Liveaboard in a Sinking Boat EP03 - Jerry rigging the leaks on Catalina 25. Duct tape saves the day.

[@thunderds]

I have a Catalina 25 that had a lot of leaks. It is totally dry now. Leaks that I fixed were: tighten the hull to deck nuts along the inside seam, remove, refinish and re-bed the sliding hatch rails and grab rails, cut holes for 3 inch deck plates to gain access to backstay plate and traveler bar, re-bed, tighten the backstay chainplates and traveler bar, cut out cockpit drains fill surrounding inside area with Thixo, drill out, paint with barrier coat and install new Marelon drain ports, fill and re-gelcoat random holes in transom, re-bed outboard kicker and swim ladder, remove and reseal winches and clutches, replace cabin vent above v-berth, replace all through hulls and build up fiberglass seating surfaces for new through hulls, re-bed all chainplates and bow pulpit. I can send you some pics to make this clearer if you want.

[@sipitak8702]

Thank you soooo much. I appreciate it. You should have done a video on all of these. The only leak left is I believe is coming from the travel bar which I have no idea how to do.If you have pictures on how you fix this I appreciate it.. You should just post the picture on your youtube channel. Someone will find it helpful.

[@sckirschstein]

Happy to know that you are going in deep with the leak fixing. Catalina sells the entire window kits. There I posted you some window change processes. For your companion way I suggest to think that it originally worked well and dry, so the philosophy is not trying "to fix" but to restore the original geometry and seals. In my humble opinion, everything that goes through the deck should be sealed sistematically along the holes and above, under the contact surfaces, with a marine grade sealant. For the aft's "unreachable" nuts try to use a dime extension and a ratchet wrench. If they at Catalina could install that parts while the boat was constructed, you also can reach them to loosen the pieces, clean or sand a little bit to inject sealant in the holes and under the contact surfaces on the outher side, before re-tighting these nuts again. Let us know about your progress.

[@sipitak8702]

Thanks for the suggestion. Doing the windows right now with a kit from Catalina Direct...slowly. Can't decide whether to use butyl tape or 3M 4000 silicone that comes with the kit.

[@sckirschstein]

@@sipitak8702 I suggest tp stay within the specs in order to keep warranties, with provision of better practices and well explained experiences using other products. Becsuse it's not a matter of opinions but technical evidences. It's always better to stop water leaks sealing from outside to inside, than badly catching water inside with no idea to where it is flowing inside the core.

[@mostlyguesses8385]

... I have not replaced my windows, silicone or similar can stop most leaks, , , this is an OLD boat maybe don't try to replace things just repair in minimal tiny ways. Be lazy and spend time instead on fun or learning, be creative not a work-a-holic.

[@mostlyguesses8385]

... Good videos. You are newish to boating culture, maybe just ACCEPT and don't fight so hard water getting to bottom of boat since fiberglass is NOT hurt by water in the areas the designers planned water to drain to (anywhere on inside bottom) and it is sunlight mostly that wears down fiberglass boats plus plants growing on the hull underwater (rainwater getting inside is a minor problem compared to these). Plus maybe the last owner only aired out the boat every 3 months, so you living there WILL get more airflow to corners of the boat so will have less water just sitting for months, maybe, maybe. So solve water issues one could just use the bottom bilge pump to drain the bottom or a Shop-vac vacuum a few times a month. Plus a dehumidifier will keep the main cabin dryer even if the back areas of the boat are wet. I mostly worry putting lots of tape and plastic on a boat looks a bit weird and the chemical in the tape can change color of the fiberglass surface, and your neighbors can complain - - - I could be wrong but I am just suggesting a more relaxed view of water on a fiberglass boat. ..... Just my amateur opinion, I had a boat a decade and had to learn to relax, also to not view my boat up close but imagine a person 10 feet away judging my boat to see any minor crack or dirty bit is NOT that big a problem. .... What Lake are you on? Again just my silly opinion. Thank you. ...

[@sipitak8702]

Thank you for the input. It is kind a hard for a newbie like me to get use to water in the boat.

[@mostlyguesses8385]

... Fiberglass is just AMAZING, it lasts 50 years with no rust or rotting, and water doesn't hurt it all (your boat is sitting in the water w water touching the fiberglass, for decades), and only bad thing is just sometimes water can find spots on inside without thick resin but this tends to NOT be the bottom inside where water was expected to flow to - - - but again its just a wonderful material to mostly just wipe down occassionally. .... BE LAZY. If new to boating you have to learn the Joy of going out 5 miles to a back bay or bend and drop anchor out of the wind and just sit 3-20 days (!!!) and just read and listen to music and watch vids - -- if you can find a bar or restaurant near to shore inflate a little round inflatable ring and paddle to shore for dinner and drinks and then return to boat. But get a good anchor, or best is to have 2 anchors separated by chain since the ANGLE matterse so 2nd anchor keeps the 1st anchor going sideways which is best angle. HAVE FUN. Get a simple grill to cook meat too.

[@richiel17]

Regarding your aft berth leak, it might me the gundgeon(?is that the term) bolts that hold up the rudder. Mine were rusted through and leaked water into the hull. I only noticed them when I pulled the boat. Love my Catalina.

[@sipitak8702]

there are 6 bolts, 3 at the bottom & 3 at the top. How do you get the 3 bolts at he top out as can't get access to it?

[@richiel17]

@@sipitak8702 My boat was on the hard when I discovered the rusted bolts and the yard did the work. They had to drill them out and then glass in the new bolts. There could be a better way, but that's how mine were dealt with.

[@sipitak8702]

@@richiel17 thanks

[@roslizar67]

Suggestion- a) Rubber/Silicone Grommet for the top screws holding the timber rails b) Fiberglass repair/patch kit DIY c) use Foam Filler instead of silicone at some location (where bigger/larger holes/gaps)

[@sipitak8702]

Thanks for the suggestions.

[@AdventuresInLiving]

butyl tape is the way to go way easier i just got Catalina 25 last year and everything leaks just like your boat

[@sipitak8702]

Thanks for the suggestion. After watching a handful of youtube videos, I was going to use butyl tape too especially on all the screws & bolts, but the guy at West marine talk me out of it and suggested using 3M 4000 UV sealant instead.

[@AdventuresInLiving]

@@sipitak8702 depends on the area and what your doing. for the railings and windows def butyl tape

[@AdventuresInLiving]

@@sipitak8702 do you have Facebook theres a awesome Catalina 25 group

[@22jaydogg]

All that mold as you know will make you very sick