The bilge of our 2004 Catalina 310, ordinarily dry as a bone, has begun to have more and more water in it each time we get out to the boat. It turns out that our 20 year old freshwater system has several small leaks. While tracking down freshwater system leaks, I discovered that the top of the drain fitting in the icebox had separated from the body of the fitting. The drain fitting in the icebox is a straight thru hull with ¾ inch barb fitting and is plumbed into the galley sink drain line via a tee. This plumbing is hidden under the bottom panel of the galley sink cabinet. I am ashamed to say that we have had the boat for almost six years now and I had never noticed it was plumbed into the sink drain.
We use the icebox for dry storage (water, beer, soda etc.) and after finding the broken fitting I removed the stored items from the icebox so that I could begin the process of repairing the drain. There, in the very bottom of the icebox was a hard cider that had sloughed off its cap and spilled the contents into the bottom of the space. That certainly explains that weird brownish liquid we found in the bilge not long ago. Cider apparently has exceptional adhesive qualities as one of our ice cube trays if firmly cemented into place.
I found a replacement fitting easily enough, but the challenge will be fitting it back to the icebox and reconnecting the drain line. There is not a lot of room (practically none) under the galley sink to reach the underside of the icebox to attach the fitting and hose. It will no doubt require two sets of hands and someone will have to endure fiberglass rash and galley cabinet bruising. Has anyone else here had a similar issue and maybe discovered a trick? Thanks.
We use the icebox for dry storage (water, beer, soda etc.) and after finding the broken fitting I removed the stored items from the icebox so that I could begin the process of repairing the drain. There, in the very bottom of the icebox was a hard cider that had sloughed off its cap and spilled the contents into the bottom of the space. That certainly explains that weird brownish liquid we found in the bilge not long ago. Cider apparently has exceptional adhesive qualities as one of our ice cube trays if firmly cemented into place.
I found a replacement fitting easily enough, but the challenge will be fitting it back to the icebox and reconnecting the drain line. There is not a lot of room (practically none) under the galley sink to reach the underside of the icebox to attach the fitting and hose. It will no doubt require two sets of hands and someone will have to endure fiberglass rash and galley cabinet bruising. Has anyone else here had a similar issue and maybe discovered a trick? Thanks.
