C-22 leak

[Jazzman]

After a four hour sail this weekend, my 78' C-22 has about 2 inches of water in the center bilge around the keel cable entry. The hose and clamps appear to be dry. The boat does not collect additional water while moored, only after being sailed. Any ideas where to look for the leak?

 

[R Kolb]

Check the lower gudgeon

I had a similar problem. Turns out that sometimes when sailing, and often when motoring, the lower gudgeon is underwater and leaks. The gudgeons are the things that the rudder connects to on the transom. I purchased some rubber gasket material and made a gasket the same size as the gudgeon with holes poked through (using an ice pick) for the bolts. It works great, not a drop of water at all this season. I found the leak by placing dry towels in a few spots and seeing which one got wet. It was the towel aft of the keel area and that led me to the gudgeon. Don't be fooled by the fact that the lazarette where the bolts come through may be dry. The water travels down the interior of the transom directly to the bottom of the hull and then runs down to the keel/bilge area. Best of luck. Randy

 

[Bayard Gross]

Remove the board covering the winch

There should be a board covering the winch which if removed before sailing would show you if water is coming up through the tube while you sail.To remove this board, you need to drop the keel and remove the winch handle. There are two phillips head screws at the top of the winch cover board which are unscrewed and you should then be able to pull the board down and off.Also, remove the finger board used as a cabin step to see if water is protuding from near the bottom of the tube aqs you sail.You may also have some leak in the scupper tubes leading down from the cockpit to where they connect onto the seacock behind the cable tube. The boats rocking and rolling motion may be causing this leak.

 

[Jazzman]

Leak patrol

I had already removed the board covering the winch while I was sizing up the upcoming keel cable replacement. The only water I have ever seen in that area was around a small crack close to where the battery is sitting. It was just a small puddle about two inches across. After wiping it up once I never saw it again. The next time out I forgot to check it until we had been out for about four hours. By then I had about 2 inches of water rolling around in front of the 'volcano' and back down to the port cockpit storage area. Maybe a gallon.