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Rain water getting into the cabin

2K views 13 replies 10 participants last post by  merc2dogs 
#1 ·
Hi,
I have a 1978 Columbia 8.7. I just found this weekend that rain is getting in on the port side of the cabin. The port cushion was wet as was the ceiling below the portholes. There was some water damage on the sole. (It had been raining for a week.
I was wondering if this is something that other Columbia 8.7 owners have experienced. I am planning to take down the teak paneling to look at the porthole seams. Any other thoughts?
Thanks,
Victor
 
#2 ·
short term fix

butyl tape (found at rv stores) was suggested to me here for short term fix until im ready to rebed. i used it on the outside of a couple of minor leaks in ports and been bone dry ever since. looks to be much eaiser for removal than silicon alternatives.... while its not a perm. fix, it is holding up well in the interm.

Quinn
 
#14 ·
butyl tape (found at rv stores) was suggested to me here for short term fix until im ready to rebed. i used it on the outside of a couple of minor leaks in ports and been bone dry ever since. looks to be much eaiser for removal than silicon alternatives.... while its not a perm. fix, it is holding up well in the interm.

Quinn
Another very good quick-fix is Seal-All (yellow tube, red lettering) sold at almost any auto parts store, very good stuff sticks to nearly anything no matter how dirty the surface is. (it laughs at oil, gasoline and water) I haven't found a solvent that dissolves it, and paint doesn't have a problem with it, so I have no qualms about using it as an emergency patch. Whenever I strip a boat for a repaint, I have a tube with me and plug the holes as I go along to sidestep leaks before they happen. Ken.
 
#6 ·
oh

oh, before i started tearing into stuff for examination, i just spent the day on the boat when it was due to rain. while i know water can run a long way from a leak before becoming visible, in my case this greatly expidited the location of the water. heck, you could probably do the same thing with a couple buckets of water....

Q
 
#8 ·
If you have a removable speed or depth transducer, you could take it out and use the hole as the opening for the leaf blower. That way, you can latch everything else down tight. Stuff some wet t-shirts around your hatch boards as you slide them in, to help seal that better.

At least, that's what I'm planning, since I have a couple driping spots to take care of.

Regards,
Brad
 
#11 · (Edited)
Congratulations on the fix! It may be easy to fix, but if left unchecked, it can cause some nasty damage. Bravo.

Regards,
Brad
 
#12 ·
A few comments regarding boat leaks:

1. If you don't have deck leaks, how do you know where to store your buckets?

2. If a leaf, a single little leaf, can clog up an entire cockpit scupper and allow gallons of water to fill your cockpit - possibly the use of caulk has been the wrong approach.

3.
Stuff some wet t-shirts around your hatch boards as you slide them in, to help seal that better.
This is NOT the best use of wet t-shirts.

4.
i just spent the day on the boat when it was due to rain. while i know water can run a long way from a leak before becoming visible,
This is true. I once had a leak that was coming in from the boat in the slip next to mine.
 
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