water leak from arch,help

[ianainge]

My radar arch where its bolted to the boat lets in water, its coming in through the gap between the two even after repeatedly resealing the outside and the inside with silicone sealant.although it initially appears to be sucsessful after about 2 months water stars breaking through the sealant, even after using silaflex, do they make a sealant that you can use in the wet, i.e its difficult to apply the sealant as water keeps seeping out of the gap, and especially in this weather its difficult to do it when its dry.

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[martynwhiteley]

Sounds a bit like your taking in water on the top surface of the arch (perhaps where cable penetrations occur), and it's running down inside.

By sealing the lower joints, your just creating a high level water tank.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=blue> Real boaters do it on the Humber </font color=blue>

 

[discovery2]

Have you considered making a gasket using floor vinyl? If the cushioned vinyl is selected, this compresses when the bolts are tightened and makes a waterproof seal. It also has the advantage that it is easily removed when required, without having to scrape away sealant.

As we frequently had to remove fittings on the wheelhouse roof of our previous boat (to pass through the Britanny canals) I used this method and never had any problems.

Just a thought!
David

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[byron]

YEP! That is exactly what happened on my 435. The ingress of water was from the top through a wire gland.

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[omega2]

Dow Corning do a marine sealant that they claim can be used on wet surfaces, but seal the cable glands first and then encourage the water to run out of the bottom, then seal afresh. DO AS BYRON SAYS

<hr width=100% size=1>J HAMER

 

[muchy_]

Speaking as a plumber. You sound as though you are only filling the gap around the edge of the joint. Yes this does work for a little while but the effects of the weather will soon open up the gap again. The only sure way to do it is to remove the radar arch and seal it properly with silicone before bolting the arch back on. You could even use some of this nail and seal stuff. A lot harder wearing than silicone but I would still remove the arch and do it properly.

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[ianainge]

Its not coming from the cable glands on the top of the arch , i sealed all that last season when it first occured.

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[ROCKETSHIP_11]

yes but did you seal the gland with silicone ?
silicone sealant is not suitable for marine use, the stuff to use is polysulfide sealant Wurth do a good one, its expensive £10.00 but does not leak even after years of immersion, Its recomended for use under the waterline for thru hulls ect.
its available in white and can be painted over, I have used this to refit all the deck fittings on my very wet racer and after 3 years not a drip below.

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[hlb]

Get some Captain Tullys Creaping crack repairer-tracer. Squirt in in the cracks you suspect and see if it comes though. If it's just a small crack it will mend it eventualy, if not, at least you will know which one to deal with. Try them one at a time.

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn