LEAK at AQUA LIFT?

[fox islander]

Good evening everyone,


After returning from a 3 day cruise, just as i was hanging the keys from the seawater thru-hull handle, I noticed a puddle of sea water (tasted it) near the aqua lift muffler. I sponged it up, but it immediately began to slowly reappear from under the corner of the aqua lift (see red arrow on pic). The water isn't coming from either of the two hose connections, or the petcock on the aqua lift...both are dry. It also does not appear to be coming from the thru-hull, or the strainer.
Does anyone know if there is something that could leak below the aqua lift? Much thanks in advance.


1990 C-30 Mk II, M25XP

 

[LuzSD]

This was the first issue we had when we bought our boat 5 years ago. We saw the water, could not figure out where it came from but each time we used the motor for any length of time, we had water. We tried a repair but it did not last, we finally gave in and purchased a new one from Catalina (they made it custom for us) and we have been golden ever since. Ours leaked from the top but it was not at all obvious....

 

[Bob S]

I'm curious if it makes a difference. I sometimes get the same thing but it's so small I haven't addressed it. I don't even mop it up as it evaporates before we return the next weekend.

Should this be a big concern?

 

[LuzSD]

it might become one...it was for us. See this link for a good explanation as to what it does and why it needs to be the right one. http://catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=1965

 

[Stu Jackson]

They've been known to leak from the bottom.

 

[rbmcintire]

I had a very small leak in that area as well. Since I had the epoxy materials and full access to pull the AquaLift out, I decided to give a repair a try before I went for the $350. There were delaminations at points on the bottom edge and the petcock, plus hairline cracks around the base of the tubes. I did change out the petcock (and please note that the new ones are larger and you have to retap the hole with new threads to accommodate it.) I just was careful to remove the loose layers of fiberglass only in the the delam. areas, sand it all up and score the cracks with the tip of a razor knife. Apply West system G-Flex mixed with High Density filler with their syringe and plastic stir stick. And so far, all OK. A decent return for a winter afternoon. For a fact it is 100% safer and more reliable than it was. If it held engine pressures and vibration in it's previous state, it is like a tank now, but please consider: your mileage may *literally* vary depending on your unit's condition.

 

[fox islander]

Thanks for the info. It looks like it might be coming from the bottom edge seem as discussed (#1) in the CD link. It's a small amount of water for now...maybe 3-4 oz/ 24hrs. I'm not seeing any cracking around the hoses/ petcock. Replacement seems like a good fall project for me.
B-T-W I do have a CO detector on board.