1989 340EC Water Intrusion

[CaptTim]

As anyone that has a 340 knows they all seem to experience water intrusion in the same spot and I'm included.

I'm getting water in the closet on the port side and I'm also getting water stains in the headliner above the galley just about where the horns mount. Most 340s I've seem have leaks in the same spots and I'm wondering if anyone ever found a fix for this.

I've already removed the port side sliding window and recaulked the entire thing to attempt to fix the closet leak with no luck.

I've also removed and resealed the horn and the windshield frame screw holes to try to fix the galley leak but that has not worked either.

Does anyone have any advice on what else I can try?

 

[Csalt]

I don't have a 340EC, however on my 1990 280 I had leaks from a front bowrail stanchion into the forward locker and the leak above my galley was from a cockpit cover snap in front of the windshield that wasn't sealed.
Not the same boat, but my leaks were in the same places.

 

[fwebster]

Tim doesn't give us his location so this may not be appropriate......but the side glasses in the 80's EC's and DA's had several panels set into a frame. There was no gasket per se, but rather the maker used some type of pliable stripping that set up semi hard after the windows were made. In high heat conditions or with the cabin shut up in the summer for long periods, that gasket material softens and allows the individual panels to shift a little. They can't go far because they are set in a frame, but it wouldn't take much movement to get a leak. So you can seal the perimeter until you are blue in the face but until you seal all the individual panels in the port, you are likely to have leaks.

 

[tobnpr]

I don't have a 340 but do have a 390 from that era. Don't even know if they're similar, BUT, if they are the window design sucks big time.
The lexan (?) panels are set in the frame with rubber weatherstripping, which isn't watertight after two decades, water leaks into the frame. The engineering "boondoggle" is that the frames run "downhill" towards the stern, so that any water that got into the frame ran down, accumulated at the back end, then simply ran over the edge right over the salon couch. After buying the boat and discerning the problem, I whipped out my trusty cordless drill and punched a weephole straight through the frame-leaving the slightly higher interior side flange intact. Now, when water collects in the frame it weeps out the outside harmlessly, instead of overflowing into the cabin. If this is related to your problem, PM me if you like and I'll shoot a pic of how I did it.

 

[CaptTim]

Thanks for the input guys.

tobnpr, I'd like to see those pictures. I'll send you a PM

 

[Just Relax]

I have a 1984SD and my leaks mostly came in around the screws holding the rub rail to the hull. I tried pulling each screw out and sealing them but, ultimately I had to run a bead of caulk along the top of rub rail. Never had a leak yet from the horn or windshield.

 

[wileecoyote]

I'm having the exact same leaks, I was thinking the horn too. I've been asking for advise about rebedding the bow stanchions and all deck hardware, looks like it'll be a very tough job. Looks like I'll be ripping the interior apart to find all the hardware bolt locations. If anyone has pulled everything apart to reseal deck hardware PM me and I will give email for pics.:smt100

 

[wileecoyote]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wileecoyotemoore/3032875044/sizes/l/

This is a picture of my port locker. It has rained for the last 3 days or more, and this stuff was soaking wet! Am I right and assuming the screw you can barely see is coming through from the rubrail?? If I replaced the rubrail how would I repair the wood it screws into? I'm assuming that this was fiberglassed into the hull. I can do this section, but what about where it goes aft? :smt100

 

[wileecoyote]

Just to update, and I think I have on another thread already, but for anyone searching, The leak appears to be the bow stanchion right above the locker. If you have the same model and want to know how to rip the interior apart I can probably help. I have mine all ripped up!