Where is the water from?

[Bryan]

Have a 1994 H 29.5. We consistently keep getting mold to grow in the front of the V-birth. The liner is foam backed and glued to the wall. The wood trim at the bottom is starting to rot a bit, so we removed that. The foam backing on the liner is soaked. Checked the access panels and everything is quite dry from the outside in. No leaks observed around the rails, or posts. And the anchor locker has not been wet or used in quite a while, from winter storage. The fresh water holding is below the V-birth and it's not leaking either, it was dry? So....where is the water coming from.

 

[John K Kudera]

Simply put,

you need to re bed the deck hardware, bow rails, cleats, anchor locker hinges, anything near where water has come through. Plus, the leak may be further aft, and runs foreward if the boat is not level, or is on stands with the bow down from normal. At this point everything on deck is suspect. It is time consuming, but needs to be corrected soon.

 

[martin953]

or its sweat

all fiber glass boats sweat with the change of temps your may be collecting the sweat in one spot. i have found leaks by using washable markers, where they cant be seen ,draw lines on the inside of the hull and then spray water over the suspected area. the drip will make the marker run where the leak is coming from. i had one that about drove me nuts for several months. i rebedded everything and still it leaked. turns out i missed redoing the newly installed(they dont need bedding again i just did that job)running lights, the water would leak in and run down the wires making it look like the water was coming from a completely different place.good hunting.......martin

 

[Jeff]

worked for me !!

Had the same poblem and found out that I had a pin sized hole in the bedding of the large decklight. It wouldn't leak everytime but when it did ( we were never on the boat, it did make a mess. Thank the Lord I had a 10 year old on board with sharp eyes.Caulked the area and have been watertight since.Good luck and good sailing.

 

[robert]

mold in v berth on 29.5

I have a 29.5 with mold also in the v berth walls. I believe it is condensation and the v berth is greenhouse. I am installing a nico vent in the hatch in the v berth this season. we will see if it works.Meanwhile Im using ammonia to get rid of the green stuff.

 

[Lori]

Chain locker?

I've been reading alot in the forums about the chain locker not being sealed and leaking into the v-berth. Have yet to followup on my boat (35.5) to see if that's my problem as the wood at the bow in the v-berth is showing signs of moisture.