Chronic Leaks

[Piratenorm]

Another question, if you allow me. Since the day I bought my boat there has been water in the bilge. I know some of it comes in from the muffler box, a small leak around a hard to get to area at the seam at the base drops while the motor is running. I have been inside during thunderstorms and the portlights stay dry, no deck sponging, not thru the chainplates. One friend suggested the deck to hull bond in my 31 yr old Catalina 30 Mk1 might be compromised. I thought to check before I commit to running 5200 everywhere would be to buy a can of that spray you see on the TV that stops every leak, the one where the guy drills holes in his boat then sprays it with the goop and voila! Any thoughts?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Does it rain where your boat is? Comes down through the top of the mast.

The hull to deck joint is almost 99% secure. Only stories I've heard about that is if the factory left one or two screws out underneath the rub rail, but that would most likely evidence itself when sailing, not from rain unless it was blowing sideways.

 

[rpell1@msn.com]

You might have several ways water can infiltrate ocurring....Muffler box, stuffing box usually drips, rain water, maybe even a thru-hull. By themselves, they might not amount to much accumulation. But, together might account for the bilge water? Good Luck and Happy Sailing.

Another question, if you allow me. Since the day I bought my boat there has been water in the bilge. I know some of it comes in from the muffler box, a small leak around a hard to get to area at the seam at the base drops while the motor is running. I have been inside during thunderstorms and the portlights stay dry, no deck sponging, not thru the chainplates. One friend suggested the deck to hull bond in my 31 yr old Catalina 30 Mk1 might be compromised. I thought to check before I commit to running 5200 everywhere would be to buy a can of that spray you see on the TV that stops every leak, the one where the guy drills holes in his boat then sprays it with the goop and voila! Any thoughts?

 

[jrowan]

Does it rain where your boat is? Comes down through the top of the mast.

The hull to deck joint is almost 99% secure. Only stories I've heard about that is if the factory left one or two screws out underneath the rub rail, but that would most likely evidence itself when sailing, not from rain unless it was blowing sideways.

I have to disagree with you there Stu. We used to own an 1985 C 25, & I personally witnessed water seepage coming in through the seams between the hull to deck joint near the bow, when she was in heavy seas. So I know that the hull to deck joint on Catalina's was mostly just screwed every few inches & they depended on a fiberglass slurry to create a permanent bond at the hull to deck joint. But there is so much flexing that occurs under sail, that over the decades it's inevitable that it will leak. Plus add in a few bangs at the dock & pilings from various docking mishaps & storms over the life of any boat & leaks are a result. The rubrail covering the hull deck to deck joint design was never all that watertight, especially as the rubber dry rots & shrinks over the decades. But I guess they hold up about as well as any other production sail boat. Now my old S 2 had a slotted aluminum toe rail screwed through both the deck to the hull joint bonded with 5200 & it was completely watertight.

 

[Piratenorm]

I know it's not any of the usual suspects. The stuffing box drips it's usual amount, no leakage through the thru hulls, portlights, I've checked them all...just the muffler and not enough to cause the amount that accumulates...I'm one of those buggers who rather sail than motor. Think I'll try that spray and see. Let you all know. Thanks.

 

[kito]

Forgive my stupid answer but is there a sink or shower that drains into your bilge that you are not aware of? Have you checked your holding tanks for leaks? I would think if the leak was above the waterline you would see other tell tale signs than just having water in the bilge.

 

[jrowan]

Norm, unless you have a lot of water coming in that forces your bilge pump to run more then once per hour or two, the I wouldn't worry about it too much. My C 30 has ALWAYS had some water in the bilge. I've rebed deck fittings, caulked the crap out of every port & hatch seals, etc. & you just can't keep all the water out of a C30. They just weren't designed to be watertight above at the deck & mast. I do believe that the stuffing box & the open mast are the worst culprits for taking on water. Second are the aluminum framed ports.