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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Replacing lens on front hatch.

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roberthodge
Deckhand

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USA
4 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/12/2011 : 21:43:53

Following heavy rains there is water in the bilge. Pouring water around the front hatch, there is water leaking in. It appears that the sealant around the lens is old and leaking. Does anyone have experience replacing the lens?

PS. We bought Frank Callo's '89 C25, winged keel. Love the boat.

rlh

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2011 : 06:29:47

Are you talking about the little skylight on the bow?

That was one of the few posts on teh Iris blog that blogger didn't trash the photos of...

http://littleboatiris.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-08-03T15%3A37%3A00-04%3A00&max-results=6

I think the shop drawing of the lens is in the tech tips section someplace.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2011 : 06:41:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Are you talking about the little skylight on the bow? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Catalina had done away with that by '89 Chris, he's talking about the hatch lens/window. Sorry Robert,I've got no experience with that but I'm sure someone that does will chime in shortly. You're sure it's the lens sealant and not the hatch gasket? A cracked anchor locker drain hose is a frequent culprit for this sort of thing too.

Edited by - DaveR on 03/13/2011 06:45:55

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2011 : 09:31:28

Welcome to the forum, Robert! Looks like Catalina Direct has your [url="http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=351&ParentCat=464"]kit[/url]. Although looking again, this is probably for the hatch itself, rather than the lense-to-frame seal. You can talk to them...

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 03/13/2011 09:33:40

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4311 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2011 : 16:05:08

Let me know what you find out because mine is leaking too but mine is leaking around the hatch dog on one side where the lens has a small hairline crack. It's also getting hazy.

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2011 : 06:25:49

You'll want the gasket kit Stinkpotter posted above if that's what you think is leaking. But it may be the lens seal as that was the culprit to mine.

If your lens is worn (hazy or scratched), then you can get the replacement lens.
http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=1554&ParentCat=451

Here's the sealant they sell.
http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=1052

I had to reseal my lens to its frame because of leaking. I don't think the hatch gasket leaked, although it too could use replacing along with the lens.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 03/14/2011 06:28:03

roberthodge
Deckhand

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USA
4 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2011 : 07:36:06

I'm loving all the help–-this is truly an online community.

I got out to the boat yesterday. I poured water into the anchor well and then watched from inside to see if the hose leaked. No leakage there. Frank had wrapped the hose to prevent even the possibility of leakage. :-)

Some have suggested that the problem is with the gasket. Partly true. I replaced the old and the new shrunk a bit and there was leakage. I cut a little piece out of the scrap and filled in the space, but it's prone to wiggling loose. I will be ordering a new gasket to replace the months-old gasket to remove any worry.

But the real culprit seems to be the sealant. I've got duct tape over the sealant at the upper rim of the hatch. In yesterday's bucket test there was no leakage at all, making me think I might not have a problem. Then I went over to a friend's newer C309 and poked around on the sealant that holds a similar lens into their hatches. Very firm. No moving around. So I'm convinced of the efficacy of removing the old sealant and replacing it. They way mine is now, when it's wet and I press my thumb into it, little air bubbles come out of the seam.

I'll be ordering from Catalina Direct, getting the sealant and a new lens (their recommendation) and will also go ahead and replace the o-rings on the hatch dogs just as preventive maintenance. I'll report on how that goes.

I'm super eager to not have any leaks.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2011 : 07:48:52

I thought the lexan hatches were aftermarket - man you guys with the '89 models got all teh cool stuff. My boat shoulda waited 5 years to be born.

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2011 : 08:54:13

Yea, the lenses are an awesome addition. Only drawback is they get scratched and foggy.

Edited by - on

Patrice C25
1st Mate

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78 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2011 : 11:35:37

I did change my 'skylight'.
Removed the old one, make shure the cavity is clean, no residue.
I used good 3M5200 to glue mine.
Never leaked for the last 3 years.
Before glueing in place, make shure it is not to thick.
Did a little bezel around on the top side of the skylight.

Edited by - on

roberthodge
Deckhand

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USA
4 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2011 : 13:24:05

We had a heavy rain last night and a steady rain this morning. I got out to the boat after lunch, about an hour (once again) AFTER the rain had ended. The tarp under the front hatch was DRY. No drops hanging on the hatch lid. Hmmm. A little bit of water was in the bilge. Several small drops of water were on the wooden post that is directly under the mast, but none of the little holes in the ceiling were dripping water (plugged thoroughly it appears). I'm wondering if I'm getting water through the back slats, as there may be water running down the wire that runs through the slats out to the solar panel hanging off the lifelines.

I still plan on replacing the sealant in the front hatch, as it is old and the parts are ordered. Bad idea? Good idea?

Next time it rains, I promise to drop whatever I'm doing, leave whatever committee meeting, and head out to the mooring while it's still pouring.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2011 : 14:13:42

Water can find its way to the bilge from many places--the cockpit scuppers in the transom, anywhere along the rub-rail, the windows (especially on older models with aluminum frames),... Some people obsess over it, and others consider it to be a normal condition of a sailboat. (Still others get very lucky and have dry bilges.)

Most of us have had rain come in through the companionway hatch-boards (the "back slats" you mentioned?)--about the only real prevention there is something like a canvas cover over the companionway, which several people here have made. But a little rainwater on the cabin sole is pretty harmless.

