MacGregorSailors.com

Having some leak problems; have tried chainplates, etc. still getting water in bilge on my 98X. I notice that there is a hole about 1/2 inch in diameter that the cable for the centerboard enters. Water must be getting in there, but I wonder where it goes in a sealed hull?? Could that be the source of my leaks? Should there be a sleave or seal of some kind at that entry point?

That hole is above the waterline - check the chainplates and other deck throughs for leaks ..

Centerboard cable comes up through the compression post, which I believe is sealed to the trunck. Can't see that leaking.

Check sink drain through hulls. The one under the galley leaked badly on my '97X.

Next is the fuel locker inner edges and then the steering cable where it penetrates thorugh the deck in the center console.

THen the chainplates, then deck hardware.

It is all hard to trace because most of these leaks (except for the galley drain) occur where there is an inner liner to hide the leak from view and channel the water some distance away from the entry point before it hits the bilge.

good luck.

you can also do a search on "leak" and find about a million cajillion posts about our efforts to find the leaks.

It helps to be a bit more specific since it can be a problem to trace down. It almost certainly is not your board cable hole in the top of the trunk which is above waterline.
Is youir boat in the water or on a trailer?
How much water in 24 hours?
Which part of the bilge?
Is your boat well ventilated to eliminate condensation weeping?
Have you checked the cable entry points on the floor of the cockpit inside the console?
Do you have a loop or drip device on the cables entering the console from the motor controls?
Do you park with the trailer nose wheel at maximum height, so the front hatch cannot drain well?
All your potable water lines dry and well fastened?
That's just a start. Let us know if you can't find it.

Thanks for replies...I guess there's lots of potential leak areas I havent checked... I'll get on that. On the centerboard; I still am wondering where the rain water or spray goes that enters the hole that the centerboard cable goes thru... Is it sitting at the bottom of the compression post?

For the centerboard cable to be effective, it has to exit the compression post at the top of the centerboard trunk. Anything dropped down that hole goes to the same place... the top of the centerboard trunk which is of course, open to whatever is under the boat.

Normo, I just read a thread on another website, and one sailor uses talcum powder, and spreads it all over the bilge. I assume you could use a big salt shaker, althiugh I think I'll try baking powder? anyway, the leaks leave trails. might work?

Double-duty is a Mac owner's mantra since storage space is at a premium.

Thanks to Kevin's hint (kmclemore), talc is the best way to help crew shed sand from their feet when re-boarding. I added a plastic canister of Equate foot powder (about a buck) to fuel locker storage near the transom. Its 'second' duty is to dust the bilges for leak detection.

Hint: Cut the canister's top-sealing sticker very carefully. There's a circle of six or eight holes on top, but a razor blade (pie-slice cut) can reveal just a single hole on top, which still emits profuse clouds of powder.

Frank C wrote:Double-duty is a Mac owner's mantra since storage space is at a premium.

Thanks to Kevin's hint (kmclemore), talc is the best way to help crew shed sand from their feet when re-boarding. I added a plastic canister of Equate foot powder (about a buck) to fuel locker storage near the transom. Its 'second' duty is to dust the bilges for leak detection.

Thanks for the shout-out, Frank. For everyone else, here's the original posting with other ideas for using talcum powder.