Hi,
I have had an ongoing issue with water leaks on my C375. There are two problems.
1. When it rains, water is dribbling in all along the starboard side. Initially, the problem was blamed on leaking genoa track bolts. Now supposedly the dealers shipwright fixed this, he did have several bites at the cherry. But it still leaks, and water can be found on top of the cupboards, from up front , all the way to the galley. I did let the hose run across the tracks for a while, and no water leaked in, so I am thinking maybe its a window or deck fitting.
Last week I cleaned the boat (it is winter here - so the days are only 20C). This weekend before I went out sailing, I noticed there was some white chalky powder sitting on top of the forward cupboard. I did not have time to investigate, but thought I would post the question here. Anybody guess what it could be (photos attached)?
2. On the port side, water leaks in when we go out sailing and the boat heals to this side. But it does not appear to leak when it rains (well not as obvious as the starboard side). So I wonder if there is a similiar leak to the other side.
I have not filled the water tanks, so I can remove this as an issue.
Its very annoying, as the water gets into any magazines left on the cupboards and they go moldy.
Suggestions/Comments?
Cat375 - Rock The Boat - Hull 54
Lake Macquarie - NSW - Australia
I had a similar type leak on our previous deckstepped mast, Catalina 30. In our case the water would exit a starboard side port nearest to the mast. In our case the water had a red tint. I rebedded ports and hatches, in a failed attempt to find the source.
The source turned out to be the standing pipe under the base of the mast for electrical wires. The pipe’s bond to the deck had failed and water coming down inside the mast leaked between the OD of the pipe and deck, directly into the core. The red water was from the plywood core. I would guess the white powder you are seeing is from your core or fiberglass/resin dust left between the deck and liner when holes are drilled for fittings.
Catalina manufacturing apparently does not own vacuum cleaners, I am always finding saw dust and fiberglass dust in hidden areas when I am taking things apart for an upgrade or retrofit.
A capacitive moisture meter would have helped to trace the source, by tracking the wet core.
Nile Schneider
Mañana C36 #1798
Lake Champlain, VT