Leaky Prestige 32

[MikeA]

I recently purchased a Prestige 32 from a fellow forumite, for use in the UK. The boat is in good overall condition considering it's a 2003 boat. However, I've got a frustrating leak which I'm pretty sure is coming from the fly bridge, it happens after heavy rain (we've had endless months of that in West Wales), the water appears to be coming down starboard side and making its way in to the saloon at the bottom of the cabinet below the helm seat. The previous owner did mention it and thought it was water being blown through the fly covers near the wind shield and then entering through the starboard speaker on the fly bridge. I've sealed off the speaker as a temporary measure and am confident that's not the case.

I'm reluctant to remove the headlining in the saloon, as my experience of removing panels held by velcro is that it can be a bit of a one way ticket, the velcro coming away from one or both sides and never seeming to be successfully stuck back in the way it was originally!

I just wondered if there's another owner who has experienced anything similar before I start pulling the boat about?

Thanks
Mike

 

[RIN]

Do you have a radar tripod? We had a similar leak on our Prestige 32. It was entering from the front tripod where it joins the pole leading up from the guard rails, but it was leaking into the cabin starboard side. You could put some waterproof tape around it. If you do have the radar tripod, also check the retaining screws securing the back tripod supports to the flybridge. This is poor design and they should have been secured with bolts as they can work themselves loose in a heavy sea. We replaced them with SS bolts with small hatch access points from the cockpit roof.

 

[MikeA]

Thanks, that's a distinct possibility as the radar tripod was removed for delivery via truck. I think it was just screwed back on and is relying on the existing sealant rather than each holding screw being resealed. Although the leak was present before purchase, it may not have been so bad. Also, on the day of the sea trial, the previous owned mentioned he had to call an electrician as the overhead stern deck lights had tripped (I suspect water was to blame).

 

[jrudge]

Thanks, that's a distinct possibility as the radar tripod was removed for delivery via truck. I think it was just screwed back on and is relying on the existing sealant rather than each holding screw being resealed. Although the leak was present before purchase, it may not have been so bad. Also, on the day of the sea trial, the previous owned mentioned he had to call an electrician as the overhead stern deck lights had tripped (I suspect water was to blame).

I dont know the boat, but I once had a water leak on a Porsche 911.

I looked and looked. Literally years until i found it.

Water is good at traveling and the entry point is often no where near the exit point.

The use of talc to cover the possible ingress area has been suggested on here before as water will leave a track in it making the source easier to find.

I would reseal the screws in any event, and any others that are likely to have been disturbed. Putting them back without resealing is something we all do from time to time but the manufactures do it for a reason!

Best of luck!

 

[Racingfrank7]

I'm sure I remember reading on jeanneau forum once some one having the same problem and it was eventually traced back to flybridge speakers.
Have you googled it ?

 

[MikeA]

Yes, I found an older thread here http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?150087-Jeanneau-Prestige-32-starboard-leak which mentions the speakers. As Jeremy points out, water travels well, so as well as sealing the radar tripod I'll put a temporary seal over the port speaker on the fly as it could be travelling sideways and then down the tract on the starboard side.