MacGregor 26' Sailboat Ballast Leak

[vince123]

I found water in the battery compartment after each sailing trip. There must be some kind of leak. My boat is a Macgregor, I think 26 ft. Has anyone ever had this problem?

[RandyMoon]

It could be a number of things. The only time I have noticed water in the battery compartment was after a big storm and rain blew in through hatch cover.

Have you dried it out and then seen it come back repeatedly? How much water?

Otherwise, it could be leaks through the windows, chain plate attachement to the deck, etc. I have only heard of a ballast leak one time on this board and it was a manufacturing flaw.

Some other links found when searching on "leak"

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... light=leak

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... light=leak

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... light=leak

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... light=leak

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... light=leak

[baldbaby2000]

Hard to get specific without knowing your boat type. It's amazing how water can find it's way into the smallested hole. I had to add a lot of silicone to screw through holes one my Mac 25. If you can have someone hose the boat down while you're inside that might indicate something. Do you have any through hull fittings that might be leaking? Cockpit drain, etc.

[Len Spindel]

Hey Vince I just went through that nightmare. I recently purchased a '94 26S and had inspected, cleaned and reconditioned everything. We put it in a slip, took it out sailing and discovered water in the battery area. Further inspection turned up water in the side lockers under the settees. I had to trailer this boat a long distance when I bought it and the flexing and twisting broke the seal loose for the two access plates for the keel pivot pin. These are located under the sink (by the battery) and under the floor outside of the head. It was a relatively small leak through the screw holes and the edge of the plate but with a full ballast it would leak out until the water line was level then it stopped. It was about a 25-30 gallon leak. I had to pull the boat out, take out the screws, remove all old sealant and clean the area down to clean gel coat. I resealed the screw holes from inside the tank, sealed between the plate and the opening and sealed over the top and edge of everything using 3M 4200 sealant. I just hope I don't have to get back in there again.

There's my adventure. I hope this helps.

[MAC26X]

I've got a 26X and although my boat normally stays dry, if I ever get water in the bilge it is in the galley-battery compartment area. That's the low point.

1. Seal the shroud attachment chainplate areas and anything else on that side of the boat with windshield silicone sealant.
2. Sprinkle some talc or baby powder on the hull insides all along that side so you can see where any water comes from.

You'll find the source.