Reuben,

The two most likely candidates are the thru bolts for the forestay chainplate and the thru bolts for the bow eye.  Less likely; but, still possible are the thru bolts for the bow pulpit, bow cleats, and bow chocks.

Roger Pihlaja 
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 1, 2021, at 4:08 PM, Reuben Mezrich <reuben.mezrich at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> ?As I mentioned a week or two ago, I installed a Marinco 3" Day/night solar
> vent at the bow, using the hole already in place for the anchor locker. It
> installed easily, seemed to work fine but a few days later we had a heavy
> rain and the next day the forward tips of the forward cabin cushions were
> wet. I removed the vent, replaced the deck plate, installed a new gasket
> under the deck plate, applied a generous amount of RTV silicone to both
> sides of the gasket and reinstalled the solar vent. The next day (yesterday
> actually) I used a hose to rain water on the forward deck, aiming at the
> solar vent for about 6 minutes and when I checked below everything was dry.
> I checked again in an hour and it was still dry.
> This morning there was about a cup of water, maybe two cups of water at the
> bow. There was no water in the tray that serves as the anchor locker and
> which is directly under the solar vent. The vent itself was dry as was the
> ceiling around the vent. The walls were also dry. I dried the water with a
> towel and a few hours later a small amount of water seemed to be seeping
> under a triangular piece of wood at the very  bow of the boat (see attached
> photo). I haven't removed that piece of wood yet but I'm pretty sure I'll
> find the bolts from the chain plate at the bow for the jib stay.
> My feeling now is that the solar vent was never the source of the leak but
> I've had a small leak for a while but never noticed because I never had a
> reason to go up to the very front of the forward cabin. As it turns out the
> bottom of the cushions, which are rubberized are stained, giving evidence
> that the leak is likely long standing.
> Those bolts would be my best guess as the source of the leak but I'd look
> forward to suggestions as to where else I might look.
> 
> Its always something
> 
> --Reuben
> 
> 
> Reuben Mezrich
> Pelican Cove in Sarasota
> Cell: 410-499-8922
> 
>> 
>> 
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