Help chasing a leak

I

it4llc

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 18, 2020
Messages
285
Fluid Motion Model
C-28
Hull Identification Number
FML28C17K920
Vessel Name
Gremlin
I've got a leak coming from somewhere, but am at a loss on where it is coming from. I've had the boat for about a year and a half. I would sometimes see some drop marks on top of the cover for the 'glove box' on the port side, across from the helm. It was never bad enough to see any actual water, ie it always dried out before I got to the boat. I tried to figure out where the water was coming from, and did some additional caulking around the horn wiring, per some advice. That seemed to resolve that issue. However, about a month or so ago, we came onto the boat and my wife noticed a pool of water under the bench seat down in the v-berth area. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hxd4rbqwmpvwdt9/AAClzYayHOIVGUHFKKz1Id3Ba?dl=0.

As best as I could tell, the water was coming down the fiberglass wall under the tv, but I couldn't tell for sure. There was no evidence of water inside the area behind the tv. To help spot the entrance point, I put some tissues down along the front port side windows, figuring if water got on the tissues, I'd be able to see that later, even if they had dried. I came back to the boat a couple weeks later, and again there was a puddle of water, the tissues were unmarked, and I still have no good idea on where the water might be entering the boat. I didn't detect moisture anywhere else. I'm hoping at best someone might have a specific idea, and worst, someone may have some better ideas on how to track the leak, short of dusting the entire inside of the boat with talcum powder or something. Thanks in advance...
 
My 2016 Cutwater 24 had a hard to find water leak problem. I finally found it by using a hose to spray water on the outside of the boat while a helper watched inside for water leaking in. When I sprayed water under the sunscreen above the windscreen the water quickly appeared in the boat cabin. Caulking around the joint between the sunscreen and the top of the boat fixed the leak. Maybe your leak is coming from some other source, but using the hose to find it may work.
 
Not a Cutwater, but possibly in the same area....My R29 had a leak under the Nav light and it ran a little before showing itself. That was fixed under warranty a few years ago and I was told that they had seen it a few times before ..

I hope that helps.

Rocky
 
hey there it4llc,

Like gsc3 already mentioned, the best way to determine where the leak is coming from is to have one person on deck with a water hose, and the other inside the v-berth watching for the leaks. I would pay special attention to the windshield area on the port side, and perhaps the front of the port side window. Start hosing it down from there and see if you get anything at the buddy seat/glove box area, and then move down into the v-berth to check at the bulkhead by the tv, etc. That should get you a good start and hopefully help you find it.

Cheers,

Ralf
 
Thanks for all the advice - will check it out this weekend and update with what I find...
 
Another Tugnut had mentioned that the solar cables that go through the rubber clamshell was a source of leaks. When I replaced my solar cabling, I found that they were indeed loose. Other cables go through similar rubber clamshells, such as the radar cables. Check it out. While I didn’t have a leak, I did add some silicone for added protection.
 
My C26 had a leak that took me two years to find. The water traveled on the starboard side of the boat ending at the head bulkhead and dripping onto the berth mattress. It didn't do it all the time. Conditions rain and wind needed to be right. My C26 had a slight list to starboard. If the boat had the list to port I belief it would have ended up in the area that you are seeing the water. My C26 originally listed to port until I moved batteries to the starboard side. The leak was at the bow under the anchor roller. There is an area where the deck and hull are bonded. During the build the gap that was to be filled in with resin was not done properly and a gap was left open in the hull to deck. During a rain storm with wind, cruising in waves over 2' or trailering in rain I would find the mattress wet. I am posting pictures below of the area I am talking about. I posted this a few years back on TugNuts and have had several Cutwater C26 and C28 owners PM letting me know they have found the same issue with there boat. This may or may not be your issue but it is worth checking out.
gallery2.php?g2_itemId=64840
 
Thanks Brian. We generally list to port so worth checking out as well...
 
Update: We had some rain here in the DC area, but no leak, not even a bit that I could detect. Thinking through the issue, my current working hypothesis is that the water came in through the portside portholes when I had the boat pressure washed. I had her hauled for a wash, and discovered that I needed to also replace my prop and thruster anodes, so I scheduled another short haul for a couple of weeks later. The short haul includes a pressure wash so I had them go ahead and do that again, potentially causing the second time I found the water. I'll keep checking for a while post-rains to see if I see anything, but this seems to make the most sense for now...
 
I spoke to soon - the leak has returned a couple of times. I finally figured out where it is 'exiting' from inside the boat, but still am at a loss for where it is getting in in the first place.

