[C320-list] Deck core issue

[Beau Black via C320-list]

Hello,
I discovered a potential location of water ingress into the core while installing a solar fan into the head. My Catalina had a solar panel (trickle charger?) just in front of the traveler, this had been removed several months ago when I bought the boat (April). When I cut out the hole for the solar fan turns out that is where the solar panel wire runs. I discovered some core rot along the path of the wire. Now to be fair there was some core rot from the screws that hold the head hatch down that had been previously repaired, so maybe some of it had communicated. I went ahead and epoxied all the holes on the sea hood, I haven’t taken the hood off yet to investigate underneath. It’s interesting to note that the wire is literally just run within the core. Not sure what happens to it under the hood. Anyone else had issues with this?
Beau
1996 #344 Grapevine Texas
Sent from my iPhone

[Dave Hupe via C320-list]

I had a leak that showed itself occasionally by drips (gooey brown) around the frame of the small overhead hatch in the head. It would rain and then delayed seeps/drips onto the floor would occur.  I ultimately rebedded the traveler mounts which was the leak source and haven't had leaks there since.  
Dave Hupe
1994 C320 #32 

[Troy Dunn via C320-list]

At least in the 1998 time frame, the spot to drill to expose the solar
panel wire "chase" is in the gutter underneath the sliding hatch for the
companionway. The obvious downside of drilling through that gutter
is…once the seahood gasket fails, that gutter collects water and like the
dinosaurs in Jurassic park….water finds a way….it won’t be long before
water is following that wire into your core.

Side note…if you get water trickling out of that gutter down on to the
cockpit seats…then your seahood gasket has failed. It’s not really a
problem as long as you don’t leave cushions out there during a heavy rain.

As others have said, the Bomar hatches are also notorious for failing at
the screws near the hinged side and this is also a source of leaks and
potential core damage.

Troy Dunn
Hull #514