Port Side Deck Leaks (Tuggers Vol. 62)

Some water has been getting below deck in Nellie's port side wine locker. This port side leak is common on LNVTs but I could never figure out why.  And why just on the port side?  Serendipity struck the other day while replacing a bung and screw on the teak deck board closest to the cabin side (see picture below).  When drilling into the hole the bit broke through the deck after only 3/4".  This is unusual because the yard put fiberglass battens under the deck specifically so 3/4" screws wouldn't penetrate below deck.  The battens make the deck about 1-7/8" thick.  Looking into the hole I just drilled I was surprised to see an electrical wire. The bit had penetrated into a factory original, PVC, electrical conduit. The conduit, which is bonded in place with fiberglass, runs just under the deck, paralleling and outboard of the cabin side.  It turns out that water was leaking by the screw and into the conduit.  From there it was literally piped into the liquor cabinet where it dripped out the electrical junction box. 

Cruz-In #74, which has a Mehrken's Galley, had the exact same problem on her port side.  So, if you've got water dripping from the electrical junction box in your wine locker, check the deck screws closest to the cabin sides.  Start your inspection just forward of the Dutch door and work aft to just under the middle saloon window.

The sanded deck areas show where the bungs and deck screws were replaced with 3/4" teak dowels. It was while drilling out the screw hole closest to the cabin side that the electrical conduit was discovered.  The nominal deck thickness in areas with battens is 1-7/8"--except those areas above the conduit.

This is the electrical box on the ceiling of the liquor cabinet from which water was dripping.