Compass 28 Leaks

I have had minor leaks from the wiring that passes through near the

mast step. I resealed the sockets.

I have had leaky windows - went the whole hog and replaced them due to

cracking, corrosion and similar.

I have not had any leaky stanchions, but there were some deck holes

adjacent where water was leaking.

Finally, I realised the main leak was, as you suspect, at the

chainplates.

Of all the issues, this is the worst in a C28, as they are

fibreglassed onto the hull inside. C29s have it easier.

There are 3 chainplates per side, I found it was the Port, Aft, Lower,

which aligned with some minor marks and the old holes in the deck.

Deduced that there was a boarding ladder there at some stage, probably

berthed in a marina and bumped against the dock or something.

The aft chainplate comes into the cabin just aft of the main bulkhead,

above the shelf. After it passes through the deck, it is bent 90

degrees aft and flattens-out, some 150mm or so below the deck.

To remove it, remove the shroud and relocate all gear from the cabin,

fit a plastic dust sheet everywhere you can, as the dust will

penetrate. Choose a cool day and get a diamond disk for the angle

grinder. Wear disposable overalls, tape the wrists around your

gloves and ensure you have a good respirator with full face hood. If

poss, get an industrial vac cleaner to run continuously, wear ear

muffs and look forward to a bath inside the overalls.. Go for it with

the grinder and cut the glass off the surface of the chainplate. An

area, if I recall right, some 150 to 200mm long and 50mm wide. You

will see the black stainless steel, it will go silver if you touch it

with the grinder.

Simply grind the glass off, the chainplate will come loose.

It took about 15 min for me, but then I have done a lot of

boatbuilding and fibreglass work, I was also fully aware of the dust

and mess.

When it comes loose. gently work it out from the deck. I then ground-

off the majority, but not all, of the built-up glass inside the hull.

I could find no corrosion, crack detector spray showed no cracking, so

I was happy to replace the plate.

This is where I was careful to have NOT removed all of the built-up

glass, because what was left gave me a location pocket to get it

right. After I washed it all in acetone, I put some sealant under the

deck, some resin on the hull and "glued" the chainplate back. I then

applied 2 layers of CSM, well rolled. 4 hrs later, another 3 layers

of heavy CSM (can not recall the weight, but it is thick) then next

day I applied a nice thick flowcoat.

Another full day to clear the dust from everything as I did not cover

it all adequately.

Never had another leak and the hull looks nice and white.

It is a bugger, but worthwhile as a check of the chainplates. Better

than any surveyor will ever do.

Have fun.

Roger