Mid cabin radar arch

[BobCT]

I got indoor storage for this winter and in the process of removing my radar arch. Unlike a few other people, mine is solid but I've had two nagging issue since I bought the boat:

- the bottom foot or so is soaked and continuously weeps brown liquid
- the Stb side mid cabin locker is always wet and I just discovered why....

There's a hole under the base of the arch which points straight down into the locker. It's from the factory and unused. I'm going to re-engineer a few things in the process.

1) Re-work the vinyl panels so they"re more watertight and come up with a better fastening system than screws/caps
2) Create a couple of channels at the base of the arch so water can get out if it does get inside. Seal the inside of the entire arch and not caulk the bottom section for drainage.
3) Make a fiberglass form to close that giant gap next to the glass on each side. I had an inch or more of caulking from the factory. With the unfilled hole it's easy to see why this has been a continual point of leaking.

If you have a mid cabin and are plagued with leaks, I think removing the arch is really the only true fix. I was able to make it better at times with some 4000 but that arch/hull/windshield joint is a bad setup from the factory. Fortunately for me, the whole thing is dry as a bone except for the bottom.

Bob

P.S.
My port side has also gotten wet too but I haven't loosened that side enough to see if the same hole exists there too. And, a leak on that side is not quite as obvious as the Stb side.

[RWS]

looking forward to the photos, Bob.

As you know, I removed and re-did mine after Hurricane Charley.

The two aluminum tubes and connecting plates that replaced the wood were bent and then welded together to form a stiff skeleton that was then glassed into the existing arch.

the two tubes are actually completely hidden inside the leading and trailing edge of the arch, leaving the arch to appear as it was when it left the factory.

The aluminum plates hold them together, and the plates are sandwiched between the arch and the boat where it all bolts on.

When the arch was off I took the opportunity to paint the outside of the side windows where the arch covers the glass.

I think Lancaster began painting these sometime after my production date.

This was all done in 2004, before I owned a digital camera. Wish I had more pictures to share.

RWSRWS