Bow rails leaking - how do you access the bolts?

[winbasic]

Hi,
I've searched this forum (and pretty well the whole internet!) and can't find a definitive answer on this. Our boat manufacturer is no longer in business and the company that bought them out isn't offering any advice.

I think we might have a leak through the bow rail fittings where they connect to the deck. On the opposite side to the photo below, there is some red rust looking marks around the base of the bow rail. Underneath in the galley, the wood is discoloured. Now I suspected this when I bought the boat a couple of months ago but I'd like to look at fixing it. However, I'm stumped as to how you access what I'm guessing are the bolts which bolt under the deck. Do holes have to be cut underneath the fittings to access the bolts and then patch the holes? From the galley, I can't see any way of accessing the bolts as there just doesn't seemt to be any room behind the cupboards.

I can send more detailed photos of any particular area if required - I've just put a collage together in this attachment to give an idea of the problem and the layout.

As usual, thanks in advance for your assistance! A very steep learning curve but as daunting as it sometimes appears, I'm happy to be learning more about the various systems from those in the forums.

 

[kcon]

Assuming you'll have to disassemble cabinets, ceiling panels, etc to get to it...if the rails aren't loose, why not just put a bead of 3m 4200 around each rail to deck connection on the outside?

 

[winbasic]

Assuming you'll have to disassemble cabinets, ceiling panels, etc to get to it...if the rails aren't loose, why not just put a bead of 3m 4200 around each rail to deck connection on the outside?

I did think about something similar I must admit but I don’t think it would last and it wouldn’t look tidy. Even if I remove the cabinets I can’t see the bolts let alone access them.

 

[alldodge]

It might be leaking from the rails, but could also be something else. Port holes and above deck windshield is my first thought. In any case with water being seen behind cabinets and such things have to come apart to dry things out, If its not dried out mold will start and then you can throw the boat away

 

[kcassells]

Time to rip some things out.

 

[harringtondav]

Time to rip some things out.

Agree. Reverse the boat's assembly sequence. Cabin finishing follows nearly everything else, so it should come out first. It will be ugly and messy. But cabinets, paneling, trim, etc. are mostly attached using fasteners. If you encounter glue, a CAREFUL application of heat will often soften it. If you're handy with finish carpentry, you could try cutting access holes, and covering them with OEM matching believable trim.

 

[89 resorter]

From what I can see from your interior pics, it looks like the wood panel is pretty even with the surface that the windows mount into which would indicate that there is a space behind the wood panels since the railings are mounted onto a bumped out part of the top cap and hull.

 

[winbasic]

It might be leaking from the rails, but could also be something else. Port holes and above deck windshield is my first thought. In any case with water being seen behind cabinets and such things have to come apart to dry things out, If its not dried out mold will start and then you can throw the boat away

Thanks AllDodge. I did think about that and it raises another question that in order to reseal under the windscreen, I'm assuming I just dig out the existing caulking/silicone, clean and then refill? The only reason I'm suspecting the bow rails is because two of them above the vicinity of the cabinet damage have what looks to be a rust line around them. It's on an open side of the berth but I will try and get a photo and update the post.

 

[winbasic]

From what I can see from your interior pics, it looks like the wood panel is pretty even with the surface that the windows mount into which would indicate that there is a space behind the wood panels since the railings are mounted onto a bumped out part of the top cap and hull.

Sounds like a bit of exploration is in order - the sparky has had the cabinets apart to repair some wires (previous owner or someone he engaged had installed an antenna gain switch and just taped it and hid it in behind the cabinetry!). I'll see if the cabinet can come out and get access in there or at the very least see if I can get more borescope up there to see if I can see the bolts. Will update as soon as I have attempted it.