Here's where the water is exiting inside the boat into the bench area on the port side.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wold2udneg4njtb/IMG_3574.jpeg?dl=0

Here's where it is collecting:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fzc0zfsm73m3vpb/IMG_3575.jpeg?dl=0

Looking up from that area, to the ledge above the A/C vent, you can see an area where the water has been coming out:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/txab57nva5pibql/IMG_3573.jpeg?dl=0

I've caulked the top and side of the port side windshield, I've caulked the front of the side glass on the port side, I've caulked around the base of the roof rack where it attaches on the front, port side. She still leaks though. Any other suggestions on where to look? I even tried taking my borescope into the side between the dash and the side of the boat, but can't see much there. I've tried spraying with a hose, but got no leakage at all... Based on the height of where the water is existing, it seems like it must be the roof or the side window area, but maybe I'm missing something. Any more suggestions will be appreciate.
 
Maybe it’s coming from the inside and not the outside. Anything piping or pluming or AC run along port side?
 
I saw some wiring when I ran the borescope, but no piping. The water tank is lower than the leak, and the first couple of times I noticed the leak, I think the water tank was still empty from winterization. The leak is coming from above, ie higher, than the A/C vent, and I believe that vent is roughly in line with the actual A/C, if not higher, so I don't think it could be the A/C either. Also, I only seem to get the water post-rain. Barring additional suggestions, or a brainflash, I think my next attempt will be to caulk everything else topsides...
 
If you look at the photos I posted in my last post showing the bow leak. (I would inspect the area under the bow roller to confirm it is not leaking there) You will see a photo showing the rub rail screws with no sealant. I would take a hose with water spraying the full length of the rubber rail. Concentrate on the bottom side of the rail. There is a good possibility it is coming in through the deck to hull fit and the rub rail area. This was done poorly on my C26 Cutwater. There were areas that the rub rail fit was terrible and the factory added a thick layer of caulk. If there is a void in there it will leak. It could be all the way in the bow and leaking back at that area. Water will find an opening if it is there. Work the hose the full length of the boat with the spray nozzle close to the rub rail spraying water all around it.
 
Thanks Brian. I had looked at that possibility but thought that the heights didn't seem to work, meaning that the height of where the water could come from at the bow wasn't high enough to make it to where it is leaking inside the boat. However, I am deferring to the expert here and will check that out again this week, both visually and with the hose. All my spraying before had been focused on the windshield and roof, so I'll try spraying the bow pulpit area as well. I'll keep you posted...
 
Spray along the complete rub rail top and bottom too.
 
I finally got a chance to do some more digging on this. I used some silicon on a gap in the rub rail on the side where 2 strips of material met, but that didn't fix the issue. I started taking down the headliner to see if I could trace it backwards, before taking off all of the rub rail and sealing it all up. The first pic shows where the water is coming out in the cabin, on the end of the headliner piece above the bench seat and A/C vent in the v-berth area.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/yzs7swdu4t5o386/IMG_3667.jpeg?dl=0

Above this area there are the bolts for one of the midship cleats but these seem like they are probably too far to the side to drip onto the wood in the right spot to make this stain. Alternatively, this is where the 2 sections of fiberglass meet up. In the pic below, you can see the shiny white side of the fiberglass on the inside, and the rough backside of the hull. I think that the drip is most likely coming from between the 2 pieces that are in the top part of this picture:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8sgjiwbhzcobjnj/IMG_3669.jpeg?dl=0

If that's correct, then the question is where could that be coming from. I believe this would put it above the rub rails, which are below the cleats, and the inside top fiberglass doesn't extend all the way out to the hull as best as I can see. However, other than the deck hatches, or perhaps something around the windlass, I don't know what else it could be. Any and all suggestions welcome...
 
I finally got a chance to do enough spraying to figure out where the leak is originating, and it’s the front, port side hatch on top. From prior posts it seems like replacing the foam seal under the hatch is the way to go with this, potentially using some silicone as well. (Please chime in if there is a better method.). My question is how to actually remove the hatch. I can see all of the screws around the outside, but there are some screws for which accessing them requires opening the hatch at least 90’. However, the roof rack goes over the top of the hatch so I can’t open the hatch that far. So, to remove the hatch, do I need to remove the roof rail, which also means removing the solar panel, or can the pins on the hatch hinges be worked out so that the glass portion can just be taken off?
 
Thanks for the suggestion - I was overthinking this one. I believe the screws are square drive so the 2nd style should work.
 
I wasn't overthinking after all. There are about 4 screws to a side, and the screws on the hinge side are totally inaccessible unless the hatch is open past 90', or if you push the hinge pins out so you can lift the top up enough to access all the screws. The hatch came out, old seals and silicone removed, new weatherstripping put on, silicone dabbed into the screw holes and around the whole flange, hatch replaced, screws bedded with butyl tape and put back in. I'm almost hoping it rains this weekend so I can confirm the leak (fingers crossed) is fixed.
 
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