Water Leaking into Head. Source?

[Lomcevak]

Sorry if my terminology (head) is incorrect. Still a newbie at sailing.

My boat has been in my driveway over the winter (no snow, but plenty of rain). Unfortunately, I have yet to get a proper cover for it.

The boat is on it's trailer, with the bow tilted high, so any water would drain to the stern. There was plenty of water in the bilge under the stern bunk.

However, the one that is consternating me at the moment is how (and where) water could be coming in to cause water to collect in the area shown in the photo.

For October and November I did nothing to control the climate in the boat. Some of the wood hatch covers that I had just made last summer got mouldy/mildewy. Other than that, there was not other real mould or mildew in the boat. Since then, I've kept a heater in the boat on a timer that cycles on and off every half hour. It has a rotating grate on the front to continuously redirect airflow. This effectively keeps the mould and mildew out, but does not help in evaporating water.

I'm not saying the heater has anything to do with it, just giving some extra information, and my own little bit of advice on keeping the boat mildew free.

[Tony E]

HI Lomcevak, I have a 98 Mac 26x and I always have water somewhere in the boat. I have this leak right above the table that always slowly drips down into the light that is right there and then fills the light up ( not that electricity and water mix right?) Once the light is half full it starts dripping onto my table and fills where the map is usually sitting underneath the plastic cover so it wrecks it basically. I have spent hours trying to find the one hole on top that might be letting in the water but it could be any bolt and then when the water is in the ceiling it can run a far distance and then come out feet away from where it originally came in. I also have noticed that condensation plays a big part of a little puddle here or a little splash there and I just wipe it up. I may never be able to find out where the water is coming in from so my new rule is " if it is not going to sink the Mac, then it can't be all that bad"....and I move on to other fixes. If I position a cup in the right spot it catches 99% of the drips so problem solved right Either way good luck with your little leak but I wouldn't loose sleep over it p.s. somebody on this site will know as somebody on this site has " the smarts real good "

[Tomfoolery]

The stays are too far back for the chainplates to be leaking into that area. But the lifeline stanchion looks like it's forward enough. That's where I'd start.

[Tomfoolery]

Tony

The sliding hatch guides are notorious for leaking. If there's enough water, it may get into the light, though the light is a little inboard of the screws for the slide guides. But some built up gunk from manufacturing, or even a looped wire, may be just enough to get water there. Mine were leaking on both sides, dripping down the headliner, and soaking the table (ruining the map, of course), and the port side seat. Rebedding the chainplates, and the screw holes for the slide guides, fixed that. I added velcro to make sliding the top easier, too. There was wear in the gelcoat, but not enough to allow water in, so it was just a matter of water getting in around the many screws.

That's all I've got.

[Sumner]

I'm guessing the window is the problem. Mine leaked and I did a quick fix with 4000 about 4 years ago and I'm starting to get some water in again and I think I need to do the chain plates also,

Sumner

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Our MacGregor 26-S

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[Mike C.]

My 26D has the exact same leak, and it is coming in from around the windows (just like Sumners).
I have new windows to replace the pink ones, just need to get to it some day.
After the windows, I'll move on to rebedding the chainplates.

I recently pulled of the mast base plates (2 pieces on the D model), and the baby stay mounts. There was practically no sealant around them. I guess after 27 years it wears away. Resealing those made a huge difference in rainwater in the cabin, and based on their condition, I am thinking every fitting on my boat should be resealed.

[Tony E]

Tom you are a freakin genius !! A freakin genius I tell you!!! I'll try that and see what happens. I hate the drip drip drip when it rains especially when you are inside a boat :m

[Tomfoolery]

Tom you are a freakin genius !! A freakin genius I tell you!!! I'll try that and see what happens. I hate the drip drip drip when it rains especially when you are inside a boat :m

No genius - I just take full advantage of the knowledge available through this forum. I just didn't mention that I learned about that problem, and the solution, here.

I'm just paying it forward is all.

[RobertB]

My leak was at the mast light deck connector. Fixed by installing one with a screw on cover.

[Tony E]

Okay Tom sounds good and I try to do the same to. I know I read that trying to take those bolts out to add the slider stuff was an issue for someone as one bolts was really hard to get to so I have never tried to do that mod yet. I totally hate the "gravel on plastic sound" when you push the top open or closed. So if I do that mod then I will not only get a quieter and easier top but also it will hopefully get rid of the leak also? Wow that would be great. Did you just stick the soft side of the Velcro facing up and the top slides on that? Can you tell this isn't going to be easy......ha ha....

[Tony E]

Roberts, whats a screw on cover for the mast light? I'd love to replace that thing as both connectors are on their last leg and I always have to jiggle the male end of the plug to get it to work.

[RobertB]

Replacement deck connector with screw cover http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-mari ... 75_007_007

[Tony E]

Thanx Roberts. Wow you guys are adding to my mod list big time:) So after you put that on your leak stopped? And it looks like a pretty simple install yes? Thanx again.

[Tomfoolery]

Replacement deck connector with screw cover http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-mari ... 75_007_007

I'm toying with the idea of using a 4-flat trailer plug, as I have a lot of 4-conductor trailer wire and plugs laying around. This would also serve the anchor light. Not very nautical, but very practical.

Or a DPDT switch, to reverse polarity and selectively power the masthead (steaming) light, or the all-round white anchor light.

Or a relay to do the same.

Decisions, decisions.

[Tomfoolery]

Did you just stick the soft side of the Velcro facing up and the top slides on that?

Buy self-stick, cut it in half the long way (I think I had 1" wide, but not sure, and won't know 'til I dig back into the winter storage boxes), and stick it to the underside of the hatch. That way nothing shows when you slide the hatch either way, and you only need half as much.

Can you tell this isn't going to be easy......ha ha....

It's definitely NOT an easy project, but one well worth doing.

I think there are some threads about this, so I'll look for them, and not derail this thread too much. Or start one of your own, if one can't be found.

Edit: Found the thread I started. No pics, but it's something at least. http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... 2&p=285198 Maybe piggy-back onto that one with more questions, so it's there for others to see without looking too much.