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Catalina 250 Cabin Water Leak

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Wasbon
Deckhand

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USA
13 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/19/2013 : 15:00:30

I recently purchased a 2007 Catalina 250. I have noticed a few water leaks that first appeared to becoming from a window seal. The more I have investigated it appears the water is in between the fiberglass layers on the top of the cabin. One possibility might be that the water is coming in under the Starboard winch when it rains. The water drips are brown in color so the water is coming in contact with something as it travels through the cabin ceiling. Does this ring a bell with anyone? I am curious if this is a common challenge with the 250 and if anyone has experienced the same issue and what they ended up finding the root cause to be? After one storm enough water seeped into the cabin from a couple different points enough to have the foam cushions under the cockpit fairly soaked.

2007 250 WK #933
Indianapolis, IN

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2013 : 15:56:21

You shouldn't be getting anywhere near that much water into the cabin. Our '97 is very dry on the inside with the exception of the starboard chainplate that needs to be rebedded at some point (same brownish water from coming in contact with something that rusts, but not very much of it). One thing to look at is your hatch seal, if we don't pull our hatch firmly closed, we'll get rain water through the crack between the hatch board and lexan roof piece which will definitely wet the forward end of the aft-berth cushions. I keep a microfiber towel in that area to try to catch any errant drips so the cushions don't get mildewed.

Where do you see the brown colored drips on the interior? Water can run quite a ways horizontally before running down a bulkhead un-associated with the area of the leak. One way to isolate it is to use a dry erase marker and draw a horizontal line around where you think the leak is originating. The water will smear the marker downwards making it easier to see where it's running (and it cleans up reasonably well).

Edited by - on

Wasbon
Deckhand

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USA
13 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2013 : 16:08:46

The cushions that got we were under the cockpit, not in the forward area. All of the water comes in on the starboard side from about where the galley is, moving aft about halfway into the mid cabin sleeping area. I am convinced the brown water is so brown it is coming in contact with maybe some wood with a brown sealant in the structure of the cabin ceiling. The aft most starboard window has a drip at the top. It actually looks like it is not from the window itself but coming through a hairline crack in the fiberglass. I will take a couple photos and post them as I suspect that will help.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2013 : 16:54:10

I'd suspect a few other areas before the winches. There should be an access panel under the winch inside the boat. Take that off and check it out. I had water blowing in through the companionway when my cover failed due to broken snaps. Second, I'd suspect the stantion base and third, I'd suspect any instruments (compass, etc.) that you might have mounted on the bulkhead.

I like David's idea of the dry erase marker but, I'd use chalk.

EDIT: Just saw your post about the steering problem. Check the boot and opening going through the transom from the steering pedestal.

Edited by - John Russell on 05/19/2013 16:59:19

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4306 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2013 : 17:01:49

Dark brown stains would most likely mean wood is getting wet. Rust colored stains are a lighter brown, usually.

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Wasbon
Deckhand

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USA
13 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2013 : 17:13:23

I had removed the panel below the winch. Even though it had been dry for at least a full day when there was some water dripping down a couple of the winch bolts. I went to remove the winch via the bolts, but one of them the bolt turned. I am hesitant to take the winch off from the top, it is a Lewmar self tailing 14, which I suspect is standard. Because it has been dry, I am assuming the water that I saw dripping off of the winch bolts is originating from trapped water that is in between the glass sections where there may be some wood.

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Sailor Vic
1st Mate

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56 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2013 : 05:11:41

">The cushions that got wet were under the cockpit,...."<

A long shot as it sounds like your water may be coming from another area ..... a common area for leakage on 250's is the topside aft side pockets (in the cockpit). The two pockets in the cockpit I have found on both my first 2002 250WK now my 2005 250WK to leak easily. Putting a good bead of quality sealant between the body of my boat and those pockets stopped those leaks.

To test to see if that area is where some or all of my water was coming from with my first 250 I placed outdoor duct tape over the entire pocket areas thereby preventing any water from going into those pockets. That stopped the leaks and after putting sealants inside the lower areas of those pockets I've never had issues with that again. Also be sure the drainage holes in those pockets aren't ever plugged.

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2013 : 05:43:53

What's worked for other owners in finding leaks is to put yourself down in the cabin closed in and have an associate start hitting the boat in one area at a time topside, cockpit etc. with a hose.

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Wasbon
Deckhand

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USA
13 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2013 : 17:07:46

OK, so I think Sailor Vic might be on to something. It's not the whole problem, but it might be the main part of how the cushions got wet. I will seal the pockets and see. I did some more online searching and am thinking of having a Sunbrella cover made that I use bungees to attache to the stanchions that covers basically the whole cabin. Anyone know if such a thing exists already fabricated?

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2013 : 14:40:35

Mine came with a cover for the entry hatch. The only kicker is that you must put a small rubber ball under it, forming a tee-pee, so that the water drains off rather than puddle on top.

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2013 : 14:56:58

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by frog0911
 Mine came with a cover for the entry hatch. The only kicker is that you must put a small rubber ball under it, forming a tee-pee, so that the water drains off rather than puddle on top.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I use a 1' long segment of a swimming noodle. This is the time of year to buy them. I tried a ball, but it kept rolling away. ;-)

The covers are available from Catalina Direct:

<center>[url="http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=1779&ParentCat=360"]

[/url]</center>

My boat came with it. If you don't have it, you will probably have to also buy 1/4" long screw-in snaps to a attach it. It does give very nice protection against leaks, and also can give some privacy while you're in the boat at the dock with the lights on at night (if you have the all-acrylic hatch). Other colors are available on their site.

If you're looking for inexpensive weather protection a tarp over your boom, secured to the lifelines with bungees might work. I bought a white one for just this purpose, but have never set it up. I have it available in case I get a hot, muggy, rainy day that would make me want to open the hatch without getting rain in.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2013 : 15:05:46

On the broader subject of leaks, note that the C250 is VERY sensitive to fore-aft trim. You need to ballast the boat to rest exactly on her lines. If you have the bow low, water will roll forward on the companionway hatch and down into the galley area. If you have the bow high, water will leak into the forward berth through the foredeck hatch.

The gutters around the forward hatch are designed to drain forward into the anchor locker. With the bow high, water accumulates (and stagnates) around the aft part of the gutter, and no matter how firmly you seal the hatch with weatherstripping, the water will gradually leak through into your forward berth (or worse, into the cabintop plywood).

Also beware of leaks in the rear lazarette behind the aft bulkhead. Water that accumulates there can overflow the molded bulkhead support and move forward into the aft berth, soaking the cushions. If it drips down from above, it can drip onto the bilge pump hose and ooze (carried by surface tension) along the hose directly into the bilge. If you have a marine head, the same mechanism can carry rainwater leaks from the holding tank area along the sanitary hose onto the floor of the head. Don't ever assume that the place you find the water is where the leak actually occurs. ;-(

Edited by - on

Wasbon
Deckhand

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USA
13 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2013 : 15:29:17

I do have a companionway cover, I was looking for a cover that is wider and longer. I saw one on another post, just thought someone might know of an existing Sunbrella fabricator that makes custom sizes.

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Wasbon
Deckhand

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USA
13 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2013 : 15:32:13

Here is the link to the one I saw on another post.

http://www.log-frame-gazebo.com/images/tarp_mast.jpg

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2013 : 15:02:25

We had a boom tent made that zips to the front of the bimini and reaches almost to the mast and to the stanchions.

Must admit that I'm confused about the lrak description though.

Paul ( on a charter in the virgin islands

)

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