Hello, I am new on the Forum and to the site and I am looking for some advice regarding the extensive amount of water I have in the hull areas below the flooring of my 20 foot O'Day I just bought. The only place I see where the water can enter is the cockpit drainage spout located underneath the hull near the Keel area. On my trial day the boat became very heavy and was hard to just hold in place by hand and also being towed later. I also learned that the boat never filled water no higher than the hull flooring. It is like a magicians trick to me because, I would think if water s coming in from some location it would also have to leave the same way? But it doesn't and I have a Hull full of water still! Does anyone know or have experience of this issue, I sure would appreciate your advice at this juncture. Hopefully I will be raising it up in the air off the trailer soon to inspect the keel areas but I did see that there was some recent work in that area and it looked fine to me at the time. Again I appreciate your help in this important matter! Thanks Sailorman 66.
Help I'm sinking and don't know why?
- Thread starter Sailorman66
- Start date
Hello Sailorman66, (1) From the quote it seems there was a problem prior to purchase and you were reluctant to make a fuss about it then. Now you have to work out the details. Not the end of the world... (2) From the quote it seems that you put the boat onto its trailer after sailing and did not see any water come out. Perhaps where it came in was not covered by bilge water at that time because the position of the boat on the trailer was slightly different from when it was floating. (3) Does your boat have a centerboard? The pivot of that board through the centerboard trunk may be the culprit. (4) Has there been rain in your area lately? Ports, hatches, cockpit drains may leak and require removal, recaulk and re-securing. Check any hose clamps on hoses from cockpit drains or drains from galley sink or similar small lines. (5) If the boat is on a trailer drain the bilge and sponge it dry. If the boat is in the water get it out NOW. The water intrusion probably will not stop at the floor boards (cabin sole). (6) Contact the seller and discuss the situation with the intent of solving an unacceptable situation. Start by being very reasonable and progress to more strong emotions if "very reasonable" does not yield good results. Best Wishes and let us know what you discover. Also, search the forum for similar discussions after your boat is safely out of the water and the bilge is drained.
(7) Ask the precious owner to be specific about the when, why, and how of the repair you mentioned!
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check for leaking thru hull fittings, and any and all valves and/or hoses that attach to them... a rotten hose, or one that has became disconnected at the top end and fallen down can let water in....
check the lower rudder gudgeon/pintle for lack or sealant or looseness.....
do the same for any thru hull transducer or paddlewheels.
and remember, just because the fittings are tight, is no indication that they aren't leaking.
do you have a swing keel or centerboard?... it is very common for the pivot and lock down bolts to leak
and there is the cable/line tube that can leak as well....
also look for a drain plug in some hidden area that may be leaking.... some people install these in a sailboat so when its stored on a trailer over the winter months thay can leave the plug out so they dont have to ever look at the boat until they want to use it again.
these may be, and usually are, in an area that cannot bee seen while the boat is in the water, which in my opinion is the wrong place to have them.
other than these ideas of where to look, while the boat is out, you may want to go over the hull very closely and look for cracks..... because unless its raining where you are, the water intrusion will be below the waterline...somewhere.
check the lower rudder gudgeon/pintle for lack or sealant or looseness.....
do the same for any thru hull transducer or paddlewheels.
and remember, just because the fittings are tight, is no indication that they aren't leaking.
do you have a swing keel or centerboard?... it is very common for the pivot and lock down bolts to leak
and there is the cable/line tube that can leak as well....
also look for a drain plug in some hidden area that may be leaking.... some people install these in a sailboat so when its stored on a trailer over the winter months thay can leave the plug out so they dont have to ever look at the boat until they want to use it again.
these may be, and usually are, in an area that cannot bee seen while the boat is in the water, which in my opinion is the wrong place to have them.
other than these ideas of where to look, while the boat is out, you may want to go over the hull very closely and look for cracks..... because unless its raining where you are, the water intrusion will be below the waterline...somewhere.
Does it have a drain plug? they can be tightened, by twisting the washer to make the rubber fatter.
-we had a flooding problem on a oday 14 at the club. -it was leaking around the plug.
finding the source is the key...
can you put it on the trailer, fill it with water, and watch were it leaks out?
pics will help...
-we had a flooding problem on a oday 14 at the club. -it was leaking around the plug.
finding the source is the key...
can you put it on the trailer, fill it with water, and watch were it leaks out?
pics will help...
