secured. I also replaced the silicone between the hull and the deck, around the eye hook, under the pulpit mounts, and around the motor mounts. I took it out yesterday and found water in the front bilge at a rate of 1" an hour. Any ideas on where this is coming from or any diagrams that would show the underfloor construction? Thanks for any information

 

[R.W.Landau]

silicone

Bill,I really don't like telling you this but you made a bad decision with silicone. It is not a reliable sealant.Polysulfides and polyurethane caulking are much better produces to use.Though most of your work should not be in vain, at least for this season. I would recommend redoing it over the winter.From the item list above my guess would be the deck to hull joint. The proper way to caulk or rebed fittings is to remove them and clean them then reset them.This is something that cannot be done with most hull and deck joints. If you used silicone, silicone does the worst when applied externally to a seam. It does not bond well.If you are only leaking while sailing this is my guess.You have to take great care cleaning off old silicone before applying new material. Most things don't stick to old silicone very well.I hope this helped.r.w.landau

 

[mike spikoski]

leaks

billi have an o'day 19 and have found that i get water from the inspection plates in the cockpit sole. also on the self bailing cockpit i discovered a crack in the through hull which was letting in a considerable amount of water. dont know if this will helpmike

 

[Joager]

Eureka! Here a leak, there a leak, everywhere a...

Spent my 1st 4 months chasing leaks to a point where local boatyard recommended re-gelcoating bottom for $2400. Didn't do it but found that 99% of my problems arose from spray and rain from topside. Two main areas. After 24 years every topside fitting fastener was leaking including those at each window. Removed, cleaned and recalked every fastener topside (cleats, stancion bases, mast base forward hatch flange, etc... EVERYTHING. Other area was from small cracks in fiberglass deck. Boat is now dry as a bone. Good Luck

 

[Joager]

Yale message to J. Blossom

You spoke of a 2nd drain port by the compression post. Wonder if this is "home made" or factory? My 20 does not have this port. FYI one of the previous owners had hooked up some 5/8" plastic tubing to the to the sink "pump" to remove bilge H2O. I have since disconnected and removed same.

 

[Joager]

Swing Keel Haul Tube

Had to totally revamp my 20's swing keel haul tube. The underway water intake was unacceptable No leakage when swinging from a mooring.