Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 15-03-2011, 06:11   #1
Registered User
 
OrangeCrush's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Boat: Shannon Pilothouse 38
Posts: 786
Isolating that Mysterious Leak . . .

Hello again,

I've had such good results from my last few posts I thought I'd try my luck again...

I am plagued by a pesky leak on my 1978 Pearson 26. After heavy rain or heavy seas, I tend to find water in the stowage compartment below the bench by the sink on the port side. The area could stay dry for weeks then I could find about a gallon of salt water in there after a day of heavy weather saililng. There was about the same amount of fresh water in there when I checked on it this week for the first time since the fall.

I have tried to isolate this leak but I can't quite be sure where it is coming from. I pulled and resealed the stanchions and I don't think they are leaking, but I plan on checking that again. There is a small crack in the nylon rub rail, the one over the hull deck joint, in the general vicinity of the leaky compartment. It's possible that when I put the rail in the water while heeling over, the water is getting in. I'm going to pull off that rubrail and replace it this week, and obviously I will inspect it carefully when it is off.

Are there any other likely sources of this leak that I should be checking? I would hate to replace the rubrail and find that water is still getting in somehow. I'm planning on using a hose and a second set of eyes to see if I can spot the leak. If it does seem to be coming in through the hull deck joint, is 5200 Marine Sealant the key? Or should I be looking at a bigger fix?

Any advice is much appreciated.

Jack
OrangeCrush is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-03-2011, 06:16   #2
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana
Boat: Ketch, Hardin 45
Posts: 440
Images: 6
Re: Isolating that mysterious leak...

Have you checked around the chain plates?? Or around the port lights? and any place where you have wires passing through an exterior bulkhead or deck?
boasun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-03-2011, 06:17   #3
Senior Cruiser
 
GordMay's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 49,139
Images: 241
Re: Isolating that mysterious leak...

Spray a little talc powder around, and look for drip tracks after the compartment acquires new water.
I suspect the sink drain.
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"



GordMay is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 15-03-2011, 06:23   #4
Registered User
 
Sailmonkey's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Houston
Boat: ‘01 Catana 401
Posts: 9,626
Re: Isolating that mysterious leak...

I've been chasing a mysterious leak in the cabinet behind the head now for 2 years. It's inconsistent, and aggrivating......good luck.
Sailmonkey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-03-2011, 07:50   #5
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 20,420
Re: Isolating that mysterious leak...

Plenty of paper tissues round the spot below deck and plenty of high pressure hose water from above.

b.
barnakiel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-03-2011, 08:08   #6
Registered User
 
marius's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Preveza ,Greece
Boat: malo 39 12mtrs Parabola
Posts: 5
Send a message via MSN to marius Send a message via Skype™ to marius
Re: Isolating that mysterious leak...

What i have done in the past and its work very well. You could try this if you sprinkle some talcum powder in the area you think the leak could be coming from.Check it next time you sail and you should see the run through the talcum powder.
__________________
marius is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2012, 09:57   #7
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 11
Re: Isolating that Mysterious Leak . . .

I realize I am late to this posting; but I had a similar scencario on my P26. Mysterious water in the cabin lockers.

Replacing the window seal cured the problem. Catalina Direct has a kit that works on Pearsons. (I'm not sure if I got the 22 or the next size up kit - but I had plenty for all four ports.
Catalina Direct: Aluminum Window Reseal Kit C-22, CP-25
PopeyeMike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2012, 10:16   #8
Registered User

Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Port Huron, Mi., Summerville,SC
Boat: Catalina 350
Posts: 148
Re: Isolating that Mysterious Leak . . .

A trick i used to use on cars, and I've seen it used on boats also. Find a way to pressurize the cabin... maybe with a blower or a large shop vac w/ hose outside and cabin entrance sealed. With the blower running go over suspect areas (outside the boat) with a concentrated soap and water mix. Should blow nice bubbles at the leaks.
sesmith is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2012, 10:17   #9
Registered User
 
Cheechako's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,478
Re: Isolating that Mysterious Leak . . .

Learn something everyday... I like the talcum powder trick!
__________________
"I spent most of my money on Booze, Broads and Boats. The rest I wasted" - Elmore Leonard











Cheechako is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Mysterious Bolts on Afterdeck ericlo Deck hardware: Rigging, Sails & Hoisting 1 29-04-2010 00:58
Mysterious Rules of the Universe hummingway Flotsam & Sailing Miscellany 60 08-02-2010 19:03
Mysterious Water Leak tackdriver Engines and Propulsion Systems 3 18-09-2009 07:24
Battery Isolator - or isolating switches ribbony Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 10 22-02-2008 14:39
isolating / charging batteries? Doghouse Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 5 09-08-2006 13:08

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:37.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.