[C320-list] Leak at Instrument Pod Support Tubes

[Dave Hupe]

Thanks Graeme -
Do you remember if the deck is solid fiberglass where the tubes attach (hopefully not cored)?
Dave

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  On Sat, Apr 27, 2019 at 8:17 AM, Graeme Clark<cg at skyflyer.co.uk> wrote:   Dave

I had the same problem and took the opportunity to try and fix it whilst installing a new instrument pod which necessitates removing and extending the steel hoop that it is attached to that bolts to the floor
My memory on the precise fixing arrangements is hazy but I seem to recall that the brackets are just screwed into the deck and not thru bolted
There is then a large hole in side of the bottom of the stainless tube into which the horizontal bolt of the bracket locates. It’s a short bolt so you don’t end up clamping any cabling in the tube!
The biggest job for me was thoroughly cleaning off all the silicone and mastic that the previous owner had slapped over everything to try and stop the leak
I then rebedded using butyl and so far all has been good
However there are other area (especially when sailing in the rain!) that allow water into the binnacle and from there it drains into the box I. The aft cabin that protects the steering gear
I decided to accept that but drilled a small hole in the he aft cabin wall a bit lower than the existing one to act as a drain. I painted the inside of this hole with epoxy When I replaced the box I used butyl between its aft face and the aft cabin wall
Now any water that gets through will drain through the aft cabin wall and run down into the bulge
Hope this helps
Graeme
#366, 1996

Sent from mobile: please excuse typos etc.!


> On 27 Apr 2019, at 10:18, Troy Dunn <troutwarrior at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Dave-
> 
> No real help here, but figured I'd respond since I have experienced this
> leak and because you have a yahoo account your posts will be flagged as
> spam by anyone using gmail; hopefully my response will at least bump your
> question into the daylight for all the gmail folks.
> 
> My fix for this leak was to buy a brand new chartplotter and autohelm and
> let the yard install it.  That's a really expensive way to fix the leak.
> I suspect these leaks are created not by the guard attachment bolts, but by
> the relatively large hole that has to be drilled to accommodate the cabling
> and the poor design of the guard attachment to protect this hole from water
> intrusion.    Water can find its way to through that hole through a variety
> of paths.  I did find that with a properly tensioned and newer bimini that
> actually sheds water, and a well fitting helm cover this issue would go
> away.  That didn't mean I always had the foresight to ensure these things
> were up before retiring for the evening...
> 
> Good luck, hopefully someone with a lot more experience at fixing your
> issue will reply.
> 
> Troy Dunn
> Hull #514
> 
>> On Wed, Apr 24, 2019 at 2:37 AM Dave Hupe <hoopdtwo at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I've developed a slow leak related to one of my stainless steel tubes for
>> the instruments/engine control panel wiring that extends into the cockpit
>> floor.  This just showed up after uncovering the boat. The leak is evident
>> by a trail of seepage down the back inside wall of the aft bedroom
>> (apparently dripping into the pan above the bed that covers the steering
>> idler pullies, with the water then slowly working its way out the aft end
>> of the pan).
>> Each stainless tube has a bracket at the bottom secured with 2 vertical
>> bolts (Philip head) extending into the cockpit floor and one horizontal
>> bolt on each bracket that seems like a "set screw".
>> Does anyone have experience dealing with leaks related to these tubes that
>> can give advice? Are the vertical bolts each thru-bolts with nuts
>> underneath accessible thru the pan covering the idler pullies in the aft
>> stateroom, or are they screwed into plates in the cockpit floor?  Have you
>> packed the holes with butyl rubber and then reinstalled the brackets?
>> Thanks in advance for the advice.
>> Dave Hupe
>> 1994 Cat 320 (#32) "Mayan Sun"
>> Holland, MI
>>