I guess I will try everybody's patience with yet another post. There always seems to be about a half an inch to an inch of water in the bilge every time I get to the boat. I really don't think it's coming from a leak in the deck and I don't see any sign of the windows leaking. I also checked the stanchions and don't see any sign of leakage there either. Anybody have any idea where this mystery water is coming from or the fix for this? This is a 1982 Catalina 30 which I am in the process of refurbishing.
Bilge water blues
- Thread starter rgj592015
- Start date
Without knowing what you've eliminated -
Shaft
Rudder tube
Thru hull
Speed log transducer
Depth transducer
Residual water in bilge tube
Water tank leak
Refrigerator drain hole tube
Air conditioner condensate
Shaft
Rudder tube
Thru hull
Speed log transducer
Depth transducer
Residual water in bilge tube
Water tank leak
Refrigerator drain hole tube
Air conditioner condensate
first guess, because i had the same situation, is the stuffing box. it takes real skill and not a little luck to adjust perfectly, but keep in mind that too much leakage beats the hell out of too little as long as you can attend to it before the bilge really fills.
When I was adjusting my stuffing box I used a small can about the size of the tuna can and put it under my stuffing box and check it daily to see how much water was actually dripping from the stuffing box. Now I've got it down to one or 2 drips a week while sitting at the dock, and this usually evaporates in the can just leaving salt deposits behind. I had a similar instance where I was getting water my bilge and it came from the sittee water tank.
Here's a picture of mine at the time was brand-new you will see the shaft and large nut, and the smaller nut to the aft. The smaller one on the aft is the pal nut. In other words this not is tightened against the larger that with the packing material to keep it from loosening up. I have two large crescent wrenches which I bought it harbor freight dirt cheap that I use to tighten loosen these nuts. So you loosen the back nut and tighten the front nut about 1/8 to 1/4 turn at a time and then check for leaks again. Do not over tighten this nut. Now course of your packing as gone bad and worn out you will have to replace the packing. This can be done in the water if need be. There are many how to do this sites online if that is your case. When tightening is nut just turn it a short distance and then check company drips occur while the engine is not running. The other thing to watch for is the packing gland itself getting hot while the engine is running.
I'm not very good at describing things maybe somebody else can describe a little better or post a link that has pictures.
Like I said earlier the easiest way to find out if the packing gland is leaking is to put a small container under the gland itself and see how fast it fills up, if at all?
I'm not very good at describing things maybe somebody else can describe a little better or post a link that has pictures.
Like I said earlier the easiest way to find out if the packing gland is leaking is to put a small container under the gland itself and see how fast it fills up, if at all?
Attachments
All the above for sure and perhaps intake hose fittings, strainer for engine, strainers for water tank(s), water pump(s).
Did you determine the stuffing box as the source?
If so, there are lots of tutorials on the Internet for the various types of boxes. Make sure you pick the correct type
Take a look here for a good description of packing a stuffing box.
Re-Packing A Traditional Stuffing Box
Quick test is to taste the water (don't need to swallow). If it is fresh water, forget the stuffing box and look for other sources. Our '83 has a leak running down the stringer in the deck, between deck and ceiling (between deck layers) that culminates just above the refrigerator. When I drilled it lots of water poured out that originated elsewhere on the deck towards the bow. I left the hole, put a tube in it to drain it into a container when washing or when we are gone. Then again, I'm in La Paz, Baja California and we don't get Fla rain. Salt tasting water points to the stuffing box of course.