How much water?

jimi

jimi

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Just been down the boat, first time for couple of months due to work & family pressures.
Anyway lots, and I mean lots of water in the boat, I think due to a leaky seal on one of the hatches. Some of the wood has got wet and the a bit of the hull lining seems soaked. Is it likely that running a dehumidifier for the next couple of months will solve it or is something else likely to be required?
 
jimi said:
Just been down the boat, first time for couple of months due to work & family pressures.
Anyway lots, and I mean lots of water in the boat, I think due to a leaky seal on one of the hatches. Some of the wood has got wet and the a bit of the hull lining seems soaked. Is it likely that running a dehumidifier for the next couple of months will solve it or is something else likely to be required?
Click to expand...

My advice is don't mess about, replace the hatch seal. It will be infinitely cheaper than repairing the interior damage at some future point. Fix the probem first then run a dehumidifier to dry the accomodation out. If you don't have the time then it is probably cheaper to pay the yard to fix it than to ignore it.

BishopT
 
That's sad. I can't see the exact leak on the Google Earth thingy.



Lots and lots of litres, or 'just' a couple of bucketsful ?

A reasonable dehumidificator will extract about 5 l a day, but you need to work out a system for removal, e.g drain tube into bilge plus auto bilge pump.

I used a £100 one from Curry's,and it's lasted over two years (touch GRP)
 
sarabande said:
That's sad. I can't see the exact leak on the Google Earth thingy.



Lots and lots of litres, or 'just' a couple of bucketsful ?

A reasonable dehumidificator will extract about 5 l a day, but you need to work out a system for removal, e.g drain tube into bilge plus auto bilge pump.

I used a £100 one from Curry's,and it's lasted over two years (touch GRP)
Click to expand...

Once the bilge pump removed the water, the waterline rose by an inch, and it was straight up to B&Q for the dehumidifier, cleaned the seals on the guilty hatch and also ran silica grease around it. There was a shed load of rain last night but seemed secure.

Seemed unbeleivable that so much water could have come from one small leak, but there has been a LOT of rain recently.
 
jimi said:
Seemed unbeleivable that so much water could have come from one small leak, but there has been a LOT of rain recently.
Click to expand...

You'll be surprised. Water is a pain in the backside (excuse the Irony with a boat). A very small leak can actually amount to quite alot of water after a decent downpour.

I had a car once that kept filling the drivers footwell with water, after only a night or two. I had the boot seal etc replaced and for love nor money could we trace the cause.

Until one day I was going over everything and the sunroof runners had two screws on each to hold them down. One screw had no more than a turn of play in it. Tightened the screw. No more leak!!

Not a boat but the principal remains. If you know water is getting in somewhere, fix the leak regardless how small you think it is. You may be surprised by the difference in the amount of water let in.
 
All summer bilges bone dry, from the beginning of November half a bucketfull a fortnight, all fresh water - must get to work on rainproofing.
 
jimi said:
Just been down the boat, first time for couple of months due to work & family pressures.
Anyway lots, and I mean lots of water in the boat, I think due to a leaky seal on one of the hatches. Some of the wood has got wet and the a bit of the hull lining seems soaked. Is it likely that running a dehumidifier for the next couple of months will solve it or is something else likely to be required?
Click to expand...
Jimi
both my benes had leaks when I got them. Easily fixed BUT some wood staining and the covering of the figlass by the plastic fabric had occured. The wood stain goes away as it dries and the dehmidifier will sort that. The fabric also dries out OK with no damage to it.
Stu
 
I understand that she's afloat but is she close to any trees? I've occaisionally had problems when laid up with leaves blocking the cockpit drains. No problem when laid up ashore as I just leave the log impeller out and the lid off the seawater strainer so that any water that gets in has a way out.
 
I'm pretty sure its cos there's a small channel on the coachroof directing the flow of water straight over the hatch window at the side of the saloon (good design!) and with the last month or so of torrential rain, that has started leaking.
 
jimi said:
I'm pretty sure its cos there's a small channel on the coachroof directing the flow of water straight over the hatch window at the side of the saloon (good design!) and with the last month or so of torrential rain, that has started leaking.
Click to expand...
Jimi
for what its worth, the 351, major leaks were the lewmar windows, if you have the ones with a horizontal split each side of the alloy frame, thats where the water gets in OR the £28 rubber seal is flattened and it is getting in there. Pick out the grey sikaflex type stuff from the horizontal splits, and remake,job done, the alloy frame sealant doesnt usually leak
The 381, the deck staunchion bases were loose, a 22mm socket will undo them and just reseal and tighten, also one of the mastic fixed windows had come loose at the top, sikaflex fixed that. The alloy frame that the spray hood bolt rope slides in, the screws were loose, water was going from the hood, in to the channel and then down the screw holes. Again remove, sika, retighten.
Stu
 
sarabande said:
That's sad. I can't see the exact leak on the Google Earth thingy.



Lots and lots of litres, or 'just' a couple of bucketsful ?

A reasonable dehumidificator will extract about 5 l a day, but you need to work out a system for removal, e.g drain tube into bilge plus auto bilge pump.

I used a £100 one from Curry's,and it's lasted over two years (touch GRP)
Click to expand...

I always wonder about this "drain tube into the Bilge" idea - I am not comfortable with recycling moisture.............
 
at risk of a ticking off for leaving a seacock open (capital crime, I know), I put the dehumidifier on the galley worktop and lead the drain into the sink
 
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