Leak in Cabin

Bob Meola

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Went to empty everything off boat last week so Mariana could pull and put to sleep for the winter. This is starboard side of boat. Its a 265 Express. Can the leak becoming from bow rail?boat.jpg
 
hard to tell from pic, but is the area saturated? if not, could be from condensation.
 
I am making a guess here but assuming that the wet section normally sits pretty much level, based on watching too many episodes of CSI the slant of the angled streaks tells me that the water is running towards that section from farther forward as the boat plows to get on plane. It may be pooling somewhere and under acceleration runs back until it finds a place to drain out.
 
That's a good thing to check. Dry and clean the stains ( don't wax though). you could try hosing the rub rail from underneath and see if there is water inside.
Good luck, I hope it's something relatively simple.
 
I had a leak in the exact same area on my 305 Express this summer. Turns out the leak was from the horn on the outside. I had my horn replaced and the mechanic somehow got the gasket folded when he did the install. I checked some photos or my previously owned 265 Express and the horn was in the same area as the one on my 305 Express.
Just a thought for you to look at!
 
Is that near midships on the side? If so, I vote rubrail. I had to redo mine a couple years ago. Had water coming in after an offshore trip. Seems that the spray or waves and forward momentum put enough pressure to force it in this area.
Just removed the screws, cleaned, recaulked and no more issue.
My rubrail is all rubber, so best to do in warm to hot weather since cold weather might make it hard to work with, it not impossible.
 
Deck and liner joint under rub rail and horn are good call outs. Check wiper arm too.
 
The only things in that area that can leak would be the rubrail, bow rail, hardtop leg, horn and wiper. My previous 265 the wiper leaked a bit, but the water usually collected in the cover under the motor. While boat shopping and selling I talked to a few surveyors who all said that they commonly see moisture around the hardtop legs especially in boats of that vintage.
 
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