Smoke Stack Removal / Rain Leak

[Brian B]

When the smoke stack assembly is removed on our boats the screws need to be sealed upon reassembly. I learned this the hard way after a leak developed months after the stack was removed to replace the GPS wire. I had a considerable water stain after a hard rain on the mouse fur over the sliding window of the first mate station. At first I thought it was the grab bar leaking, upon disassembly I found water dripping from the port running light wires. I removed the hatch trim and then could see between the vinyl overhead and the fiberglass roof where the wires come in. After sealing the running light wires the leak continued. I had a water hose on the cabin roof and then determined water was coming in from the area of the horn. I had been emailing Andrew at the factory and he related that he has seen boats leaking after the stack was removed and the screws were not resealed upon reassembly.
I believe water could drip from the same location on the starboard side also depending on how the boat sits.
I have resealed all the stack screws and the leak has stopped.
I used Folex to clean the water stains on the mouse fur.