390EC - Possible Leak? Question re Rebedding Deck Hardware

B

bw219

New Member
Feb 13, 2010
30
Charleston, SC
Boat Info
390EC
Engines
Diesel
I've begun the process of redoing the interior and got started today by removing the "ceiling" in the forward berth. Found a wet spot behind the covering (see in the picture, the black area between where the two bow rail stanchions are thru-bolted). Was only moist, not "wet", and now two hours after removing the covering the area is bone dry. Only the black area was moist, nothing around it, and the locations where the thru bolts are was dry (and do not appear to have any mildew etc.).

I have never noticed any wet spots (and since I live on the boat I'm certain I would have noticed). Assuming a bit of water is getting in around the thru-bolts, has anyone rebedded all of the bow rail, horn, lights, cleats, etc. etc. bolts? I did a search but couldn't find a thread detailing how to actually do it.... As long as I"m taking everything apart I might as well do it.

One more bit of information, the backing on the ceiling covering was wet but moisture had not made it to the outside covering (and at least in the past year, never has).

Thanks in advance! Brandon.

photo.jpg

I know the picture is a bit hard to see - the wetness extended (only in the black area) from between the 1st and 2nd wire ties (starting from the left) all the way over to the very edge of the picture on the right. Oddly, all in the black area. No moisture either above or below it.... Thanks.
 
I'll try that. Thanks.

So have any 390 owners gone to the trouble of rebedding bow rails etc.? Leaks or no leaks....
 
Thanks. I'll check it out. I knew about the potential for the portholes to leak on our boats but I haven't had any problems with that (and I've been very vigilant about checking them). Actually about to replace all 4 portlights as part of the update... Hopefully I can replace them and maintain their no leak status!

Oddly enough, it rained last night and I stuck my hand up in the same spots and can't find any dampness. Is it possible the wetness I felt was just condensation that had somehow collected?
 
bw219 said:
Oddly enough, it rained last night and I stuck my hand up in the same spots and can't find any dampness. Is it possible the wetness I felt was just condensation that had somehow collected?
Click to expand...

May be it is condensation coming from the chain/rope locker. I even installed a solar powered Nicro vent there to prevent moisture as much as possible!
 
Thanks Pietro. I've been through your thread a million times. Boat looks amazing. Part of the inspiration to finally get started on mine... Any pointers with the headliner replacement/hull liner replacements? I know you said in another thread that you used sunbrella, do you know what exactly you used and whether it had a foam backing on it? I like the look of the stuff without the backing, but I don't want to have to do it twice either. Thanks.
 
bw219 said:
Thanks Pietro. I've been through your thread a million times. Boat looks amazing. Part of the inspiration to finally get started on mine... Any pointers with the headliner replacement/hull liner replacements? I know you said in another thread that you used sunbrella, do you know what exactly you used and whether it had a foam backing on it? I like the look of the stuff without the backing, but I don't want to have to do it twice either. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Yes it’s Sunbrella. It was on the marine catalog and it had no foam backing. You do not need it for the salon ceiling. You will need it for the rest of the boat. The foam was put in place with some spray glue.
On the hull sides I used vinyl leather without foam backing. Foam was glued on the back as for the ceiling.
Sofa is leather
 
bw219 said:
I've begun the process of redoing the interior and got started today by removing the "ceiling" in the forward berth. Found a wet spot behind the covering (see in the picture, the black area between where the two bow rail stanchions are thru-bolted). Was only moist, not "wet", and now two hours after removing the covering the area is bone dry. Only the black area was moist, nothing around it, and the locations where the thru bolts are was dry (and do not appear to have any mildew etc.).

I have never noticed any wet spots (and since I live on the boat I'm certain I would have noticed). Assuming a bit of water is getting in around the thru-bolts, has anyone rebedded all of the bow rail, horn, lights, cleats, etc. etc. bolts? I did a search but couldn't find a thread detailing how to actually do it.... As long as I"m taking everything apart I might as well do it.

One more bit of information, the backing on the ceiling covering was wet but moisture had not made it to the outside covering (and at least in the past year, never has).

Thanks in advance! Brandon.

View attachment 13308

I know the picture is a bit hard to see - the wetness extended (only in the black area) from between the 1st and 2nd wire ties (starting from the left) all the way over to the very edge of the picture on the right. Oddly, all in the black area. No moisture either above or below it.... Thanks.
Click to expand...
I had a similar problem and the leak was coming through little pin holes in fiberglass. Stuck some gook on it and gone forever. Let water run over that area and you may see what I saw.
 
Brandon, we live on our boat also. We seem to have a lot of condensation problems. I guess it's warm inside and cold out. Every thing out side is freshly caulked, no signs of leaks, just condesation.. Of course the condensation goes away as soon as the temps go up.
 
Condensation can build up a lot of moisture in the conditions outlined by bahambreisus. I thought we had a leak in one of our portholes (port side stateroom). There was significant dampness in the top bunk mattress. Traced it back to the porthole. Checked all of the screws and seals, tightened the latch, but was still getting dampness... and this was all at the beginning of the season last year. Didn't think that condensation alone would be able to build up that much moisture, but decided to try something anyway. I jammed towels up into the window well to essentially insulate the window from the warmth inside, and dampness issue went away. Once it warmed up outside, issue disappeared. At the end of the season, condition came back, resorted to towel trick, dampness went away. Not sure why this was primarily happening with the one window, however could be due to prevailing wind blowing on the port side, plus the fact design where this is a recessed window...who knows.

Essentially the stainless steel hardware on the window is acting like a mini dehumidifier so I guess over the course of a week, a fair bit of moisture can build up.

I can't see any metal fixtures in the picture posted at the start of this thread. Is there anything there that could be leading to a significant temperature differential in that spot. I don't think that the fiberglass alone would cause that to happen, but again, who knows?

Paul
 
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