Water leaking into head area

[Froggy]

Hi all,

I have a '93 28 TE convertible ( one of I believe only 14 or so that were made). When the mooring cover is off and it rains I'm getting water leaking down into the area to the left of the sink in the head. I've tried to track it down to no avail. I'm guessing it could be the instrument panel or windshield where it attaches to deck. Any thoughts?

[zinbaad]

Did you check the gaskits on the porthole windows. I left mine loosly closed and found water on the sink counter after the rain..

[jcollins]

Hi Froggy,
Yes. Me too. I don't think it's coming in from the instrument panel on mine. My gasket is loose. By the way, have you ever posted pictures of yours? Since I have a convertible as well, I would be interested in seeing them.

[Froggy]

I'm in the process of replacing ports with stainless ones but I don't think that's the problem. The water seems to be coming down the fiberglass liner.

I'll get some photos up when I launch her in a couple weeks.

[Elizabeth Ann]

I had a similar problem a few years ago with water leaking into the galley sink from behind the cabinets. I couldn't see exactly where the water was coming from and immediately suspected a port window. I pulled the suspect window cleaned the area and resealed it. After the next rain I still had the problem. After some more detective work I started looking at the bow rail anchor points and the rub rail. The problem ended up being a through hull to deck bolt behind the rub rail. We pulled the rub rail, backed out a bolt or two and resealed with 3M 5200 (I think).

[Froggy]

Thanks! It seems more like the problem. I first suspected the hatch over the bunk but I don't think that's it. I'm replacing the ports anyway with new stainless ones ( it's my boat yard stimulus program). If there is still leakage, I'll move on to the rub rail and the thru hull boats. I've also noted some streaking on the cabin liner forward of the head. The rub rail bolts would explain that as well as the leakage in the head area.

Did you ahve to pull the whole rub rail or only a section?

Carl

[Saltdog]

I'll bet you solve the problem when you replace the portholes. I had a leak on the port side, at about the same spot that your's is on the starboard. It turned out to be the caulking on the center porthole. The water would come in there & then run all the way to about 1/3 of the way down the companion berth. It was very difficult to track down as it took about 1/2 hour for the water that was coming in to get all the way to where it showed itself. I pulled out the portholes and re caulked them and the problem is solved.

Someone told me that sometimes when a sling is used to lift the boat it can loosen those seals in the portholes.

Good luck

[Jack28]

Go for the rub rail. If you look at the rub rail you will see gaps in the caulk. If you re caulk the top of the rub rail it will more than likly stop. Best to pull the rub rail and rebed it . Lots of work to remove the old beding. Mine was leaking in the quater berth. I took the rub rail off this winter to paint the hull and could see where it had been geting under the bedding. Good Luck JACK

[gerygarcia]

Do you have porthole covers? Might help keep some of the water out as well.