Stern Gland, and Leaky Roof

[LP1]

I wonder if anyone can suggest how water is entering the cabin by the starboard bulkhead and tracking down and across by the bolts before finally dripping off.

There is nothing obvious on the coachroof topside but there is some de-lamination evident by a dull thus and some softness to the area highlighted by the torch.

Also, is there a separate seal underneath the stern gland boot or is that it, so I should be concerned by the big gap around the drive shaft?

Thanks everyone. Great forum by the way!

Lee

 

[vyv_cox]

The stern gland in you photograph is a Volvo seal. You will find some photos of them at http://coxengineering.sharepoint.com/Pages/Sternglands.aspx including one cut in half to show the internals.

 

[superheat6k]

I had the VP Blackjack seal on my last boat. Further details here. Not sure about your leak though, could be the shaft seal dripping. It needs a grease every couple of months - MacDonalds straw filled with about 50mm waterproof grease, push the end into the seal then squeeze out the grease whilst slowly turning the shaft.

http://turbo36.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/volvo-penta-shaft-seal-instructions.pdf

 

[LP1]

I have just been reading a bit more about them - greasing and burping etc..
Mine has been installed for over 10 years now and i have no hours log for the engine so may be putting a new one on when i change the cutlass bearing.

I will look at the link now.

Thanks.

TBH, things like the stern gland I can understand, and accept that they are maintenance issues.

Far more concerning is strange water ingress through the coach roof, where is it coming from, how do I stop it?

I have seen a video on Boat Works where he cuts out a delaminate deck and puts new ply core and replaces the cut out, epoxying it all back together. Am I looking at something like that?

I know it's hard to see and evaluate via pictures on a forum, but thanks all the same.

 

[sailorman]

I have just been reading a bit more about them - greasing and burping etc..
Mine has been installed for over 10 years now and i have no hours log for the engine so may be putting a new one on when i change the cutlass bearing.

I will look at the link now.

Thanks.

TBH, things like the stern gland I can understand, and accept that they are maintenance issues.

Far more concerning is strange water ingress through the coach roof, where is it coming from, how do I stop it?

I have seen a video on Boat Works where he cuts out a delaminate deck and puts new ply core and replaces the cut out, epoxying it all back together. Am I looking at something like that?

I know it's hard to see and evaluate via pictures on a forum, but thanks all the same.

Have you any photos showing the deck

 

[Tranona]

Suspect the deck has a balsa core and water has got into it probably through a badly sealed fitting such as a handrail or deck fitting. The leak may well have been cured but the damage is done. There are various ways of repairing such damage but you need to find out how far the deck has delaminated before you work out the best way of dealing with it. Not clear from your photos whether water has got into the ply bulkhead but that needs investigation as well.

 

[pcatterall]

For the leak you need to become a detective but first of all you need to be sure ( and tell us!!) what the composition of the deck/coach roof is. Water can get in and then creep a long way before showing inside ( and cause lots of unseen damage as it does so)
The obvious culprits are any fittings in the general area above the leak. If it leaks soon after rain then ( when its dry!!) try pouring water over discrete sections of deck and fittings to try to isolate the leak.

 

[LP1]

I do have more photos but they are too large to upload?? Any help gratefully received.

I had a chat with the original foreman at Achilles yachts who said the core was some kind of honeycomb type structure (never heard of this, only balsa).

Obviously worse after rain. The window screws do leak, but this ingress seems to be coming from slightly higher up. I was thinking of removing a 50mm diameter section from underneath using a holesaw to see if that reveals any more. At least it will verify the core material?