Trojan Boat Forum

I've owned my 1977 F-32 since 1983 and never had water dripping from the hardtop . The water is now dripping down the SS steering shaft and from holes where a depth finder was mounted. The port side drips less. I've always tried to keep my saddle fuel tanks full and run of the stern tanks. This year I let the stern tanks(80 gal each) get down to about 15 gallons each and run off the saddles(50 gal each). This has affected my trim both underway and at the dock. My stern sits 3" higher at the dock than before. With this nose down attitude water is getting from somewhere and running forward and dripping. Any thoughts on where it's coming from. I have a hardtop with a full enclosure. The rain gutter fit is not the best but not an issue before.
On the plus side I'm reading 25 knots on the GPS and burning less fuel.
Lakeguy

On my Hard top ( the one above the fly bridge) there is a seam between the from and the back I have reseal mine . yours may also have this . These are custom so your maybe different .

Prowlersfish, sorry for the confusion, but I meant the top that the bridge is mounted on. Not the top above the bridge.
Lakeguy

I have the same problem. I've sealed everything I can find, but it still leaks - usually right onto the lower helm (nice, huh?).

I had the same problem, and also sealed the gutter around the top of the cabin. but then read a post from Aaronbocknek about Capt tollys creapy cure and used it on the gutter and it stoped the leak also had a pestey leak in the front vent window it also stoped that leak Thanks for the input Aaronbocknek it works well (PS look up his post )My Boat is a 77 F32

Jumm - do you mean the aluminum gutters? I pulle dmine off all the way around, fiilled the crack behind them with 3M 5200 and then re-attached the gutters (using 5200) to no avail. Still come sin somewhere.

The "hole" where the wiring goes up to the bridge was a source, but I made a lip to keep the water out, and have a cover (which doesn't seal, but keeps much of the water from dripping in).

Eddie-o wrote:I had the same problem, and also sealed the gutter around the top of the cabin. but then read a post from Aaronbocknek about Capt tollys creapy cure and used it on the gutter and it stoped the leak also had a pestey leak in the front vent window it also stoped that leak Thanks for the input Aaronbocknek it works well (PS look up his post )My Boat is a 77 F32

glad i could be of assistance. i love this stuff. if i could buy it in gallon jugs, i would. i buy the 2ounce and the 8ounce. i refill the 2 oz bottle from the larger size as it is easier to work with in tight spaces. yes indeed, capt. tolley's creeping crack cure is one amazing product. for bedding things i also use dolphinite bedding compound. best stuff around.

aaron in baltimore

Great stuff

prowlersfish wrote:Great stuff

aww shucks paul, thanks for the compliment... oh, the creeping crack cure ... hopefully this direct link will work for you guys. i just placed and order for more of the 8 ounce product.
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so the leak continues - even with the gutter's crack sealed ...

This is a long post, but worth reading -- been there, done that.

I have had problems a couple of times and found/fixed multiple sources. Sounds like your config is a bit different than mine (you mention the stainless steering shaft - I assume it is a conduit running down to your lower console near the gear shift levers? In mine the conduit is built in to the starboard side window frame), but its possible that you still have same root cause.

First, found stuff in the starboard side cupboards in the salon were getting wet from time to time. Eventually traced it to the wiring conduit from the bridge. A bit of water was getting through my bridge cover (not 100% water proof) and dripping on to the bench seat in front of the console. From there it would run to the starboard side, off the edge of the console seat, and into the 'box' that all the bridge wiring/shift cables/steering lines run through. From there it was dripping on some wiring and just following it down the conduit to the side shelf. Fixed that one with a strategically placed plastic bag draped over the wiring as it ran through the box on the bridge, to make sure water never got to the wires themselves.

Later I found the same cupboard wet again - similar origin but different. There is a bungee cord holding the cushion on the seat in front of the console. There are a pair of holes drilled through the molded seat that the bungee goes through, and is tied in a knot inside the console. Water that had made it to the console seat had run to where this 1/4" hole is and then ran down the tail of the bungee cord until it dripped off the end of it... and again on to some wiring that was not protected by my high tech plastic bag solution. Of course, from there that wiring ran down hill, under the plastic bag solution, and down the conduit. The easy fix for this one was to use a zip tie to hold the wiring away from where the drip was.

Third scenario was water dripping off of my center windshield wiper motor, landing at the base of the stairs in the lower cabin. It's source was the mast light base, where it meets the flybridge fairing. Rain was getting in through bad caulking on the base or and/or one of the bolts. From there it found the wiring for the mast light, and followed it down through the interior bridge liner, and then into (bad caulking) the floor (or hard top depending on your perspective). That bulkhead across the front of the salon is one big empty space I think... so the water just kind of came out whatever holes it could find - and in my case that was where the wiring for the center wiper poked through. Re sealed the mast base and its bolts, caulked the crap out of where the masthead light wires go through the hard top, and for good measure hit the wooden block that surrounds the hole with a few coats of cetol (it was pretty dried out looking so figured if I finished it any water that did come in would be more likely to run off than soak in or through).

The first two scenarios may explain the water you are seeing in your stainless steering shaft; the last one may explain the drips from the depth finder holes. Plus if you are bow down a bit, there is a greater chance that any other water that makes it to the flybridge floor may be running forward to the mast light wiring access hole... I would also check the screws that fasten the bridge fairing to the hardtop, and those that fasten the console and seat to the hardtop, to look for any that are loose or do not look well sealed.

Rossjo - I am guessing your problem may be related to the third scenario as well -- water is getting in and just 'sloshing' around inside that bulkhead until it finds a way out.

Good luck! Rule #1 about water intrusion - where it comes out probably ain't where it came in!

I cured leaks by resealing and tightening the flybridge surround screws.

#rd scenario - the mast light (going away soon when I install my new radar arch) wiring goes down through the bridge floor? Never checked that (dark now).

Wowzer - I've removed every screw holding the bridge to the bridge floor, and replaced with 5200 on next size up stainless screws - still leaks.

I'll look at the mast light wiring tomorrow.

I taped up the rain gutter across the front and about a third of the way around the sides and after a heavy rain I had no leaks. I'll work on a more permanent fix in the spring. What I don't understand is this only happens when I'm low on fuel and the bow is down. If the water is coming in the joint behind the gutter you would think it would be worse when the bow is high with full tanks. This would cause the bridge face runoff to wick more under the gutter.
As Capt Maniac says "Rule #1 about water intrusion - where it comes out probably ain't where it came in!"

Lakeguy

Yes, I had water coming in similar to yours, but removing the gutters and filling the gaps with 5200 and reinstalling the screws/gutter with 5200 sealed that, but I still get some water. Makes me mad because it drips right on my teak drink holder (into whatever beverage may be there) at the lower helm

I think the masthead light wires might be the thing - never checked that. Can't wait to get rid of that annoying light altogether. Who put the light in front of your face?