# Water leaking in from Cabin Top **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [November 11, 2026, 1:57am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/water-leaking-in-from-cabin-top/10646 "2026-11-11T01:57:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![David](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/david/32/651_2.png) [@David](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/David)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 1:57am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/water-leaking-in-from-cabin-top/10646/1 "2026-11-11T01:57:59Z")
I have a 1989 N-33… it’s leaking at the cabin top at the bulkhead on the port side forward cabin. Does anyone recognize this piece of wood brace that is on the bedside of the bulkhead on the port water is coming in down this wall and I’m wondering where the water is coming from…. there is nothing above it! Any help would be greatly appreciated. The good news is…. It only leaks when it rains!!! But, my pillow stays wet for days! ☹ ![IMG_8167](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/2X/6/6b36498741da04526d660896292eb8db7b5e6e81.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![PaulM](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/paulm/32/59_2.png) [@PaulM](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/PaulM)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 2:58am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/water-leaking-in-from-cabin-top/10646/2 "2026-11-11T02:58:45Z")
Been there, done that. Click on the picture. It’s an album. [![Google Photos](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/2X/1/19d6340dbbd5281af2c55eb42e35abcdc3788c48.jpeg "Bulkhead Tang Leak · Oct 22, 2024 – Jul 24, 2025 📸") ](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipN0PRP5c__UZECEqiX-dPYdjo7BJ1qgr5DoP69k4yDgO2uMFGAhNAixOQQ5rRqJvQ?key=cE5ndnlEc3JaekhoT2p0RFBpNU5qR282aGJXbkJ3) ---
**Author:** ![RMP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9dc877/32.png) [@RMP](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/RMP)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 3:07am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/water-leaking-in-from-cabin-top/10646/3 "2026-11-11T03:07:02Z")
I don’t have a 33 however on the boats in the fleet that wooden block usually covers a bracket that bolts to the bulkhead. The bracket will have a flat rectangle on the cabin top with about 4 screws holding it down. There will be a tail coming through the cabin top down beside the bulkhead. These often start leaking. The fix is to remove the bracket, seal the deck core with epoxy and pot the screw holes in the deck as well. Apply your favourite sealant when reinstalling it. Don’t use silicone. There is a photo on line but it is in an ad for a 33 that is for sale on Yacht world. Posting a link to the ad might violate the rules of the website. Mark ---
**Author:** ![David](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/david/32/651_2.png) [@David](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/David)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 12:56pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/water-leaking-in-from-cabin-top/10646/4 "2026-11-11T12:56:19Z")
Wow!!! Thank you so much… I would have never thought THAT metal bracket would have been stuck (sandwiched) in the bulkhead. So, I’m guessing there is one on the starboard side (shower bulkhead) as well!!??!! I saw the little square cover. I just thought it was from a old “idea” that didn’t work and so just cover it! 🙂 I love the thorough explanation of how to remove the Bulkhead brace, all the way down to the carpentry. My hope is I can remove those plugs and get right to the meat of the matter and not have to rebuild the teak cover, but it looks like it’s a reasonably doable project for a OK carpenter. Thank you for the quick response and and the accuracy of the information. Clearly, this ain’t your alls first rodeo! Now- onto leaking hatch covers! Ugh! The one directly over the nav station- starboard side! What s mess, wet charts and log books! Question, can there be replaced?? Previous repairs were attempted with “bathroom” caulk, and they used a ton of it. I thought the easy fix would be just replace the whole hatch cover. Thoughts?? ![image0.jpeg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/2X/f/f79cd68dcb7cf6a9117b222206efbf93c24c0123.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![PaulM](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/paulm/32/59_2.png) [@PaulM](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/PaulM)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 2:11pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/water-leaking-in-from-cabin-top/10646/5 "2026-11-11T14:11:44Z")
For bedding acrylic I like BoatLIfe LifeSeal (not LifeCaulk). It’s a silicone polyurethane blend that won’t damage the plastic and is relatively easy to work with. ---
**Author:** ![RMP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9dc877/32.png) [@RMP](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/RMP)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 3:11pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/water-leaking-in-from-cabin-top/10646/6 "2026-11-11T15:11:50Z")
For the small wooden cover buy a Brad point drill bit that is slightly smaller than the wooden plug. Carefully centre the point of the bit in the plug and gently start drilling. If you drill too fast the bit will hit the screw head and damage the bit. I am cautious so once the hole is started I change to a standard bit to finish drilling out the plug. An awl can be used to dig out remaining wood so you extract the screw. You should be able to do this without damaging the wooden cover. Dow 795 and less commonly 995 are used for sealing acrylic to aluminium. Your sealant of choice has to be silicone based as other types of sealant can damage the acrylic. You must get all of the old sealant off and I mean all of it. Nothing bonds to old silicone. Buy a silicone remover and spend the time to get it off. Once the frame and acrylic are clean and dry mask off the areas you don’t want the silicone on. Lay a good bead of silicone on the bottom of the frame and carefully set the acrylic in place. Press down to get a good seal. You want to cover the contact area. With the acrylic centred you the fill the gap around the edge. Gently smooth off the silicone so it is level with the top of the frame and acrylic. Clean off excess. Put a weight on the acrylic and then don’t touch it until it has cured. ---
**Author:** ![David](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/david/32/651_2.png) [@David](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/David)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 11:56pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/water-leaking-in-from-cabin-top/10646/7 "2026-11-11T23:56:12Z")
PaulM I noticed that you had done some hatch work during the summer of ‘23. I saw your photos and had a question My hatches are leaking and you can see from the photo that the previous owner did a nasty job trying to reseal the glass. From your photo it appears that the window glazing is just “glued” in. The only thing holding it in is a bed of silicon goo??!! Can you further explain the process of how you got the glass out of the frame. Thanks David ---
**Author:** ![PaulM](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/paulm/32/59_2.png) [@PaulM](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/PaulM)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2026, 1:22am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/water-leaking-in-from-cabin-top/10646/8 "2026-11-12T01:22:58Z")
A razor blade or exacto knife works well. Just cut the compound down from the top all the way around the glass. If it won’t push out then, work the blade under the glass from the inside.