Thanks for the pics, now I know what I am looking at if I every need to open mine up. Where do you think that little trickle of water is coming in. Bow nav light or between the top deck and hull. It doesn't look serious, I am just more curious than anything.

yep I see the water trickle as well,,it would not hurt to run a garden hose on the deck while the panel is off,,
2 places to check for a leak,

1 is the nav light,
2nd is the pop up cleat ,PQ did not add a drain and some leaked in there,I always added the plastic bucket and ran a drain hose..

I would use a aluminum backing plate if it was mine,,looks like its crushing into the fiberglass..

I figured it would be a good idea to at least kind of document whats behind there. It was exactly how boatnt said it was, but with more difficulty.


The trickle of water seems like it comes from the very front of the tip close to the nav light. I first assumed it was from the pop up cleat since it doesn't have the cup. I don't think the trail would be as far up if it was from the cleat. All of the trail was bone dry even down to the first storage compartment in the v-berth. It's been out in some massive rain the last week or so and it's still dry. Although a hose is a lot more water, maybe i'll run it before i button it back up.


I was thinking of doing the same with a backing plate for the bow eye but after looking closer it seemed as the indentation was meant to be there. The fiberglass wasn't a rough edge as if the clamp crushed and broken that section away. Also, if the backing plate was at the level of the surrounding fiberglass, the nuts would have hardly any threads to thread on to if any. I'd need a bow eye with another 1/2" to 1" of threads to be able to add a decent thickness backing plate as the nuts on the outside are at the very end as well.


Thanks for the comments and for noticing what I did when popping it open.

Here you can tell the dirt trail starts as a "y" at the very tip. Is that behind the rub rail?

Before reinstalling the front panel consider cutting an access into it. As mention my 270 was open with a mirror installed to cover the opening. The mirror was hinged across the top with velcro along the bottom for holding it closed. Great little storage space for light stuff as well as access. I want to do this on my 380 if I can ever get around to it.

P.S. my 270 had a similar water stain but I never did find a source nor ever witness it being wet...

Making the mirror an access is a good idea. The mirror is attached with another 4 screws with button heads from the front, mirror on the back side of the wall.