Do All Boats Leak?

[Guest]

We're looking for our first boat. The two we've experienced really closely have both suffered from water leaks into the cabins. It's quite turned my wife off boats and I'm not too interested in everything getting wet either. It's a pity really because, unlike many other posters to this forum, it was her idea to buy a boat in the first place.

So, do all boats leak? In fact, does anyone have a boat that doesn't leak? If so, what make/model - please tell. Is there any type of boat that tends to be wetter than others?

We're interested in a modern flybridge boat, stylish design, steps to flybridge (not ladder) 2 cabins, not aft cabin. But the search for a dry boat might allow almost any compromise. What boats should we avoid and what should we look for?

 

[byron]

Sorry Richard but I bring bad tidings. Sooner or later all GRP boats develop leaks around the windows. I have already mentioned in this forum that Nigel Dempster interviewing Tommy Sopwith for the Dail Mail asked "as one of the richest men in the country, what is it that money can't buy" He replied "windows on my boat that don't leak"
You get the windows fixed, after a while they will leak again. In a nut shell.... boats flex, windows don't.

ô¿ô
www.education-jobs.co.uk
www.alexander-advertising.co.uk

 

[BarryD]

Can't say fairer than Byron - however if the leak has been ignored or not remedied for the sale then you can seek a discount. As the hull / superstrucutre flexs the glas does not - hence the rubber around it.

Renew the rubber, squit in the mastic and it's sealed again until next time.

 

[markc]

What Byron et al said is right - don't be put off - windows don't need fixing every other week though!! If fixed well, should last a few years

Mark

 

[c_j]

My boat (Princess V40) is nearly four years old (March) but I have never experienced any water leaks. I have heard a number of Boat owners (Fairline I have to say) complain about water leaks but I was quite suprised when I heard you had these problems. It may be that Princess suffer the same, I cannot see why not, but I would be dissapointed in a boat that leaked.

Perhaps with the extra height on a flybridge boat the flexing is more apparant and that is why it can be a problem.

Anyway, in answer to your question, the answer is no, not yet.

CJ
chris@stone.uk.com

 

[byron]

C_J your windows will be the last to leak because they are recessed porthole variety. Windows prone to leaking tend to be windscreens on wettish boats such as Brooms and side windows as one sees on family cruisers, I regard your boat as a Sports Cruiser.

ô¿ô
www.education-jobs.co.uk
www.alexander-advertising.co.uk

 

[billskip]

I seem to have stopped my window leaks..when you have all those different meterials..ie wood/metal outside frame..plexiglas.sikaflex.grp all needing to stick together in temp ranging from freezing to 40c+ big problem..so I got some very soft rubber strip like the draughtexcluder stuff..made an "O" ring..no messy sticky stuff and quick to do..dont know how long it will last.but ok 2yrs now with plenty of the green stuffover the top....

 

[boatone]

Please, please, pleeeease dont let a bit of water put you off boating. All boats have a bit of a problem with leaks from time to time and most of them can be fixed with care and attention so they dont become a headache. I suspect modern boat design with its sexy(?) curvy shapes doesnt help, much easier to make a good chunky lump waterproof. I bought an elderly (1970's) princess a few months ago and have had to reseal two of the windows but she's nice and dry now except for the bl**dy condensation - but thats another story.

TonyR
boatone@boatsontheweb.com

 

[c_j]

Oh I see!

Actually my windscreen probably leaks but if its that wet you would'nt be able to tell!

I assumed from earlier posts (not in this post) that one of the leaks was on the carpet around the shower door having entered via a recessed window.



CJ
chris@stone.uk.com

 

[jollyjacktar]

Mostly dry.

With careful attention to matters, most leaks can be sealed. Persistance and vigalence is necessary. However that does not stop driving rain, the occasional blue stuff over the top, etc. I have discovered a strange fact with boating, water is wet.

 

[jfm]

We have absolutely zero leaks on p42 1999, so far.

 

[Guest]

Apart from teapot John

 

[byron]

1999 thats a new boat... come back in another two years ;-)

ô¿ô
www.education-jobs.co.uk
www.alexander-advertising.co.uk

 

[longjohnsilver]

What jfm doesn't tell you is that his boat is kept in a shed!!

 

[petem]

Likewise my (ex) Fairline T30 - No leaks.

 

[Scubadoo]

Don't be put off, my boat generally has no leaks, however I did this year have a slight leak from a window support bracket - just removed and used mastic to reseal, no problem.

Mine is a Sealine, I think you will find most boats will leak at some point and some owners just don't do general maintenance.

RM.

 

[jfm]

Boathouse at bottom of garden?

I wish, LJS! <G>

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Yes, all boat windows leak, sooner or later. Firstly, the window frames have to resist the flexing of the hull as you pound your boat into a F5 at 20knots. Secondly, sun and saltwater degrade the seals. As a very general rule, leaks tend to occur from the bottom corners of front windscreens and the sliding parts of side windows. There are a couple of companies who specialize in resealing boat windows; sorry cant remember their names but they exhibit at Boat Shows. Personally I've found that some silicone sealant applied carefully to the join between the frames and the glass and between the frames and the hull can reduce or eliminate leaks for a period
As to boats which leak less, avoid boats with windscreens that open and boats that throw a lot of spray around eg semi displacement hulls like Traders, some Brooms. Sports cruisers generally have no forward facing windows from the accomodation so they tend not to leak. Speaking purely from personal experience, I've had a couple of Princesses flybridge cruisers which leaked badly and a Sealine one which did'nt leak at all
If you're looking at a secondhand boat which has damage to interior furnishings from leaks, that does'nt necessarily make it a bad boat only that it indicates an owner who does'nt care enough to fix the leaks and that makes you wonder about what else he might not have bothered to fix