Rain filling the bilge and more

[jlcarreiro]

HI, new owner of a 81 Sabre 28 mk2
It's on the hard and during the past two bad rain storms here in RI we noticed the boat flooded with water a few inches above the floor. we cannot figure where it is coming from. It's not from the forward hatch or main hatch everything above the flooring was dry.
I initially thought it was came from the emergency tiller cover so we sealed that. This Saturday's storm came and we again had water in the boat.

Anyone have some thoughts?

[sailorboy1]

Down the mast

[er9]

Dont you have working bilge pumps? Id be more concerned about that. Water shouldnt come up a few inches above the floor unless you have no bilge?

I get an inch or two of water in the bilge from heavy rains that comes down yhe mast.

[Don C L]

Check your lifeline stanchion bases.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Down the mast

Indeed.
There may be others leaks, as well, but, with internal halyards, you always get rain down the mast.

[jlcarreiro]

Deck stepped mast, all is dry in that area....

[jordanbettis]

Does your companionway extend to the bottom of the cockpit and/or is there a hatch in the bottom of the cockpit that may be leaking?


The cockpit can collect a huge amount of rainwater, and if the scuppers are partially plugged there's a chance it can temporarily flood.

[Donnybrook]

Check the cockpit scupper hoses. I had a problem with rainwater that I mistakenly thought was from the keel stepped mast. Turned out it was a crack in a cockpit scupper hose.

[Tayana42]

As Donnybrook said, I’d look at the cockpit drain hoses. Water a few inches above the floor is a lot of water. Since your mast is deck stepped it must be some other large opening. If you are confident it isn’t a deck hatch then the cockpit is a logical next suspect as it can collect a lot of water in a rainstorm. Leaky stanchion bases and other deck fittings can be a real problem but not likely to let in that volume of water all at once.

[Knotical]

Hi, congratulations on your new Sabre.
As others said check your cockpit drain hoses.
The other common water entry on Sabres is from broken deck drain scuppers (check on the sides of cockpit coamings, water will come in the aft compartment where you may see wetness) - they break from UV exposure.
Almost all Sabre owners have had to deal with deck drain scuppers, including me
Also, the owners group is very active and knowledgeable on all things Sabre, please join https://groups.io/g/SabreSailboat

[taxwizz]

Sounds like a leak in the hull - deck joint.
Alternatively a deck attachment point for deck hardware.

[guyrj33]

Since you mentioned you are out of the water, may I suggest installing a garboard drain?

[notiesbob]

Go all out McGyver. Watch the weather forcast and plan to be aboard DURING the storm. No rain? Do a real car wash style spray/washdown. Fill plug up the cockpit drains and fill the cockpit. Examine below every deck fitting, fastener, hatch and locker with flashlight & rags in hand. #1 on the garboard plug.

[taxwizz]

Originally Posted by notiesbob

Go all out McGyver. Watch the weather forcast and plan to be aboard DURING the storm. No rain? Do a real car wash style spray/washdown. Fill plug up the cockpit drains and fill the cockpit. Examine below every deck fitting, fastener, hatch and locker with flashlight & rags in hand. #1 on the garboard plug.

Just don't sit under the mast during a lightning storm.
ZZZAP

[Capt Y Knot]

Was the water tank drained before the latest freeze?

As an exercise, try and eliminate the likely avenues of approach. Cover the hatches with plastic and weight it down.

Sprinkle talcum power on the horizontal sides of the bilge, any passing water
running down the bulkheads will leave a tell tale sign.

Probably all the deck fittings that were bedded down in 1981 are not water tight now. Remove, prep and reseal with butyl tape.

A great marine "how to" site is at https://marinehowto.com/

Visit the boat frequently to monitor the water levels until some control is established.

My boat is in RI also, covered with canvas and has some water in the bilge.

Good luck with your new boat. Don't get too discouraged. We will be on the water soon!