Tracking down a leak

[Paul Flanagan]

While putting my 36 MKII away this fall, I noticed about a quart of water in the storage area underneath the forward seat in the split seat arrangement on the starboard side. Water was fresh but there were no tell tale stains indicating a source. Anyone have any ideas or similar experience.

[LaDonna Bubak - Planet Catalina]

Tracking a leak is a tough job. It sounds like you're in saltwater so you have a limit on where the fresh water could be coming from. I'm in freshwater so it's pretty hard to tell if it's rain or river water!I've heard of the following: try marking all the way around the affected area with some water permeable "ink". If it rains, great. If not, wash the boat (that should get a good amount of H2O over the entire boat). Check the ink & see where it's disappeared or run. Try tracking it from there. Good luck!LaDonna

[Gene Foraker]

It could have come from not having the side ports or overhead hatch dogged down tight in a rain storm. Most likely however, is a leak from the chainplate attachment for the upper shroud. There is a small metal plate on deck around the chainplate. Lift it up and seal well under it. MkII's tend to loosten up here and leak a little every so often if driven hard. The leak will come down and follow the curve of the wood down below and find itself in that storage compartment. My new MkII leaked a little here and the dealer resealed it in a few minutes. He did say that since I am leaving the mast up in winter storage, I may have to reseal again in Spring. The lack of "give" on the cradle may loosten it here.Gene Foraker

[L. Youngman]

Check the thru-deck sealant on the chainplates. My new boat leaked there. Remove the top-side metal flashing surrounding the thru-deck plate, and replace the sealant, then reinstall the metal flashiing piece. Consult your boat documents for locations. Catalina Inc. has recommendations for doing this.