Water Leak 26M

[Rube]

I bought a used 26M last year and have thoroughly enjoyed it, though I wish I didn't have to learn everything by mistake... I do have a problem, even when I first looked at it right after a rainstorm, I noticed the rear aft cushions were wet around the battery compartment. After every rain, I notice there is rain in the battery compartment and under the aft cushions. Today I was working on the boat during a storm, and noticed it was dripping heavily down from right above the battery comparment/galley. I removed the power panel, it looked dry. I then removed the screw/access panel covers for the traveller bolts/nuts. The bolts/nuts on the port/galley side looked wet, but not like they were leaking. It looks like water travelled from somewhere else, but I don't have a clue. I checked the outside speakers, they are dry. Does anyone have advice, or experience with this?

[b i l l]

I am in the same boat. So far I have rebedded all the bolts through the traveler but am still getting water when it rains or wash the boat.I will just keep takeing hardware off and rebedding until it quits. With the hard liner inside the boat it could be coming from anywhere. I also would appreciate any input to this problem.

[Crikey]

The actual location of leaks can be very deceptive, because of the liner. Depending on the heel, or the fore/afte angle, water will travel surprising distances along the inside liner surface before emerging. I had leaks at the interior pedestal tube opening that came from two separate areas - one being a boom tract bolt. When I noticed the same thing as you. I also found out it was fairly loose and (at the time) the probable source of my leak. I resealed and over some two months observed a much lower accumulation in the battery area, but not a total elimination - especially after a driving rain.
This time I couldn't spot a single thing that clearly stood out, but simply re-worked the entire deck to hull mating area, including the chain plate calking - and everything stopped - (for now)!
My point is ..... a tube of 5200 and a couple of hours spent outside, instead of being inside looking for the leaks, usually takes care of business.... even when there's no eureka(!) moment at hand.

Ross

[Divecoz]

Rube and Bill ... Humm.... 1st and 2nd post respectively...... No Profile Information .. Same issue... using very generalized descriptions for issue and Battery locations..

[c130king]

I also get some leakage somewhere that ends up in my battery compartment. But I have never seen more than about 12 oz of water. So I am not stressing over it. If I see some standing water in there...maybe 1/4" deep at its worst I just soak it up with a rag.

I recommend silicone sealant around chain plates...that's where my leak was. I can pull off the old silicone and put new silicone on pretty easily.

Cheers,
Jim

[Ixneigh]

On my boat i noticed water dripping in from under the plastic white companionway trim. Water seemed to seep under that from outside and then drip out from undernesth. Its my intention to seal that with some clear silicon.

Ixneigh

[b i l l]

Thanks Crikey and Divecoz, I will try 5200 around outside speakers,also one of the bolts on starboard winch looks suspect but too hot here in Al.to do that job right now.For now a sheet of plastic stretched under companionway steps and funneled into a bucket keeps bilge dry.

[Divecoz]

IMHO....... NOT 5200 for the speakers as speakers come and go..!! 5200 is "rather" permanent....I ONLY use 5200 for beneath the boot stripe and other more permanent devices on deck etc. etc.

Thanks Crikey and Divecoz, I will try 5200 around outside speakers,also one of the bolts on starboard winch looks suspect but too hot here in Al.to do that job right now.For now a sheet of plastic stretched under companionway steps and funneled into a bucket keeps bilge dry.

[Hardcrab]

3M 4200 is for stuff you want/need to remove without breaking something.
3M 5200 is the more "permanent" solution.

I've had good luck with regular plumbers putty for things I know I'll take apart often.
Seems to seal things up just fine.
Zero hassles with remove and replace.


My battery area collection of water is also minimal.
I think it comes in from the engine push rod/ engine cable area, runs under the aft bunk, and collects in the battery area, but I'm not 100% sure about that.
So far, not a big issue for me in sunny CA.

[Crikey]

There should be some sort of consolation prize everytime the source of a new leak is identified!

[TAW02]

Welcome aboard Mr. Rube

My experience has been pretty much identical to yours and where you have found water puddle-up. The battery compartment and the area just above the battery where the cushions butt up against the battery compartment. Lift the cusions and there you would find a puddle of water in the grooved area of the fiberglass.

I found that the water was trickling down the steering bar and into the rear berth area. There was no seal there and plenty of opening right into the rear berth that even a mud dauber or wasp could get in!

So I designed a seal made out of pipe insulation;



After using silicon sealer to mount the pipe insulation to the fiberglass, I also tied a plastic zip tie around the middle portion of the pipe insulation (gently tightened it) but not so tight that it would pull the pipe insulation free from the sealer. The zip tie is only used to apply a bit of wiping force on the shaft and to provide a good seal, much like the 'garter' spring used on regular lip seals found in axle hub seals.



As you can see this stuff is sliced from the factory so that you can fit it around a pipe. A sticky adhesive is applied to it and has a plastic tape that you pull off once you have installed it on the pipe or shaft as I have done above in the first photo.

Here you can see the size info on the pipe insulation. It is available at most hardware stores. I bought this 6 foot length at Home Depot for about 5 dollars. This should last me for several years to come!



Good luck Mr. Rube

[kasmith21]

I purchased my 2004M in April 2010. I was frustrated last year with leaking as well. One major leak was fixed by applying silicone around the base of the steering pedastal. However the biggest leak of water would run down the side wall where the hull liner joint is. I have to give credit to BWYGirl for suggesting to caulk around the rubrail. I used 5200 and applied as best I could into the seam of the deck and hull joint...that seemed to fix 90% of my leaking issue.
Good luck

[Rube]

Thanks Crikey and TAW02. I will try to reseal the chainplates. I also have what you mentioned TAW02, and think that is good suggestion and will do that as well. Like I said, it is definitely pooling directly below the traveller, though the traveller bolts look dry, it is hitting the circular access panel inserts right below the bolts, then dripping out at the lip where the two pieces meet. I had the tongue of the trailer jacked up really high, so water should have been travelling from fore to aft. Do you think the chainplates are the most likely cause? What is the best way to track it down, with a hose? Also, is there any type of manual that shows in more detail how the hull meets the deck, and where it is bolted, etc.?

[Crikey]

Sometimes the hose treatment on suspected leak areas is inconclusive - though definately worth a try! Doing a 'nose high' with the trailer will generally cause the leaked water to show up in one location for confirmation, instead of staying hidden.

The problem is the topside leak locations can sometimes be so small that weather temperature can either open or close them completely. Flexing while sailing or sitting in water during a rainstorm will also an otherwise invisible pinhole to admit water.

It's a tough one sometimes - the 'sledgehammer' approach, of calking everything you suspect can generally eliminate a majority of the usual culprits. Then there's next year .........

[Rube]

I just wanted to say thanks for all the help. I think I found it. I put a hose on the chainplates, travelers, windows, nothing... On the top though, there was a visible crack where I had dropped the mast and had it repaired. A small hairline crack developed afterward, but I thought it would be too small to let water through, I was mistaken. I am going to try to have them look at this again, or try and repair it myself. Again, thanks for the help.