[C320-list] Persistent cabin leak

[Phil Hansen]

I finally found my leak. Perhaps may help othersWhen I went to replace the teflon-like tape to improve the sliding companionway hatch upon removing the hood I found the wooden spacing boards had completely disintegrated and were falling apart into the channels designed to carry water quickly away. This combined with a poor job of sealing the screw holes was apparently letting the water become high enough to track downward in a decent rain. 
I replaced the boards with waterproofed replacements (between the 2 sides there was enough existing wood and/or enough outline left to allow me to guestimate the size and position of the originals) and bedded the screws holding the hood in place and so far after 2 very hard rains have had no more leaks -- 
So far so good.......
PEH


-----Original Message-----
From: Christian <ccaper at gmail.com>
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Sent: Thu, Mar 31, 2022 3:41 pm
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Persistent cabin leak

Phil,
I am currently working on a leak in that exact same area.  I had suspected
the track that runs on the upper level of the deck, as I thought the bolt
that leaked traced to the after most end cap of that track.  But the bolt
actually traced to the foremost bolt on the metal grab rail.  I believe
this grab rail will have 3 bolts, foremost will be just fore of the nav
station, the other 2 I believe aft of the nav station.  Have you considered
that as a possible source of your leak? The surface where the grab rail
sits flush to the deck is flat, and we would actually get a pretty good
drip there.

Good news is there doesn't seem to be any core there, so if that is the
source of your leak, should be a simple rebed.  The only bad news is those
bolts are Phillips PH4 heads, which is larger than what many have around
for phillips screw drivers.  The previous owner of Canuck and attempted to
use a Phillips PH3 on these bolts to rebed with silicon a while back,
stripped my heads pretty good.  Luckily I still had enough bite to get them
out, but will be replacing with new ones.

Christian Caperton 1994 C320 #138 "Canuck" Monroe Harbor, Chicago, IL

On Thu, Mar 31, 2022 at 3:21 PM Phil Hansen <sholdr at aol.com> wrote:

> Despite rebedding chain plates and caulking portlight g-gaskets we still
> have leaks through the port-side saloon lights above the galley and nav
> station -- ? most likely culprit the lifeline stanchion or the Jib sheet
> car track - any suggestions appreciated.
>