OK this has been some great advice and I will start with pulling it off my trailer and inspecting the entire bottom of the hull. The one thing I can't locate or if it even has one is a Bilge Drain. I don't see any type of drain plug or system anywhere down below. The boat has a swing Keel and as I mentioned there looked to have been repairs done in that area so I will be inspecting that as well. I thank each one of you answering my post, I am grateful to know I can start with all your advice now!
Power boats usually have a drain plug mounted low in the transom. It is opened or removed when the boat is on the trailer so accumulated water can drain out of the bilge on the way home or rain water and/or wash water can drain out while the boat is parked on the trailer. Some of us have been foolish enough to leave that "plug" out when we launch and have scrambled to put it in before the boat sinks!
In your sailboat I would check the transom and I would check in any cockpit lockers that extend to the hull. Near the centerline is a likely place. Within the boat you might find a "garboard plug" aft of the centerboard trunk. It serves the same purpose as the transom plug, but goes directly down through the hull. Either plug type could be plastic or could be brass.
In your sailboat I would check the transom and I would check in any cockpit lockers that extend to the hull. Near the centerline is a likely place. Within the boat you might find a "garboard plug" aft of the centerboard trunk. It serves the same purpose as the transom plug, but goes directly down through the hull. Either plug type could be plastic or could be brass.
I am pretty sure that it has no formal drain plug. A wet vac does a good job of extracting water. I would look closely at the cockpit drain hose - between the inner and outer transom. They are known for being a problem area when old. Good luck.
^ remove the filter if you use the shop vac.
if no drain plug, then centerboard (and cable) is most likely spot for a leak.
if you put boat on trailer, and fill with water, block the trailer. Tires probably won't hold it alone. (and you'll need that shop vac, or a good siphon)
if no drain plug, then centerboard (and cable) is most likely spot for a leak.
if you put boat on trailer, and fill with water, block the trailer. Tires probably won't hold it alone. (and you'll need that shop vac, or a good siphon)
Mayday, Mayday, Mayday ...
We need help! We are sinking!
German Coast Guard: Vaht are you sinking about?
(Sorry, couldn't help it
)
We need help! We are sinking!
German Coast Guard: Vaht are you sinking about?
(Sorry, couldn't help it
)Gantry going up on the O'Day 20 in a few days. I will be able to drop the keel and inspect the entry way areas of the keel and its surroundings.(Thx Tom and 31 Seahorse and Centerline) But there was a small plug near the centerline at the V-berth area but this wasn't helpful to use due to the height of the plug and the location as well. I took Lances + Mr. Bills advice on the wet vac that worked well so far but the water still keeps coming out from the bottom hull from the trapped locations into the v-berth so I can vac it out.. So I will keep you all posted when I get her off the trailer and keel and Pivit pin is extracted to see what I find! I did find that the cockpit drain rubber pipes are junk and need to be fully replaced! (Thx Kito and Centerline) I appreciate your comments and expertise on all these ideas, I know I will get to the bottom (No Pun intended) of this soon!
Sailormann;
See if there is a drain plug on the lower part of the transom usually black. If there is a hole but no plug, easy fix. Contact me via forum email or direct davecondon@mindspring.com as I use to be a small boat dealer and have worked on many over the years. I am now retired. Your information is confidential even from the better half of mine.
See if there is a drain plug on the lower part of the transom usually black. If there is a hole but no plug, easy fix. Contact me via forum email or direct davecondon@mindspring.com as I use to be a small boat dealer and have worked on many over the years. I am now retired. Your information is confidential even from the better half of mine.
Years ago I owned a Venture 21 that had an elusive leak. To find it I place paper towel all around the boat in suspect areas. I came back to check 24 hours later and looked for the wet spots (trails) on the paper towel. The leak was at the rubber mounting hardware.
Yes, I think I will do that procedure for sure Axel if I can't locate it right away. I just got the boat off the trailer last night up on the gantry and will start looking today. Good Idea, Thank You!
another idea is red chalk used for snap lines for construction. where it leaks will show runs.
or, if you fill it from inside and watch for leaks on outside, food coloring in the water (bilge). (or koolaid -sugar free-), in a pinch)
or, if you fill it from inside and watch for leaks on outside, food coloring in the water (bilge). (or koolaid -sugar free-), in a pinch)
Thanks Mr. Bill will do that also if I can't locate the problem! Hope to have a few photo's also but gotta borrow a camera, mine don't work well. But thanks again!