Mid cabin radar arch
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 7:13 pm
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.
- 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.