Maxi 95 trouble shooting

[gorbel]

Our Maxi y 1975 with a standard GRP deck suffers from leakage but from where?
Even now in winter, standing on the hard, and under a canvas covering all the deck we have to wipe a lot. As the mast´s still on, there is not 100% cover and there must be some water coming in upon deck from that area. We find too much water under the engine and in the space under the prop axle. ( about 3 gallons per month)
This has been going on as long as we owned the boat and previous owner died from us.
Is there anyone out there with the solution to this mystery?

 

[Judders]

I blame Gordo Brown

 

[davel]

Is it a keel stepped mast?
Could be coming down there.

 

[gwc2004]

Just before I baught my boat last year it had had the mast lowered so the foot could be rebedded as it was leaking a lot of water into the bilges. Once the beck mounted foot /step was rebedded it stopped. Have a good look in that area.

 

[doug748]

When I first had my boat it leaked gallons. Turned out to be through a loose self tapping screw that held down the cockpit cover. You would not believe how much water came through that tiny screw. If you have things like this, that penitrate the deck, try rebedding them all; before you start on more obvious (and difficult) things like deck mounted hardware.

 

[Zed Nivel]

xcuse but who is g brown??

 

[Parsonsheath]

If ignorance is bliss, tis folly to be wise!

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

he's a lying, cheating, money grabbing, self righteous, thieving, greedy [--word removed--].... who currently holds the job title of chancellor of the exchequer, or in other words the man in charge of the British Economy and tax system.....

 

[uforea]

You could have been discribing someone on the next rung up on the ladder.
Ted.

 

[garvellachs]

Hi - I'd start with the mast. The support post in the cabin on a 95 is like a chimney - to ventilate the engine space - and to allow air to move through the mast and the mast foot fitting. I'd guess that water is either coming down inside the mast or down the outside of the mast and through the deck but inside the support post. There are holes in the sides of the bottom of the post so put a finger in and see if there's a puddle in the very bottom?

 

[vivrussell]

The Moose sympathise with your leaky situation and have put their heads together and come up with the following.

There should be drain holes at the bottom of the mast support on the outside and obviously these should be clear to allow water to drain. Re-bedding the mast step/foot sounds like a good idea. Corrosion and dirt build up take their toll. It sounds like most Maxi 95s have had some attention in this area. Water under the engine could also be coming from the breather on the anti-syphon valve on the engine cooling water intake (obviously this will only happen in the water and under power).

The water in the bilge under the prop gear is likely to be from another source or sources (Unless there is so much water under the engine that it overflows into the rear bilge). Try the stern gland and as most of the lockers drain there eliminate them one by one. A tiny leak from a fitting can travel a long way via an indirect route causing a lot of water.

Good luck it can be solved!

 

[maxi]

Hi, mast step needs good sealing and, in my case, I fitted an upside down skin fitting to raise the breathing hole by about 2 inches, which helped.

I too get a slow influx of water into the sterngland bilge, even with the boat ashore. After 10+years with my Maxi I have not yet found the source, although it has to be cockpit locker related I think.

 

[Zed Nivel]

[ QUOTE ]
If ignorance is bliss, tis folly to be wise!

[/ QUOTE ]

u 2 brutus eh?

 

[gorbel]

Thanks I´ll look into that and try to lift the mast to see if the bed has even cracked it´s so much water!!!

Thanks again and regards
Gorbel

 

[gorbel]

Thanks for answering. Yes we do have those for a cover over the sitting area. We will change them for new ones and mend the area around the wholes carefully. This could be the explanation or part of it for the water under the prop ax.

Thank you for your kind answer. Regards
Gorbel

 

[gorbel]

Yes, the wholes are there alright at the bottom of the support post and there was water up till the lower whole. I drilled small holes to evacuate the water so that must have rained in from the top of the mast. But surely it is not satisfying construction like an open chimney as you say. I have to lift the mast in coming spring to see also if the bed on deck is tight or leaks too. Hope there is not a 3rd explanation.
Good to hear you have the same idea here.

Regards and many thanks
Gorbel

 

[gorbel]

Thanks Moose at Sea. I agree with your analysis but I have some language problems with glands and anti-syphon valves so I´ll get myself a look in the dictionary. No water is coming from up under unless it rains really heavy. Like you say it can be solved, this is the optimistic approach and I will follow your good advice.
Thanks and regards

Gorbel

 

[gorbel]

Hi maxi,
most answers to the mast situation are the same so that must be it. Cockpit locker is a problem but we secured it is not coming from there by covering it with watersafe canvas. It is not our problem so we have to go forward with your other suggestion.

Kind regards
Gorbel