Anyone else with a MAC 26X have this leak?

[ALX357]

so what you're saying ? .... is that the sink hose to thru-hull connection might be leaking, water from the surface when heeled over to starboard ?

[Billy]

I have a 2001 X and continually found water (salt) under the galley. I siliconed the chainplates, removed the sink drain--reglassed/smoothed the thru-hull and secured the clamp, sealed the windows/screw holes, sealed transom entry of steering & motor cables, 5200'd the fuel lockers and still had water accumulate under the galley every time I sailed hard.

After several years, I found it. There was a trail down the fabric panel in the rear of the aft berth. The 5200 around the conduit inside the pedestial, though it appeared solid, was leaking. Water would wash over the deck, into the cockpit, under the pedestal and slowly leak under the cockpit floor. From there it ran on top of the liner to the stern, down the panel, beneath the floor, beside the port "tunnel", forward to beneath the galley.

I applied 5200 around the conduit, made sure the pedestial mounting bolts were sealed, and then siliconed the throttle/gear cables where they entered the pedestal. So far, seems I may have found my leaks.

Good luck on finding yours!

[kmclemore]

Similar to yours, Billy, my really difficult-to-find leak was when it would rain it would run down the motor control unit, onto the cables and down through that conduit tube inside the pedestal.

[tjinca1]

Billy,

I'm sorry but I'm pretty new to sailing and don't know all the terminology. Where, exactly, would I look for that leak? is the "rear of the aft berth" the area in the cabin under the cockpit? If so, how would I get to the area where your leak was?

Thanks for all the help, guys. Sounds like I'm not the first with this problem!

[Frank C]

Similar to yours, Billy, my really difficult-to-find leak was when it would rain it would run down the motor control unit, onto the cables and down through that conduit tube inside the pedestal.

Right ... what they said!
I just discovered same problem this past weekend. My throttle control is an external mount on the pedestal, with those cables routing 90 degrees thru the starboard plexiglass, then down thru the PVC cable conduit. Rain, spray or even washing hoses that soak the pedestal can obviously follow the throttle cables. I'm considering a change to the Uflex B-184 - flush-mount with cables inside the pedestal.

But, while under the aft berth I noticed the same sort of drip tracers in the way-back, near the transom. Now I also need to check Billy's suggestion ... the drip-tracks near the transom infer that the PVC cable conduit might also be admitting water along the liner over the aft berth.

[Catigale]

Someone posted a cute trick here about tracking down leaks with talcum powder (corn starch is better for your lungs) to mark the traces...

[Billy]

Where, exactly, would I look for that leak? is the "rear of the aft berth" the area in the cabin under the cockpit? If so, how would I get to the area where your leak was?

From inside the X, look to the fartherest part of the stern and you will see a vertically installed, fabric-covered piece of cardboard, held in place by 4 screws (I think). You may see water tracks down the center--the salt left behind from the leak. If so, the water is probably coming from inside the steering pedestal. The port side of the pedestal is installed with screws and is easy to remove. (The starboard side is bolted and requires the port side to be removed first.) Here you can examine the conduit.

-Reseal with 5200 the conduit where it contacts the cockpit floor.
-Silicone (no 5200 here) the holes for the cables/wires where they enter the starboard side of the pedestal.
-Check & seal the 4 bolts that mount the pedestal to the floor. If you decide to loosen these, seal, & retighten, you will need someone below to help. They can pop off the little plastic plug on the ceiling and access the nut on the bolt.

Since the 5200 is open, I would run a new bead inside the fuel lockers. You will probably need to stick your head inside one to get an idea where to run the bead.

Probably more info than you really wanted.

[kmclemore]

Someone posted a cute trick here about tracking down leaks with talcum powder (corn starch is better for your lungs) to mark the traces...

That would be Richard O'Brien, Steve.

I was the one who posted the other wonderful uses for talcum powder.

[Graham Carr]

Here’s another possible place for leaks; I noticed a lot of water down in the bilge areas, about five gallons worth after a day on the water and no rain. I could not find the source. One day I was installing a shore power connection on the Starboard quarter. I was lying in the rear berth at the stern fishing the wire run and I noticed daylight coming in. I went outside and sure enough, the joint between the deck (engine well) and the hull had 3 inch section with out any caulking. So I packed it full of 5200 and that stop the water from coming in. Apparently when ever I would power down and the water would run on the stern or in a heavy following sea the water would just come in.
Graham

[Hubert]

My X was leaking at the chain plates on both sides. I fixed it by removing, cleaning the plates and sealed with 3M 4000, so far so good, no more water. Just run water from the garden hose on the plates, if it is leaking you will see water run down the inside of the wall under the sink or through the plug holes covering the chain plate bolts, they pop out
Hubert