Marinette Boat Forum

I am restoring 73 28 Express. Visited work site in the rain and saw water draining down S side of hull (12' wide spread of water) through topsides at lip. Is this a design feature keeping lots of water from moving aft or is there a lack of caulk? Found similar area on P side but in different place.
Window tracks leaking like crazy.....saving up for new tracks.

Is your boat on the hard or in the water?
I have found that the window tracks are not the cause of water leaks. It is usually the screw holes thru the aluminum, they need to be caulked.
I find the hardest part about the window tracks is trying to clean the green gunk the grows in them.
Bill

Be sure to cut the track ends to allow proper drainage. If water does not drain, the tracks will get scummy and build up with crud. Water will then overflow on the inside track and into the cabin.
Marinette should have made the inside track higher to avoid the overflow problem.

I removed my salon tracks 2-3 years ago and cut them all a little shorter. They drain immediately and no growth so far.

As Bill mentioned, caulk the screw holes too.

-karl

Thanks guys....the issue is not with the window tracks, but along the deck lip-to-hull connection topsides.......water drains at the seam and runs down hull to water. Any thoughts?

Rivetman wrote:Thanks guys....the issue is not with the window tracks, but along the deck lip-to-hull connection topsides.......water drains at the seam and runs down hull to water. Any thoughts?

They all do that due to the design of the rub rail. Some people slip plastic strips between rail and hull to make a drip edge. Helps reduce the black streaks on hull.

Thanks GB49....I feel better.