john english
Member
Finally traced the leaks that have mystified me for years. The outside teak rails that are on each side of the sliding companionway hatch are attached with #12 Phillips pan head sheet metal screws under teak plugs. When they were hacked in, an undersized hole was drilled in the coach roof to allow the screws to bite in. However, the concept of counter sinking or chamfering the gel coat to prevent spalling and cracking was apparently unkown. All of the holes except the first one on each side do not penetrate the interior. Naturally the first hole goes straight through and provides a path between the bulkhead teak plywood and the cockpit fiberglass. Because the screws fractured and spalled the gel coat and to some degree the laminate, it became a perfect course for water to drain to the top on the motor box.