Water in the foreword berth compartment

[DanMD]

My 2016 Catalina 315 accumulates small amounts of fresh water repeatedly. The compartment is above the water level just behind the anchor locker. Sailing even in rough seas, heeling over, plowing through waves does not cause water to accumulate. The anchor locker is dry with no apparent defect. Hull also has no apparent defect. Any ideas on where the water is coming from?

[pesarsten]

Try checking the hull to deck joint with some brown paper towels. Also you said fresh water? Is the boat on a lake?

[DanMD]

The sailboat is in the Gulf Coast ie saltwater. The compartment however is above the waterline and water only accumulates while at the dock presumably from rain or washing the boat. I stated fresh water but that is an assumption and could be incorrect.

[tkeithlu]

Welcome to the forum, DanMD.

From your description it sounds like the water is coming from above, not below, but if you are on salt water check the salinity to make sure.

Then: There is a long list of possibilities. Eliminate those too far aft or two low on the boat for gravity to have gotten water to that location. Look for water stains, starting where you see water and moving upward. Use pesarsten's paper towel trick where you suspect a leak.

The usual suspects are the hull/deck joint plus every single fitting attached to the deck, starting with the chain plates and on to winches, pulleys, and cleats. They are bedded to prevent this, but that bedding fails.

Finding the leak(s) is of some importance. Water may be leaking into the core material under the deck, resulting eventually in the dreaded "soft deck" that is a PITA to correct and reduces the value of the boat.

Good luck with it.

[chris mac]

My advice would be to pick a nice day and (after cleaning up any water present) wash the boat. Concentrate on small areas and check for water intrusion after each section.
Also start at low points, such as in the anchor locker. Anywhere the water may accumulate while washing.
This should at least let you know if it is a deck leak. If nothing leaks, then it would most likely be a leak in your fresh water system. or possibly condensation buildup, but that's rarely any significant volume
Good luck

[fox9988]

Possibly leaking from the fresh water tank?

[DanMD]

Thanks. Appreciate your advise !
I’ll follow through with your suggestions and see where it leads.

[ttex]

I would look at where your anchor chain comes out of the deck.

[SaltyMetals]

Leaking hatch seal??

[skipmac]

As disgusting as it sounds (and is), unless you have a way to test salinity, taste the water IF of course it doesn't have oil and doesn't appear otherwise too nasty. You might want to rinse your mouth well and gargle with a bit of 50% ethyl alcohol after (don't swallow, at least the first rinse ). That way you can be sure if it's from the ocean or not.

I know tkeithlu did say every single fitting but it might be worth mentioning specifically the stanchions bases. Very common source of leaks along with the hull/deck joint. I also like the suggestion to check the hatch seal, also a common source. If the compartment is fairly small there shouldn't be too many likely candidates.

It can also help to try to establish a relationship and possible cause and effect. Does the water appear after a rain, deck washdown or???

[svfinlandia]

Originally Posted by DanMD

My 2016 Catalina 315 accumulates small amounts of fresh water repeatedly. The compartment is above the water level just behind the anchor locker. Sailing even in rough seas, heeling over, plowing through waves does not cause water to accumulate. The anchor locker is dry with no apparent defect. Hull also has no apparent defect. Any ideas on where the water is coming from?

It’s condensation. Happens in my boat and I have to mop it out about every six months or so.

Al, S/V Finlandia

[GordMay]

I see that the Catalina 315 has a proprietary “T-Beam MastStep” arrangement, that employs a compression post, that passes through the deck, to ensure that it is, indeed, the post that supports the rig, and not the surrounding fiberglass deck.
Could that penetration be the source of your fresh water leak?

[Bay Breeze]

Here’s where we found our mystery leak:

https://shoalsailer32.blogspot.com/2...again.html?m=1

Good luck!

[c.K.]

Originally Posted by svfinlandia

It’s condensation. Happens in my boat and I have to mop it out about every six months or so.

Al, S/V Finlandia

hey.Condensation is what I had in my catalina 27 in the same spot and even today in my present boat 33 csy show the same thing at the very tip of the V birth
I just lifted the tip of the cushion to keep air going around

[Tetepare]

We had a leak that ran over 20’ before becoming visible. Point is you need to find the source, and it may be anywhere and may surprise you. Do what Chris Mac said; start low rear and SLOWLY work your way forward. Cabin top last.