Water beneath cabinets in the Galley - Rain Intrusion?

[windymike]

Hello there. I am new to this forum since I just got my boat in November. Had it put up on block for winter storage in January. Visited it 2 days ago to check on it and found water seeping out under my galley cabinets. Water systems are all off and winterized.

Doesn't look like I can remove the cabinets without destroying them, but was able to pull up the bottom board under the sink which allowed me to dry up the water (there was at about a half gallon.) It rained today, so I went back to check and there was more water. The wet areas are behind the two steps leading down to the galley and under the cabinets.
The water had also seeped under the parqueted floor boards which appear to be relatively new. Hopefully they will dry out without too much damage.

Is this rain water intrusion? Were would it be coming from? Bilge is dry. I've heard that water can get under the deck ??? If so, how does that happen? Bridge is covered with full enclosure.
Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[tomschauer]

Look for water trails around the windows, portholes etc.
These things can be difficult to trace.
Also, look on the bridge, i believe the older 36 and 38's had some pretty clear paths for water from the bridge into the cabin, especially in the cubby to port and starboard.
Even with a full bridge enclosure, water can always find a way to ruin your day.

[bud37]

Sometimes boats leak when on blocks that don't leak when in the water due to the storage angle forcing water to run off at different angles......did yours leak before storage ? Have a real good look around the window seals.

Oh did you winterize or the marina, maybe it was already there from before ?....also check the sink drains in that area.

[Sven2021]

I have a 1993 390 Carver. I found that mine was leaking along the bottom edge of the aluminum window frame. I cleaned the crack and taped (because my caulking sucks) the edges and caulked those frames. Also check the bottom window track. There is a small slot in the frame to allow rain that hits the window to not fill the track and drain outward. If you don't schrinkwrap in the winter those tracks fill and freeze also causing some water intrusion.

[Viper]

I agree with all the above. Could be coming from anywhere though I think it would be obvious if it were the porthole above the galley sink. If the hull isn't blocked level, that water could be coming from the aft cabin windows, bridge, bow, etc. and run along that side of the hull. This model has carpeting around the windows and portholes, I'd start by feeling for wet carpet along that side from stem to stern. If there is a path from the side windows for water to migrate, you may be able to see it if you pull back the breaker panels and look for a wet hull side back there. The engine compartment vents may also be suspect and worth checking for signs of water intrusion.

It may come down to waiting until Spring when you can get a garden hose and spray different areas with water. Isolate one area at a time, have someone try to duplicate a rainfall in that area while you go down below and look for water. If none appears right away, leave it and check the next morning as it may take a few hours to migrate to its resting place. While it's not always easy to do, if you can block off the run from stem to stern with towel dams every 5 feet or so, it will help isolate which area above those sections is the source of the leak. Note that where the water is collecting now will likely change when the hull is in the water so it might be smart to wet her down before launch. If no water appears, you've likely eliminated that area as the culprit and should repeat the process in a different spot. I would start in the lowest spots first and work your way up. Don't blast the windows for example as you'll likely force water in and not duplicate what's actually happening.

If it's a 3807, I have the same boat so am curious if there's something I should be proactive about before it presents itself. Good luck and keep us posted.

[windymike]

Okay. Lots to try. Raining pretty hard right now, so I am heading over to see if something is obvious.

Water in the area did appear when it was in the water, just not as much. Was doing work on some floorboards that were popping up from swelling and heard a slow drip into the forward bilge pump area (under the steps to the galley). When it was out of the water and winterized, it looked to me to have dried up. Figured I have to wait till spring when the water systems were back on to try to find it. Didn't occur to me that it would come from outside, especially because it appeared in the middle of the cabin. Guess they were just dry days.

We did just get past some cold (freezing weather) and I didn't wrap it. So will look at those windows first.

Thanks and will keep you posted.

[windymike]

Well, the rain made it obvious and Sven appears to be right.

I had already pulled apart the cabinet behind the dining table, thinking a leak in the holding tank (yuck) or fridge or other plumbing was the culprit, but never saw anything but a tiny bit of moisture. With the rain coming down hard it was immediately obvious and the drips appear to be right below the SB window track. The boat is definitely leaning to the port side a bit, so all that water ran across the boat and under the galley cabinets.

Put a small trash can under the drip and will fix the window another day. Any advice on the best way to do this would be appreciated.

What a relief. Thanks and I will keep all your advice on hand about how to find leaks.

Windy (Gail)

PS Not sure why the "Leak" picture turned sideways