What do YOU do when it rains?

[spencer53]

So an old friend came by the marina the other day who had not seen the boat yet and we talked at length catching up on the last ten years and wouldn't you know the "what do you do when it rains?" question gets asked right as he's leaving. I am now convinced that EVERY live aboard gets asked this question. Would you not figure that a boat would keep water out and not in? Just seems like the most common question for some reason.

[David M]

I do what every normal person does when it rains...I strip off my clothes and go for a bike ride.

[spencer53]

Way to funny!!

[S/V Elusive]

I would think that, depending on Latitude, you might just do that David. And, if you are out cruising, it is certainly a good time to shower, collect water, wash (clothing, boat, whatever), and then there is the ever popular --- snuggle with your main squeeze!

[S/V Elusive]

BTW - yesterday, on my way to walking down to Margaritaville and took a side trip onto the public docks and out to the side finger next to those three fishing boat and oogled across at your boat - Amazing Grace. Nice!!!

[rebel heart]

We have five leaks that I'm aware of:

- Butterfly hatch. In the forward section, some water drips through. I have some tape over the place where I know the water comes in, so no problems there.
- Forward hatch. No idea where this one comes from; my guess is a joint somewhere (not really the hatch).
- Mast step. Won't be able to address this till spring.
- Chainplates, starboard.
- Chainplates, port.

In a light drizzle, none of them are that bad. But if it's pouring for hours / days, then it becomes a little more tricky. If you have some tape and plastic, it's really worth taping over the leaks on the exterior. It looks like crap, but it's better than a wet boat.

I've managed to fix a lot of my leaks (had way more than the above list when I bought the boat), and it's really a great place to invest some time and money, because a wet boat really sucks.

[senormechanico]

Rebel Heart,

Back in the 80's and 90's we had a Lord Nelson 35 which is an offshoot of a Hans 33.
We had some leaks which seemed to take forever to find. They turned out to be in the INSIDE of the dorade boxes! The boxes are glassed onto the hull, but after the hull comes out of the mold.

The area where the box is mounted was routed through the gelcoat, and then the box was mounted. The gelcoat was filled on the outside but NOT on the inside. Rain or seas if driven into the dorade vent went into the hull and found its way inside the boat.
When I think about the fix, I can still feel the bruises in my forearm from finagling 3m5200 ing into those edges inside the dorade boxes even though it was ten years ago!

Just a thought.


Steve B.

[rebel heart]

Things like that scare me so much. My technique for finding these remaining leaks (not so much the chain plates, because those make sense) is to take some plastic of where I *think* the leak is coming from. If it rains, and the plastic stopped the leak, then I'm pretty comfy the area under the plastic contains the hole.

That dorade box thing souds like a nightmare. My friend on a 40' Mariner had something like that. The water worked its way through about 10' of plywood before it got to the opening in the cabin. Drove him nuts for nearly a year.

[senormechanico]

rebel heart,

It's easy enough to test it. Put a plastic bag over the dorades for a day or so when it's raining.

Steve B.

[svnisus]

When I first moved on board I used to worry everytime it rained and then one day it dawned on me--it's a BOAT!! It's suppose to get wet!! DUH!!
Now I say, the best time to liveaboard is when it's raining and the worse time to liveaboard is when it's raining.
The best is when you wake up and hear the rain on the hatches and don't have to get out of your berth or off the boat.
And the worse is when you wake up and hear the rain on the hatches and know you have to get up, get dressed and then have to leave the boat in the rain.

[Charlie]

Here is a good way to find leaks

Funny Stuff

[spencer53]

Originally Posted by Charlie

Here is a good way to find leaks

Funny Stuff

Shoot, I would think that would make the boat watertight AND airtight!

[deepblueme]

The Engineer would chase leaks the rest of the crew stood on deck and took showers and most of the time the paggengers would hide below.
Keeping in mind this was a sail/dive boat I never understood why the pax would run from the rain, even when they just got out from a dive!!!

[Lancerbye]

Originally Posted by spencer53

So an old friend came by the marina the other day who had not seen the boat yet and we talked at length catching up on the last ten years and wouldn't you know the "what do you do when it rains?" question gets asked right as he's leaving. I am now convinced that EVERY live aboard gets asked this question. Would you not figure that a boat would keep water out and not in? Just seems like the most common question for some reason.

Rain. In the PNW if you spend any time cruising between Sept and May you have to learn to enjoy it. Dry on the inside and wet on the outside. I don't have to go outside. If I do, then that is what rain gear is for. I have spent a lot of time dressed in rain gear. Love it. Living in a desert climate a good portion of the year makes me appreciate the rain when I am back home.

[shadow]

Great question.. I actually thought that all boats melted and the owner had to purchase another one before it rained again.. Please verify or deny this before I purchase my boat. Thanks.. LOL (just kidding) I actually can't believe that people do ask that question.. people amaze me everyday!?!?!