We were on the boat the other day when all the rain was pouring down. Something was leaking like a sieve on the starboard side of the boat. Another project 🙂
The stanchions could be the problem. On a lot of other Downeaster boats this is a fairly common complaint that they let water follow the bolt through the caprail to the inside of the boat. They don’t actually bolt through the teak cap like I have seen in pictures on other DE’s. They have fiberglass sockets inboard of the caprail that they bolt into. I’m not sure if there is a bolt though the bottom yet. there is one through the side of the fiberglass socket they sit down in. However as much water as was coming into the boat the other day from rain on starboard it could certainly be an issue. I was thinking it might be the coming in around the screws holding the caprail in place. The teak plugs on 80% of them have come out and I’m thinking that rain is filling the hollows that the plugs were in and then draining down past the screws to the hull. It was just coming out through the teak strips over the starboard settee shelf and running down the hull there. I plan on pulling the cap rails off over there and taking a look. I will probably pull a couple stanchions at the same time and check them out also.
I don’t think water was getting into the headliner though. Oh.. it does look as water got to the headliner in the head though. If we get into the head liner I will just pull it out. Paint the underside of the deck with a insulative microsphere paint and then put in a layer of bubble wrap insulation over hard panels that are easy to pull down to inspect behind.
Hi Scott,
I purchased my DE 38, “Loggerhead,” this past Sept (2009). She certainly leaks as well. I have had so many other projects since moving onboard, I have not quit had time to rip up the caprails and check the stanchions. The fordeck around the windlass and pulpit needs to be cut out and rebedded as the previous pulpit leaked (before I purchased the boat). But, regarding the leaking that you are referring too, I have a similar leak on the port side. I am thinking it is coming from the forward large window as I was able to reach my hand under the headliner and feel moisture the other day. I am tempted to remove all the headliner and either paint the interior or redo the headliner later.
I appreciate your blog, as well as Erick Wanderlust’s blog. I just wanted to share my theory of where I think my saloon leak is coming from. I have other repair questions, but will post them separately as they do not relate to the leaking issue.
Thank you.
Lance