[70521]
Well-Known Member
Why is my boat wetter ashore than at sea?
Find that deck leak!
- Thread starter alex23299
- Start date
caerolusmagnus
Active Member
I have an Ohlson 38 from mid-seventies. I do not have an aluminium toerail but a wide deck/hull epoxy-sealed shelf as hull deck joint. However I do have a teak toerail through-bolted and I can see almost all the bolts appearing under the deck through the deck shelf. None of these are fortunately leaking.
I have had two sources of small leaks:
Stanchion through bolts leaked directly into cabin locker below.
Teak handrails on coachroof have weeped in heavy rain, the water ran along the twinned inside teak rail down onto settee cushion.
In both cases, solved by sealant on outside. Good idea is re-apply sealant along all the deck to bases of handrails, stanchions, winches etc. Problem solved but will return as sealant dries and flexes at some unknown date depending on type of sealant.
The deck is rigid foamed 3 inches of closed cell material (PVC?) and could allow migration along the deck and deckhead liners. As well as the detection techniques described above, I have applied sealant as a precaution on the outside of any through-deck fitting. I don't like back to cockpit lines with all the sheaves on deck and the jumble of lines in cockpit so I have been stripping the deck of such stuff. Ideally any through deck bolt should have the bolt running through an epoxy plug rather than only through the deck foam. If it were balsa cored, this is guaranteed to rot.
Have a look at
http://ohlson38.freeforums.org/the-ohlson-38-forum-f2.html
where there is a recent entry on deck maintenance and preventative techniques.
I have had two sources of small leaks:
Stanchion through bolts leaked directly into cabin locker below.
Teak handrails on coachroof have weeped in heavy rain, the water ran along the twinned inside teak rail down onto settee cushion.
In both cases, solved by sealant on outside. Good idea is re-apply sealant along all the deck to bases of handrails, stanchions, winches etc. Problem solved but will return as sealant dries and flexes at some unknown date depending on type of sealant.
The deck is rigid foamed 3 inches of closed cell material (PVC?) and could allow migration along the deck and deckhead liners. As well as the detection techniques described above, I have applied sealant as a precaution on the outside of any through-deck fitting. I don't like back to cockpit lines with all the sheaves on deck and the jumble of lines in cockpit so I have been stripping the deck of such stuff. Ideally any through deck bolt should have the bolt running through an epoxy plug rather than only through the deck foam. If it were balsa cored, this is guaranteed to rot.
Have a look at
http://ohlson38.freeforums.org/the-ohlson-38-forum-f2.html
where there is a recent entry on deck maintenance and preventative techniques.
Vamoose
Well-Known Member
What a great idea.. I think I will give this one a try
cimo
Well-Known Member
you're on the right track with the flare!
if not already mentioned and still proving hard to locate, you could pressurise the cabin and paint soapy water on the deck fittings.