We are getting close to closing a the deal on a 26M but i am a little worried because there was water inside the under-seat storage area. The current owner tells me this is normal.
Please can someone confirm this or tell me if I should walk away.
Jim Unsworth
I was told that by MacGregors that MacGregors are dry boats
I have had a 26X for 11 years and the only time I have had water was when the silicon rubber around the chain plates let water in
I replaced the rubber and the problem was solved
Leaking around the chain plate is a design feature of the 26x perhaps it is on a 26M
"Leaking around the chain plate is a design feature of the 26x perhaps it is on a 26M" :lol:
I wouldn't necesarily reject the boat entirely, as they are so difficult to find seconhand, but just find out where the water is coming in, and if it's not a dirty great hole in the bottom of the hull :? use that as a negotiating point, you may get a decent bit knocked off for the cost of a tube of silicone sealant.
Apart from the chain plates, there may be some ingress through any hull fittings like the depth sounder or I suppose it could be worse and the daggerboard casing could be opening up due to grounding or similar - that would be a good reason to look elsewhere though I guess. The other place some water could come in is around the steering gear hole, although it will normally only be rain water, unless the boat has had waves breaking over the stern. I noticed I had a wet patch :oops: on my rear berth after hosing it down las winter, and traced it to where the steering gearing goes through the hull, it really ought to have a rubber bellows or gaiter of some sort.
Paul
[Ex 'Crackerjack' - 26M]
There are a lot of places that rain water can leak in, especially in an older boat. Shroud chainplates are indeed a favourite, but also don't forget the forestay tang - same weakness.
You can get leakage around the windows, and I also had water leaking through some of the screws securing various deck fittings. But provided it's just rain water you can eventually chase it down and seal it. Leakage below the water line is a more serious problem. If the boat's in salt water, you can easily check what kind of leak it is by tasting it!
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
Thank you all for your input. The situation is that I have bought the boat and brought her home. I have taken all the cusions out (all perfectly dry), opened up all the covers and dried out the bilges. I am almost certain that the water is coming in through a hole in the transom that a previous owner has drilled to pass the cable for a wind generator through to the battery - sitting on the for'ard berth and looking back, you can see daylight through the transom. My intention is to seal the hole (complete with cable) with a silicon filler but if anyone has a better idea I am open to suggestions.
Regards
Jim Unsworth
Congrats on your new purchase Jim, I'm sure you will sort out that little problem and have a lot of fun. Have you had a chance to put a hose near your hole yet, with someone inside to check what is happening. Sealing it up is always a good start. :idea: Maybe water is tracking down the cable? Just a thought.
Paul
[Ex 'Crackerjack' - 26M]
Once again, thank you all for your input on this topic which I am pretty sure I have now got to the bottom of.
The hole I was looking at from the for'ard berth is the one cut to feed the Battery cables and outboard control cables through to the motor well. Unfortunately this hole was drilled lower than the rear sill of the outboard well. This would have been fine if the drain tube for the outboard well had not become blocked. Needless to say when we had a downpour a couple of days ago, the water went straight into the bilges. The drain tube is now running well and the cable hole will soon be filled with silicone sealant.
Only a few days to go now to our maiden voyage.
Regards
Jim Unsworth
Best of luck Jim, mine saw water for the first time only a couple of weeks back, and I have yet to unfurl the sails in anger. Where are you planning to sail?
Paul
[Ex 'Crackerjack' - 26M]
Paul
My wife is a complete beginner so we are intending to start on either the Norfolk Broads or perhaps Rutland Water where there will be no tide or significant waves for her to worry about and I can get used to handling the boat where the worst you will get are wet feet and a long walk home.
Best of luck with yours too and perhaps we will meet up on the water one day.
Best regards
Jim Unsworth
That's interesting, we are more or less in the same position, as my wife has very limited sailing experience and doesn't like the boat to heel too much [at all, if possible :( ], which is why we have chosen the River Tamar from Plymouth, as our home cruising grounds, once we have mastered flat water with banks on either side, we can then venture out into the lumpy stuff. ;)
I hope all goes well with the boat and our wives learning and enjoyment of sailing.
it would indeed be interesting to meet up in a year or two and compare notes.
Paul
[Ex 'Crackerjack' - 26M]