got a problem with rain leaking deck?

[Niander]

Hi there got a problem with rain leaking deck
the roof has been fibreglassed over but its getting through where the sides are... probably the wooden toerails etc
any solutions recommended to stop it?

 

[tillergirl]

I think you need to tell us more about the construction of your boat.

 

[Niander]

wooden with a fibreglass coating on the roof I need something to seal it where it joins the hull and where the toerail is around the edge

 

[smithy]

Just a thought but would some kind of vacuum pump work ?

 

[smithy]

sorry for above getting past my bed time, correct reply but wrong thread!

 

[tillergirl]

wooden with a fibreglass coating on the roof I need something to seal it where it joins the hull and where the toerail is around the edge

When I lifted my laid teak deck and replaced it with a marine grade ply, I sealed the deck gunn'le joint with an epoxy fillet (epoxy and micro balloons). I think I did that before I glassed the deck. The fillet is concave formed by one of those wooden spatula things. The deck paint extends over the fillet so it forms a nice curved edge.

Critical is to get the joint, deck and timber dry and the question has to be asked how long it has been leaking since freshwater is a killer. How sound is the glass coating at the edge that is leaking. That cannot be lifting at all otherwise you will never get a seal.

 

[Niander]

I want an easy fix I may have to use paint to seal it

 

[Tranona]

I want an easy fix I may have to use paint to seal it

No easy fix. The joints will almost certainly have some sort of sealant, probably putty based and it has failed. Only conventional solution is to dismantle the joints, clean and dry then rebed with a more durable sealant. Alternative is to use epoxy but that requires even more work and you may find the structure too flexible and just move the problem to other joints. You may find Capt Tolleys leak cure effective if they are minor leaks, but you need to find where the water is getting in as that is where you have to apply it.

 

[prv]

I want an easy fix I may have to use paint to seal it

If you just want a bodge to keep the rain out, black bitumen paint worked well on the tin roof of my workshop, stopped all the leaks around screws and between the metal sheets.

I'm sure there's all sorts of reasons not to use it on a boat though

Pete

 

[Niander]

recon it will be where they have screwd the wood tow rails through the dynel...bit silly bound to fail they will of used sealant but over time has failed

 

[tillergirl]

Got a picture? I regret (based upon experience) that I do not think there are any short cuts or quick fixes to solving deck leaks. Best thing I ever did to TG was bit the bullet and sort the deck properly. Trying quick fixes wasn't working and when I saw underneath it was quite clear that she would have suffered extensively had I kept trying.

 

[30boat]

A wooden boat being a flexible structure composed of many bits screwed together needs special solutions.I'd never use epoxy on a traditionally built boat.There are many modern flexible adhesive/sealants that lend themselves beautifuly to moving (slightly) joints.I think you'll have to dismantle ,clean and rebed or else your inviting rot from fresh water.

 

[Niander]

By epoxy I mean epoxy and dynel this is used on many classic boats folkboats for instance to waterproof a wooden deck

 

[30boat]

By epoxy I mean epoxy and dynel this is used on many classic boats folkboats for instance to waterproof a wooden deck

That's something else but the deck must be rigid.Many traditional hulls have been fitted with plywood decks and there are those who say they're too rigid for the (flexible) hull.My late fathers double ender had canvassed decks and I don't recall any leaks but that was ages ago.