Re: Water in bilges
Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2015 5:35 am
Does leaking money count?
Jimmyt wrote:Does leaking money count?
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Discussions relating to the MacGregor line of trailerable sailboats
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Water in bilges
https://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24892
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Re: Water in bilges
Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2015 8:08 am
LOL
Re: Water in bilges
Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2015 10:27 am
I'm looking for where water is coming into my boat also. The water in the bilge doesn’t bother me that much; it’s easy to clean up. I can see water running down both sides where the stays connect; not a big deal. However, I’m getting water in the V berth (where I sleep) and a fair amount of water in the aft berth (where the kids sleep). My cushions and bedding get wet.
Resealing the windows above the V berth should have fixed most of my problems up there (although we cracked one of the windows!!). I think it will still be sealed. Should have waited until it was warmer, but we want to sail when it’s warm. I think I also have a small leak from either the pulpit or the rub rail.
The aft berth has a little water coming in down the steering cables, but most of it is coming out the back of the liner. If anyone has tips on how to chase this down, I’m open to suggestions.
Jeff
Resealing the windows above the V berth should have fixed most of my problems up there (although we cracked one of the windows!!). I think it will still be sealed. Should have waited until it was warmer, but we want to sail when it’s warm. I think I also have a small leak from either the pulpit or the rub rail.
The aft berth has a little water coming in down the steering cables, but most of it is coming out the back of the liner. If anyone has tips on how to chase this down, I’m open to suggestions.
Jeff
Re: Water in bilges
Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2015 10:16 am
While I have not used it myself, this stuff seems have a reputation of working where there is not too much movement within the joint. Once you figure out exactly where the leak is.
http://www.amazon.com/Captain-Tolleys-C ... B003T6EJ9A
Some posters here who have used it have given positive input in the past...
http://www.amazon.com/Captain-Tolleys-C ... B003T6EJ9A
Some posters here who have used it have given positive input in the past...
Re: Water in bilges
Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2015 1:15 pm
I have used it many times.seahouse wrote:While I have not used it myself, this stuff seems have a reputation of working where there is not too much movement within the joint. Once you figure out exactly where the leak is.
http://www.amazon.com/Captain-Tolleys-C ... B003T6EJ9A
Some posters here who have used it have given positive input in the past...
It is extremely watery. It will seep into the crack and eventually seal it after several application.
I used it on this hat to prevent water leakage on my head. I purposely let it well up at the front. That explains the blob. You can not see it anywhere else.
Ray
Re: Water in bilges
Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2015 2:24 pm
I agree with other posts that - most any leak from topside deck will hit the interior liner and go between the hull and the liner and end up in the bilge, and almost impossible to trace.
I played cat and mouse with a small leak for several years and actually found it by;
- taking out all the ceiling plugs (whites caps that cover access to nuts from the through bolts on the deck)
- taped a small piece of paper towel over each hole
- then ran the hose on the deck for a long time.
I went back inside and sure enough one of the paper towels was wet. Another few hours of screwing around and I was able to track a small leak from the starboard through bolt of the centerboard turning block. Cover the crap out of it with sealer and all is good ... for now
I played cat and mouse with a small leak for several years and actually found it by;
- taking out all the ceiling plugs (whites caps that cover access to nuts from the through bolts on the deck)
- taped a small piece of paper towel over each hole
- then ran the hose on the deck for a long time.
I went back inside and sure enough one of the paper towels was wet. Another few hours of screwing around and I was able to track a small leak from the starboard through bolt of the centerboard turning block. Cover the crap out of it with sealer and all is good ... for now
Re: Water in bilges
Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2015 6:23 pm
What kind of sealer (brand name) did you use?
Re: Water in bilges
Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2015 9:27 pm
Not 5200.
Just the off the marine store shelf type, white squeeze tube
, flexible.
Just the off the marine store shelf type, white squeeze tube
, flexible.
Re: Water in bilges
Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2015 4:24 pm
I had water under the rear berth every time it rained. Here is my check/seal/caulk/top bead caulk list.
All hardware mounted to the hull
Stanchions
Cleats
Chain plates
Hinges
Bow light
Pulpit stand tube base
Windows
Anchor locker drain tube
Motor well drain tube
Steering bar exit from transom wall
Rub rail joint (particularly topside of rub rail to upper deck)
*upper deck to hull transom joint
All the above hopefully was bedded at assembly. Since my boat was only 2yrs old I assumed the hardware was bedded properly. As a precaution I used 5200 and carefully beaded all surface hardware around the perimeter of the baseplate to deck respectively. After sealing all the deck hardware and windows I still had a significant amount of water under the read berth. Finally one day I sat in the boat during a down pour and checked all the potential leak areas from the above list. Nothing. Then I removed the cable cover at the inside transom wall and watched the water pouring down the inside transom wall. The aluminum angle stock across the transom under the motor was never bedded. All the water off the upper deck and cock pit drained to the motor well or the step area to either side of the motor well. The water draining on the step area drained under the angle stock and directly down the inside transom wall to the inner hull. I resealed the angle stock and problem solved. Bone dry ever since.
All hardware mounted to the hull
Stanchions
Cleats
Chain plates
Hinges
Bow light
Pulpit stand tube base
Windows
Anchor locker drain tube
Motor well drain tube
Steering bar exit from transom wall
Rub rail joint (particularly topside of rub rail to upper deck)
*upper deck to hull transom joint
All the above hopefully was bedded at assembly. Since my boat was only 2yrs old I assumed the hardware was bedded properly. As a precaution I used 5200 and carefully beaded all surface hardware around the perimeter of the baseplate to deck respectively. After sealing all the deck hardware and windows I still had a significant amount of water under the read berth. Finally one day I sat in the boat during a down pour and checked all the potential leak areas from the above list. Nothing. Then I removed the cable cover at the inside transom wall and watched the water pouring down the inside transom wall. The aluminum angle stock across the transom under the motor was never bedded. All the water off the upper deck and cock pit drained to the motor well or the step area to either side of the motor well. The water draining on the step area drained under the angle stock and directly down the inside transom wall to the inner hull. I resealed the angle stock and problem solved. Bone dry ever since.