Looking for a leak

[AlaskaMan]

Couple of questions.
1. On my 26X where the wire run comes down from the pedestal into the aft berth, should there be some sort of plug filling the hole the wire run is in? I can look up right into the pedestal.
2. Also I am looking for a leak that seems to be back in the aft berth in the vicinity of the motor drain. It's not a big leak but I'd like to plug it up. I am wondering if the water is running down the wire run and then dripping on the deck.
Thanks

[pokerrick1]

AlaskaMan - - - Last time I was in Juneau, everyone was pronouncing it with a hard J as in Jew - - - when I was in school, we were laughed at if we did not correctly pronounce it as Youknow. Which is now correct - - - and if it changed - - - - when and why was that????

Rick

PS I'm sorry, but as usual, I cannot solve the problem nor answer your question (but, the good news is, someone else will)

[Nautek]

Hi AlaskaMan

You didn't say if the leaks are when the boat is in or out of the water

A couple of areas to check are through transom bolts for the motor if leaks are when in the water

Chainplates where thet penetrate the deck. I just did mine as they leaked every time it rained.

Where the wires come down the pedestal there is a pipe sticking up above deck level so the chances of that leaking are slim but not impossible

Allan

[dclark]

I've been looking for the source of my leak since the summer of 2000, good luck! The hole in the pedestal is meant to be open (there is no plug for it). It's usually used to run throttle/steering cables back to the motor. I've got mine stuffed with other wiring too (autopilot, gps, etc). There should be a raised "lip" around the hole. That is basically your protection to keep water out of the aft berth. It doesn't sound like much but reaistically it's probably all you really need. I mean the cockpit would have to get pretty flooded before water could run down there and that will probably never happen.

The best think to do is take a hose to the boat and have someone below look for water. A common leak point (there are many) is the rudders brackets. That tends to just put water in the bilge which tends to pool up under the dinette area. It's probably best to try and determine where the water settles (in the bilge or are the cusions getting wet?). Windows leak, chainplates leak, any deck holes leak (like electrical connections for a steaming light, anchor light, etc).

I heard someone mention once that if you srinkle something like baby powder around, run the boat for awhile (to accumulate some water) then look for where the runs in the powder are that may help narrow it down. Not sure how well that would really work. Sounds messy but it might help. Or you could do what I've done and just seal the s%*! out of everything. When it stops leaking, you are done.

[Don T]

Hello,
Might be where the wires and/or the steering cable penetrates the hull / motor well.

[craiglaforce]

Yes, on mine water would drip down the helm shaft and then down through the deck hole via the steering cable. I fixed mine with some expandable insulation foam plus cut part of a plastic 2 liter bottle of diet Pepsi (has to be diet) to make a little rain shield there.

THe other leak is probably the left fuel locker inboard seam. I was never able to seal it properly and finally applied a primative solution and installed a rubber shower mat across the fuel locker opening (just a couple of screws hold the upper edge to the top of the opening.)

[ALX357]

The throttle and shift cables from the control box, IF mounted to the outside of the pedestal, will conduct water down thru the hole in the plexi side of the pedestal, and down thru the hole in the cockpit floor, even if there is the raised tube or lip. I had to put some foam into the hole to keep water from doing that, as it is not practical to stop the water at the plexi hole.

Now I wonder if it is possible to mount the standard Mercury motor control box on the INSIDE surface of the pedestal, and only have the lever sticking out on its shaft thru a hole in the plexi. That would keep all the cables inside the pedestal ..... is that possible, or has anyone done that ??

[ALX357]

'Going to bump this thread, and ask the question again,
has anyone found that the (Mercury, or other ?) controls can be internally mounted with only the handle sticking out of the pedestal on an X. If the cables and wires could be all internal, and the control box be inside, it would clean up the exterior of that side of the pedestal considerably.

[extreem]

I heard someone mention once that if you srinkle something like baby powder around, run the boat for awhile (to accumulate some water) then look for where the runs in the powder are that may help narrow it down.

Another option that is alot less mess to deal with is tape some old news paper inside the bilges along the hulls or where ever you suspect a leak might be. It is easy to determine if the news paper has been wet. then just follow the wet streaks.

[craiglaforce]

Hey ALX, what is that Avatar supposed to be? Can't figure it out.

Regarding your question. I think it is made to go outside.
Maybe if you switch to something like this plus a separate ignition switch?


http://www.shootnhunt.com/boat_controls ... 06820.html

[sailor141]

My was also leaking from the inner seam of the fuel lockers. The dealer fixed it by using marine 5200 caulk. You may have a leak from cockpit drain hose. Its not easy to get to but mine will leak when it gets clogged and the water sets up. All of the drain lines should be check periodically while the boat is in the water to make sure they are sealed properly.