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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

mystery leak - window ? Handrail?

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tod
Deckhand

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16 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/15/2009 : 07:40:26

I have an annoying leak out of the bottom aft corner of my starboard forward cabin window that drips into the cabin light.

I have removed and resealed all the windows (uggh, messy job) and rebedded the handrails and still have the drip, although not as much.

I really don't think the window itself is leaking as the seals look great and there is a very nice bead of 4200 around the frame. I suspect there is water getting in somewhere else and dripping into the cabin through the window opening but I can't figure it out.

any advice would be greatly appreciated!

'85 Catalina 25 TR
#4967, South Carolina

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 01/15/2009 : 09:52:56

I have the same leak Tod. I had assumed it was the window, and put it on my spring "to-do" list.

That leak will rust/rot out the light (I know from experience) I don't want to know what it may have already done to the core in the Fibreglass.

There are a number of threads here on fixing window leaks. I have not done one yet, but it appears that you should pull the window, replace th erotted core, and then get a replacement gasket/window kit before reassembling. You may want to do a search.

Edited by - on

tod
Deckhand

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16 Posts

Response Posted - 01/15/2009 : 12:15:03

Yes, my light is all rusted too. The problem is I bought the window seal kit already from CD and redid all 4 windows over the holidays. I really don't think it is the window that is leaking. where else could the water be coming from?

Edited by - on

newell
Navigator

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USA
113 Posts

Response Posted - 01/15/2009 : 12:55:23

I had this leak also! I think if you remove and rebed your handrail it will stop .

newell

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tod
Deckhand

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16 Posts

Response Posted - 01/15/2009 : 15:52:09

I'll give it a try. Should I just spread a bead of 4200 around each bolt and under the wood?

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Deric
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 01/15/2009 : 18:59:30

I bought my sailboat last September. During the winter months, I discovered that the reason why the light did not work was because the entire metal housing rusted. I sealed windows and rails. in addition, I made a cover for the Cap. The cover prevented water from coming in the cabin from any space near the companionway. I have not had a water leak on the light, near the light, or in the light fixture.

One, two, or all three tasks I performed resulted in resolving the water problem that previously existed.

Something to consider.

Do you have instruments embedded in the hull whereby water could possible seep into the cabin and run along the surface to the light?

Deric

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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1788 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2009 : 09:26:48

If the leak is into/through the light in the rear bunk area, I have the same leak and was told to look forward at the mast hardware connections to see if the step has a leak.

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tod
Deckhand

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16 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2009 : 10:30:49

I never though of the mast step. Could water really come in there and come out the starboard window?

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2009 : 11:17:33

I found when I bought my boat a cabin-top and companionway-hatch cover that I finally installed last year. It stopped several leaks, with very little effort involved in the installation.

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2009 : 13:01:10

John, are you talking about one of those oversized powerboat covers, or an actual canvas cover for the cabin? Do you have a photo with it on the boat?

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2009 : 15:09:25

I would still like to extend the sides to beyond the handrails.

Others here have shown their larger custom made cabin covers that eliminate all leaks into the cabin. It's one way to solve the problem.

By the way, Chris, you seem to have asked the same question back in June in this [url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17648&SearchTerms=companionway,cover"]old thread[/url], and I refuse to change my story!

Edited by - JohnP on 01/16/2009 15:11:03

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5408 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2009 : 22:23:06

Instead of just covering the hatch and crib boards on the companionway, I bought a custom-made "boom tent" made from Sunbrella fabric from Defender Industries that couldn't be simpler and more useful.

It's a 10 ft x 8.5 ft rectangle that I bought for about $250.00 I asked for six brass grommets: 1 in each of the four corners and one each 1/2-way along the port and starboard sides. I use short bungies tied in to hold it down over the cabin top and it keeps almost all the water out of the cabin.

When it's in place, it just touches the back of the mast, it covers the port and starboard windows and goes about 1/2 down the crib boards in the companionway. I like it covering the windows, for privacy.