However, I'm uneasy over your report of moisture on the "compression post" (under the mast). You don't want that rotting--it keeps the mast from pushing the cabintop down, and thereby maintains the tension in the rig. Possible culprits are the tabernacle (the mast base bolted to the deck) and the deck plug for the mast wiring. This could also suggest moisture is getting into the plywood core between the deck and the headliner, where it can rot the wood. I'll suggest you investigate that further--you might find that the tabernacle needs to be removed and re-bedded the next time the mast comes down.

And speaking of re-bedding, Patrice mentioned using 3M 5200 on his skylight (something you don't have)... I strongly recommend against using 5200 for anything on a boat (except maybe the hull-deck joint or the keel). It is a polyurethane construction adhesive that makes removing and re-bedding anything at a later time very difficult. I have removed deck hardware somebody else mounted with 5200 and it pulled up the gelcoat under the hardware, which is not easy to do. The best all-purpose caulk/bedding compound is polysulfide-based, such as Boatlife's Life-Calk. (Yup--that's how they spell it.) If bedding a plastic item to the deck, Life Seal is arguably more compatible, although I haven't noticed a problem with Life-Calk.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 03/15/2011 14:22:09

roberthodge
Deckhand

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USA
4 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2011 : 14:23:07

Thank you for your thorough reply.

The compression post seems very solid. I felt around up top and on the plywood next to the potty and found no moisture. I know I've got to get out to the boat during a downpour to know what I'm dealing with. Do you think the moisture could have been from evaporation, since the post is heavy and would hold a cooler temp longer as the air rises toward the ventilation fan? Or is that wishful thinking? :-) I noticed a couple of drops in the railing for the accordion door. Not a lot, just a drop or two. So I grabbed a screwdriver and loosened the piece only to discover it dry as bone. The mystery continues. I also went on deck and poured a few cups of water around the tabernacle and nothing more came down. I'll try again with more water later.

Catalina Direct is sending a Dow Corning product to use for the lens. http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=1052

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2011 : 14:32:48

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by roberthodge
 ...Catalina Direct is sending a Dow Corning product to use for the lens. http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=1052<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">They know what's best for that particular application. Sometimes I say more than I know.

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2011 : 17:06:25

A suggestion - using either chalk, or washable markers or what have you, draw a circle around suspicious leak points on the inside of the hull (obviously not on wood). Next time you are on the boat check for runs in the marker/chalk and you will have an idea of where water is running on the boat. Some spots I suggest looking at a little more closely:

The ceiling of teh quarter berth
The cockpit drains
Teh grab rail screws
The windows
The anchor locker
Inside teh little stowage spot at teh front of the vee berth

You may find that there are more leaks than you think. You may not. I would be surprised if your condensation theory on the compression post proves true. I have had no trouble with condensation specifically at that point, adn we get pretty cool at night here.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2011 : 21:59:33

We've had some major "dew" in mornings when the two of us were sleeping over a cool night, but it was generally on the exterior fiberglass surfaces--not the interior bulkheads and other wood. If you have a solar vent (you mentioned a fan), you should have no condensation inside. A few isolated drops suggest a leak. It doesn't have to be a big one to be a problem for your deck core and compression post. Also, check your upper-shroud chainplates that go through the deck and are bolted to the cabin bulkheads--you don't want moisture getting to those bulkheads. (You'll probably see stains on the teak bulkheads if there's a problem.)

Edited by - on

glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2011 : 03:48:58

We had a similar issue on our '89 WK - maybe/hopefully. After a good rain we would find a teaspoon or so of water at the base of the compression post or in front of the head. After much searching it turned out our leak was at the base of one of the hatch dogs...i.e. the O ring between the hatch dog and the hatch itself was split. CD sells the [url="https://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1858"]kit[/url] to repair and recommends lubricating the O rings annually...
Good luck.

Edited by - glivs on 03/16/2011 03:54:22

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2011 : 04:08:03

OK I thought you'd get a kick out of this..

So I replaced the deadlight with great care... And the first Grlfrnd that slept up there wanted to put duct tape over the light. Now I'm actually thinking of a sliding cover....

And the list goes on... ( dum dum dah dum ) And the list goes on...

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2011 : 06:54:53

The first girlfriend??!!?? How many are there? You are living the dream buddy!!

I replaced ours with a smoked lexan lens and have been very happy with it so far. If you need to cover it I would suggest this is a good spot for velcro. A strip on either side, and a little patch of dark fabric. I may even do that now that I think of it.

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2011 : 08:59:25

All the power to you, Ray!

Based on the great info I got from this Association Forum, I saved $400 by caulking permanently my car's sunroof with 3M 5200.

The car dealer said the sunroof window needed to be replaced. He said they couldn't fix it.

So I masked both sides of the glass-gasket seal and worked slowly laying down a 1/4" bead of black colored 5200. The sunroof has not leaked since. 3M 5200 adhesive is good in this application since I never plan to remove the sunroof from its gasket, and the whole assembly rides on tracks that are away from the water seal!

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2011 : 11:53:04

<< a good spot for velcro >>

Very good suggestion.. Thank You Prospector!

And livin the Dreammmm.. is more like the nightmare...

but alone on the boat it ain't too shabby...

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2011 : 21:30:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">..Catalina Direct is sending a Dow Corning product to use for the lens. http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=1052

They know what's best for that particular application. Sometimes I say more than I know.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
When I got my window/portlight reseal kit, they apparently ran out of the "special" sealant and substituted 4200 - it went on the shelf in the garage. There are special sealants for glass in frames, but for everything else you know of what you speak. All Praise Polysulfide!

Edited by - on

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