Rain water is getting into my cabin and mildewing my uphostery. It's not
clear exactly where it's coming from, and I think probably not deducible. I
think the shotgun approach is in order, and so I am going to have a swing at
recaulking windows, rub rail bolts, and deck fittings.

I am told that many of the fittings have nuts at the inaccessible inside
end, which will remain in place if the bolts are just backed out a little,
but will fall out if the bolts are removed completely.

I am thinking of hiring a retired friend who has extensive amateur
experience maintaining boats to do these jobs for me. (My Dad has
volunteered, bless him, but he has never been known to be handy and has no
background in this type of work.)

We're thinking of using a silicone caulk. I understand that some types are
better for marine use than others?

Incidentally, the headliners in the cabin, and the end-grain balsa in the
deck (in the few places it can be seen) all seem good - no water-staining
there. Some of the leaking seems to be windows, but I'm guessing from the
location of the (recently increased) wetness (only after rain) on the side
walls of the V-berth that it's the deck-hull join leaking. I've been told
that the bolt holes are the usual culprits in these boats, and that just
re-caulking the "seams" does not work.

(You wouldn't think rub rail bolt holes could leak very much, but I have
seen water streaming down the inside of the hull, in a few visible spots,
during a heavy rain in a heavy wind. And then, on other seemingly similar
occasions: nothing!)

I unscrewed one of the windows but couldn't then easily pry it off, and
didn't know how hard was safe to pull, so I recaulked the holes and put the
screws back in. (Not bolts for the windows.) The weatherstripping is a bit
ratty on the inside corners of the frames (outside corners of the glass),
and I'm thinking of attempting a "caulk" the windows rather than a
re-bedding.

Any suggestions for improving this plan of management?

(I will also work at ventilating the boat better. [And I do not
"hermetically" seal it over the winter.] But I still need to try to stop the
leaks.)

Thanks to all.

Charles

P.S. I don't have any close-up photos, but
www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26/Trojan26Harvey01.JPG might help - from the larger page
www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26/ksenia.html.

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Charles T. Low
- remove "UN"
www.boatdocking.com/BDPhoto.html - Photo Contest
www.boatdocking.com
www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26 - my boat

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