In the summertime, I can drape it over the boom to shade the entire cabin, while leaving an air gap.

The only thing I would do differently if I ordered another one is to make it about 18 inches longer (11.5 ft), add a circular cut-out for the mast & tabernacle, with a line to tie it in place, and would have added one more grommet on the aft edge - that covers the crib boards, so that I could tie it up to the boom when I want it out of the way of the companionway.

Yes, I could have ordered a "fitted cover" to conform to the shape of the cabin top, but that would not make it work one bit better. If it were fitted, then it would not be useable as a boom tent.

It has been very practical for my uses.

Here's a picture of the boat with the tent on it.

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2009 : 13:28:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JohnP
 [img]
By the way, Chris, you seem to have asked the same question back in June in this [url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17648&SearchTerms=companionway,cover"]old thread[/url], and I refuse to change my story!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Sorry - its on my "round Tuit" list, so I get all excited about these things. unfortunately, all the other stuff will have to come first.

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Deric
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2009 : 18:14:37

I made a cover to place over the cabin top that is modeled from the design in the previously posted picture. Snaps hold the cover in place to the companionway trim, and to the rails of the slider cabin top.

It did the job. New leaks thereafter were isolated to faulty caulking seal around the cabin windows.

Deric

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Deric
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2009 : 18:27:48

By the way, search Companionway Cover in the forum section to find pictures of the cover I made. It made a difference.

I did find a leak by observing the inside of the cabin during a rain storm. Sometimes basic observations works.

Deric

Edited by - on

tod
Deckhand

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16 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2009 : 07:13:18

My frustration is that I have the exact same cover as John from CD, have rebedded the windows and still have the leak. I'll rebed handrail, and caulk around mast step and see what happens....

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3473 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2009 : 07:42:30

Not sure if this has anything to do with your leak but last year I had a leak visible near the mast column. It turned out that opening up the forward hatch and cleaning crud off the oring gasket plus sealing the channel perimeter with 3M4200 solved the issue.

Edited by - on

Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2009 : 16:14:10

Don Casey says to pressurize the boat with a leaf blower and go over the outside with a soapy solution to find the leaks.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2009 : 17:10:47

Pressurizing the boat is one I haven't heard before. I'll have to remember that. Meanwhile, I got the idea last year from another C-25 sailor, OLarryR, to buy a powerboat cover cheap on Ebay and have a hole put into it for the mast with a zipper to the side, only OLarryR's cover was custom made. The one I bought is skarkskin material and it covers the forward hatch (well almost, due to my measuring errors) and extends back in the cockpit to the first stern pulpit supports, covering the companionway boards completely. Actually, I have a little bit too much material back there, which I simply tuck under the cover. It came with straps that would normally go under a powerboat while on a trailer and I use those straps to secure the cover to the stanchion bases. total cost was under $85. It has worked so well that I have bought another cover and plan to have it altered as well, correcting my earlier mistakes. This next one will cover the forward hatch completely. It can also be set on top of the boom and secured to the lifelines for a big boom tent. Here are some pics. On the next one, I won't cut off so much on front.

Edited by - dmpilc on 01/19/2009 17:46:36

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4311 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2009 : 18:46:25

David,

Where did you buy your cover? DO you have a make and model #?

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3473 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2009 : 18:50:54

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2009 : 20:25:56

As I wrote said above, Larry's cover was custom made, and as you can see from his photo, goes all the way to the transom. Very nice job, but too expensive for my budget. Gary, I think mine was for an 18 ft Tahoe (Bass Pro Shops), but the make and model really doesn't matter. Just about any 16-18 ft ski boat or fishing boat cover should work, just not center console and not one with sewn in elastic around the edges, web straps are preferred. The objective is to cover the forward hatch and the cabin top, including the windows. Just takes a little hunting on Ebay, and patience until you find the one you want, and win the bidding. Then measure for the mast hole and side zipper. I took it to a canvas shop for that work since I never learned to use a sewing machine. I think that the first one I bought was a product return.

Edited by - dmpilc on 01/20/2009 22:30:46

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