Grand Banks 42 Europa leaking through deck up front.

[mrbarnum]

Hi,

During a long heavy rain this week, I noticed water dripping through the headliner in the forward cabin on my boat. i checked the window, but it was tight and dry. So it appears to be leaking somehow through the deck (maybe a screw hole or something in the fiberglass below the teak deck).

Has anyone experienced this, and how do I remedy it?

Thanks!

 

[TJM]

Water will wick into any crack or opening. All deck hardware should be installed with bedding in any hull piercing, this includes screws, stanchions and lockers. Get your self a drill bit with a driver on it and remove all screws and place a dab of deck sealant on the threads and tighten.

 

[mrbarnum]

Thanks. Sounds like a good first step. Is there a specific sealant that works best?

 

[koliver]

Thanks. Sounds like a good first step. Is there a specific sealant that works best?

i prefer butyl tape. Cheap at any glass shop.

 

[FF]

"All deck hardware should be installed with bedding in any hull piercing, this includes screws,"

The bedding slowly dries out or hardens so part of your PM is every 6-10 years lifting all deck hardware , cleaning out the old useless sealing goop and replacing it .

The hardest part is cleaning off the old hardened sealant , for this reason I use Dolphinite , to ease the cleaning workload.

Hard working items like stanchions (folks move the boat by pushing on them ) are usually the first to start leaking.