4+2 Leak at front seating area

[ptaylor]

Hi all,

This is my first post, so hopefully I'm doing anything wrong.

We recently purchased a 4+2 and have loved it, annoyingly there seems to be quite a lot of water sneaking in from somewhere at the front of the boat (weather, not river). I initially thought it would be the grab rail joins that were in that area and to be honest were pretty shoddy. So I removed the grab rail and sealed the holes.

This seemed to resolved the issue for a while, but I recently noticed (after a bad rain) that there was again quite a lot of water that seemed to be coming from the same area, after I pealed back some more of the roofing material to investigate I found what looks like a rectangular part of the fibreglass has rotted away and is allowing water in. It's on both side of the boat in the same place, with nothing on the outside to explain it!

I spoke to another 4+2 owner who has the same problem, but they have no idea what it is either.

I am planning to get a fibreglass repair kit and 'fill the spaces', but I wondered if anybody on here knew anything about what it might be or if I should be doing something else with it?

Thanks in advance.

Paul

p.s. I tried to insert a picture, but the 'computer said no'

[vreagh]

To gain access to the full forum, a one off lifetime fee of £5 is payable. This will enable you to download pictures.

[Clive]

Really need photos to show exactly where. My 4+2 leaked almost everywhere it possibly could so I might be able to help. I’ve also posted how I fixed leaks - the worst being the joint between the hull and superstructure (behind the rubbing strip). I have a wierd bit under the grab rail where the fibreglass has been cut out and ply inserted for reasons no one knows! Well worth the joining fee, I’ve learned loads in the time I’ve been a member. Where are you based? Cheers Clive

[FishMan]

A common place is from the anchor locker. The fibreglass is quite thin there and is backed by wood.

[Clive]

Yes, that too. I sealed in there too even tho it wasn’t leaking and found water in the join round the edges so a good fix to do.

[daveflack]

Hi there & welcome, my 4+2 had an issue with leaks before I bought it, even the owner of the boat yard struggled to find the source. In the end the cabin roof-lining was removed so as to give a clearer picture. It was found that rainwater was seeping into the actual roof fibreglass & permeating thro the matting & drippng into the cabin at various places. Unfortunately repair involved the removal of the wheelhouse roof, the windscreen & the trim panel that covers the join between windscreen & cabin roof, a long job. the bulk of the leakage issues where found in the area under that trim panel & if you looked on the underside of the cabin roof you could follow the the stained water tracks thro the fibreglass. Some very small cracks in the gelcoat of the cabin roof where also noticed & when sanded out there was water under these aswell. I've now had the boat 3yrs & all appears good, sorry if this is bad news, the joys of boating eh !! regards magic

[Bogart]

On all these leaks what age of boat are we talking about?

[daveflack]

Hi Bogart, my boat was built in 2006, the array of leaks found where certainly there with its previous owner, so I would suggest it was less than 10yrs old

[Clive]

Mine is 1988 so coming up 34 years old. It had a complete refit before I bought it. Had lots of leaks the new lining was hiding but I soon found ‘em! Wasn’t that bothered as it was a good price and the GRP was really good which was my main criteria. Came with a new canopy too.