Cabin top leaks

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

Hi Everyone,

Water has infiltrated Esprit du Vent.  Thanks to this forum and Mike McDonald's illustrated post (Cabin Top Teak Removal/Re-bed etc.: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,7191.0.html ) I am going to have to remove the teak boards, but not today.  The immediate issue, rain water, is not draining from the port channel of the companionway hatch (see Mike's first picture of his post of 10/09/12).  If you stand inside the cabin and draw the hatch closed (aft direction) you get a non-planned shower from the water that has collected in the channel.

From Stu Jackson's post of 10/10/12 the water is to drain forward: "Just make sure you don't block the drainage (which goes forward).  Take a look at the forward outboard end of the big teak strips."  Short of removing the teak, does anyone have an idea how to clean out the blockage?

The PO had a dodger which we removed and put into storage that probably kept rain water out of the channel.  He may have blocked forward drainage, but I don't think so as the starboard side drains just fine.

Thanks in advance,

Bob

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

Making progress! 

I cleaned out the forward part of the port teak and now both sides drain.  Some water leaks out of the center and maybe down into potential cracks under the teak.  It is the rainy season down here in SE Florida, so I will do the teak removal in January.  In the meantime, the PO had installed snaps along the teak for Sunbrella covers on the teak.  I am going to get a 48" x 83" piece of Sunbrella, hem it, and install snaps so as to cover the whole of the companionway area, teak boards and all.  That should get me through the rainy season.

Also bedded down the Doral vent with butyl tape.  There were some chips in the gelcoat right by the 6 screws leading water to drip on to the nav station.  Butyl tape is such a blessing...  Thanks guys.

Cheers,

Bob

[Andrew Harvey]

Were you able to remove the entire dorade assembly or just the cowl cover ?
I tried to remove the stainless assembly but it is immovable. I wanted to re bed it.
Our port vent leaks quite badly, the is severe cracking that was hidden by the in interior trim ring

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

Were you able to remove the entire dorade assembly or just the cowl cover ?
I tried to remove the stainless assembly but it is immovable. I wanted to re bed it.
Our port vent leaks quite badly, the is severe cracking that was hidden by the in interior trim ring

I was able to remove the entire Dorade (sorry for my original miss-name of the vent) assembly.  It was the screws holding down the stainless that was the issue with my leak.  A small piece of gelcoat was chipped off such that a water path caused the leak.  Try starting with a knife blade to make room for a thin putty knife.  Work your way around the circle.  Someone has probably used a sealant under the assembly.  I was lucky that mine was poorly sealed.  It is a perfect spot for butyl tape.  I was pretty generous in forming the tape into the port hole as the assembly sits on the cabin top.  No water is getting down that seal!

Others in this forum can give you suggestions if you cannot remove the assembly.  Since the stainless is not visible when the plastic cone is mounted on top, you might have to seal the stainless from the top.  But I would try removal first.

Cheers,

Bob

[Andrew Harvey]

I will give it another try when is not so darn hot out.
Thanks

[Stu Jackson]

Dorade replacement from an August 2005 Mainsheet writeup (for C34IA Members)

http://www.c34.org/mainsheet/pdf/Aug_2005.pdf

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

Stu reminded me that the first day we owned Esprit du Vent we came about and the jib sheet knocked the air scoop off the Dorade plastic frame and down to Davey Jones' Locker.  It seems the PO had the scoop on the mount by friction.  After paying $65.00 for a new one I fashioned a wire preventer stay along the inside so that "puppy" will go nowhere when it gets socked again.

Cheers,

Bob