Anyone familiar with the 11'(?) West Marine Avon Dinghy (mine's from 2005) with that little forward seat/stowage locker? For the first time, I hauled it out of the water by the aft lifts to put on the foredeck. As it raised up, water began to flow filling the locker. And flowed and flowed, dumping into the marina, likely 20-25 gallons by the time we got it on deck. Looking all over, no obvious leaks, and the cubby seems to be sealed, closed, but filled with water twice before we were done.
So, where did the water come from, how'd it get in there, how did it fill the stowage area? Could it be just condensation build up over the years?
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S/V Tao
Catalina 36
1983, Hull #114
Don't know if this applies to yours, but we had a Caribe with the bow compartment.
We used to get LOTS of water in between the floor and hull. Finally figured out that it was leaking in past the drain plug that is used to drain that space; I don't mean the one to drain water overboard. Accumulated rain would fill the small sump in the back and some would find its way into the hull/floor space. Over time this would lead to many, many gallons (weight,).
I don't know if your bow compartment is sealed off from that space, but it's worth a look.
Wally
"Onanne"
2000 MKII, deep keel, tall rig
Lake Champlain
I have an Achilles with a raised deck (and a bow compartment) and I am finding that water leaks in past the O-ring "sealed" plug at the stern. This plug is there to drain any water that gets into the space between the hull and the raised deck from the bow compartment, but the plug is the actually the primary source of water intrusion.
I will be replacing that O-ring soon.
Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/
Wally & Duane
Thanks for the tips, I'll check out those aft plugs. Actually, there are two holes, one accessed from inside the dink, to drain out (but if you pulled it, it would fill up sitting in the water) and another above that, only visible from outside. I need to poke around in both to see what's going on.
S/V Tao
Catalina 36
1983, Hull #114
Dan,
I think if you look at both of the metal tubes that the plugs fit into, you will find they are loose. I had an old Boston Whaler with that problem. The drain plug fit tightly in the tube, but the tube was not tight to the fiberglass, and leaked. They are usually press fit into the hole in the fiberglass, and not always installed with sealant. After you dry it out, you might want to try Captain Trolly's Creeping Crack Cure (or some silly name like that). Smearing caulk on the outside won't work. You want something thinner than caulk, to get into the crack between the tube and the fiberglass. I've only heard good things about Captain Trolly's for this type of application. Hope this helps.
Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT