Hi
Re Window Leak Two days after collecting our 26M from the Mac yard at Falmouth 2005 with the Boat parked temporarily outside of our House rain got in around one of the starboard windows. Richard Hallowes (good Guy) the Manager of UK Mac at the time popped up with sidekick Tristan and hosed the window to identify leak sealed same, it`s been fine ever since.
Bilge leak. I have had occasional water accumulation in the port side bilge area, under the Battery position by the Ladder and also the deep spot in the storage area by the Dinette stern end. generally I believe this has been caused by ingress around the steerage arm, being `pooped` or when washing or heavy rain.
I have fitted a succession of gaiters over the arm entry, but they soon wear or perish. Taking up one of the members suggestion of fitting flat rubber over the hole with the arm poking through and applying vaseline this seems to do the job, plus the `Mac steering Sqeak` gone!
Regards
Ian Tyrrell Atthis
Many thanks Ian, that's so useful.
Looks like the window will come out fairly easily for re-sealing or maybe just cleaning and sealing around the edges with Sika or Butyl tape.
Regarding the steering, wiring etc around the stern, I have to admit I've wondered how on earth this works, in terms of sealing. Mind you, the same could be said of the coach roof/washboard join.
I suppose it's reasonable to expect some ingress otherwise what's the point of bilges and bilge pumps. I guess we live in a pretty sanitized world these days and maybe expect a lot.
When learning about sealing deck joints recently I found an excellent site - http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/boat projects . The author recommended Butyl Tape for sealing.
I ordered a roll of it and I have to say it's pretty amazing. Although it comes in "tape" form, it can be moulded into any shape and never cures or hardens. It seems to stick to anything and fills any gap. The only provisos are that surfaces are clean and it's forced slowly into gaps to ensure good filling.
Will probably give this a try. Well worth reading through - http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/boat projects - lots of good stuff.
Thanks again!
MacGregor 26M 2009 - Sky's the Limit - Suzuki DF50
I had some window leak but solved it with some liqid crack sealant applied to the screws.
I also used to have big problem with water in rear bilge and battery area and traced it to water running down inside wall and trac8king into bilge. Eventually solved again with liquid sealant applied to rubbing strip where i saw it disappearing.After several applications it stopped and has not recurred..
Roly