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water on the floor

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karentc
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/07/2004 : 13:13:25

This summer I have been finding a small pool of water on the floor in the head. I am pretty sure that it is rain water, as there is no odor and very little color. I can't find any staining on the walls (teak?) and only a small sign of puddling on the raised area to the left of the stool. Any ideas where to start looking for the leak?
(1986 Fin keel standard rig) Thanks!
Karen :)

Karen Christensen
Moondance, #5465 1986 C-25, SR, FK, Honda 8
Traverse City, Michigan

Edited by - on

Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2004 : 13:44:11

Chainplates or lifeline stanchions possibly leaking? Although where water eventually ends up is not necessarily near where it is leaking in.

I am finding that the best way to absolutely zero in on these mystery puddles is to make sure everything is bone dry and then stay in the boat with a high-powered spotlamp during a downpour.

It has been suggested to draw chalk lines - plain old kids sidewalk chalk - under suspect areas and then see if the chalk has runs in it after a rainstorm, indicating where the water has come down.

Steve

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2004 : 14:05:04

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by karentc
 This summer I have been finding a small pool of water on the floor in the head...Any ideas where to start looking for the leak?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Do you have any male crew members with poor aim?

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1772 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2004 : 14:27:19

Hi Karen,

I'd put my money on either the window in the head on the port side, or the window in the hanging locker/vanity on the starboard side, or both. If the window on the port side is one of those old ones that slides open, it is a leak waiting to happen.

In either case, the leaking water will wick its way down the inside walls and end up right where you're finding the puddle ... believe me, I know

Good luck ... 'hope you find the leak(s)!

Edited by - on

coach
Navigator

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USA
231 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2004 : 14:36:39

Try a leak on the sink side. I had a leak there and that is where the water ended up.

Just a thought.

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Esteban
Navigator

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139 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2004 : 15:42:02

Karen - funny you should mention that. You just described the exact same puddle I find periodically. Nothing to worry about but at times annoying. Part of my mystery is that it's not always attributed to a hard rain. Sometimes it's there - sometimes not.

Let me know what you discover...

Esteban

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2004 : 16:13:23

porta-pottie? If I overfill my porta-pottie water tank (for flushing) and then go sailing, water leaks out when heeled and then ends up there. Eventually, it stops. That marks the correct height for filling the tank.

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oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2004 : 16:58:43

Is it possible that this water has leaked from a gasket which is part of the marine head? You might try adding a heavy dose of the blue head deoderant to the standing water in the bowl and see if this is where it's coming from.

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Doug
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2004 : 21:45:14

Check the light. When I replaced all the lights in Noeta I found that the light in the head had water in it. There's a lot of deck fittings above, and you may be getting some leaks.

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2004 : 13:15:16

Hi K,

I've had water in the cabin on two occasions...when Calista was a swing and the keel dropped, water there and elsewhere was common...aside from that resealing the base under the mast stopped an assortment of leaks.
It's been seven years since and no trace of water anywhere.

Good luck.

Val on Calista # 3936
Patchogue, N.Y.

Edited by - on

Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2004 : 14:21:52

Two ideas not already mentioned that I found made the carpet damp in the head/sink area. First, the Whale pump on the sink leaked just enough that it ran down the back of the counter and all the way to the floor. During a longer cruise the carpet became damp. Second, if you have a boat with a trailer winch ring on the bow of your boat, that thing, if not properly sealed, will allow water into the area under the v berth. The water will puddle in the lowest stop next to the head. I am not sure how it gets out of that trap, but it does.

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drttu
1st Mate

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USA
41 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2004 : 10:13:14

I have found that same leak on my 1983 Cat 25 and mone only happens on a huge rain and I think mine is coming from the anchor locker not draining out fast enough. I can tell where the PO has caulked some areas in there.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2004 : 11:36:04

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by drttu
 I have found that same leak on my 1983 Cat 25 and mone only happens on a huge rain and I think mine is coming from the anchor locker not draining out fast enough. I can tell where the PO has caulked some areas in there.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Look at the last few pictures on this page
http://homepage.mac.com/fhopper/PhotoAlbum63.html

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2004 : 22:52:43

Karen: I'm guessing you have the same hinged portlights in the head area that I have in my '85. If so, the seals are a possibility. I'm surprised my don't leak. (Looking for wood to knock on...) Also, do you have anthing like a VHF antenna cable coming through the coachroof by the mast--maybe in the head area? Mine dripped a little--I shot a little silicone seal down in the hole around the cable (for maximum flexibility), and the head is dry now.

Sitting in the boat in the rain is the way to figure it out. Bring a good book.

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77Gypsy
Captain

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USA
356 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2004 : 22:46:29

check you seals around the Chainplates, lifelines, and windows. I had a leaking issue on almost every boat I have owned and have had little success finduing the cause. I've come to the conclusion that it is an act of God.

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Uncas
Deckhand

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USA
12 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2004 : 16:56:36

Oh man I have to weigh in on this!. I have chased leaks ever since I have owned my boat. On my '80 C-25 there is a small step between the main cabin and the head. Look at the bottom of that step, on mine there is a small hole. This hole leads below the main cabin deck. There are two wooden inspection plated that are attached to the cabin deck. When you remove these on my swing keel model you can see the keel trunk. This is also the bilge. Water moves in and out of this hole if there is a lot of water in the bilge. I have also had water in this area from window leaks, bow hatch leaks, and the failed caulk around the anchor locker.
All easy to fix. I highly recomend installing a neoprene gasket on you bow hatch cover.

I have had problems with water getting into the cockpit sole and saturating the core of the lamanate. I have re-sealed everything I can think of and still have the problem. I have painstakingly sealed the teak trim at the base of the companion way, sealed all of the deck fittings, stanchions, vents, winches, coming boxes, and cockpit drains. I have gone as far as drilling a hole through the inside liner all the way aft under the cockpit sole to see how much water runs out when it rains. Quite a bit. My suspision is that the water may be coming through the window seals and finding a way back under the cockpit seeking the lowest point. I'm baffled by this one. Anyone have any ideas here. As soon as I find the leak and fix it I will have to repair the cockpit sole because it has become mushy. Before I do that though I need to find the leak. Any ideas??

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