New (old) boat, New problems....Electrical and Plumbing...

[rpell1@msn.com]

Hi again Ward,
Did a bit more investigating on the leak. Turns out it was not the water heater. I had disconnected the fresh water, pulled and connected the engine hoses for bypass. I also completely drained the unit.
The leak only occurs after the engine warms up. No leak when engine cold. There is a small puddling of water under the cabin floor next to the stuffing box compartment where all the hose tees are. Stuffing box not the culprit. None of the connections are leaking and there seems to be no water trail leading to that point. My next attempt will be to try to pull as much of the hoses away from that area to see if any are cracked under the "no see" area I described.

 

[Ward H]

Ralph, maybe sprinkle some chalk around the area to see if the leaking water moves it? Might help to point to the leak. Maybe try bypassing the engine heater hoses at the engine?

 

[rpell1@msn.com]

Took a Catalina Tech's advice and changed my anti-freeze to green. Leak was coming from engine to waterheater hose as it passed through the first bulkhead under the aft galley drawers. There are several hoses going through a ragged hole and the heater hose was jammed in, causing 3 cuts in the hose. I managed to change both hoses that were fortunately joined at a splice just aft of the stuffing box. This is a very poor design as too many hoses and connections are running through a blind area and holes that are neither grommeted or at least sanded smooth. I managed to re-route the hoses through their holes to avoid this jamming issue from recurring.......I hope. Now on to the next problem that appears out of nowhere.

Happy Sailing

 

[jssailem]

Good resolution @rpell1@msn.com. You know that when they were building the boat they had a general idea where to run the hoses but not likely an “engineered” design. So your “jamming issue” was likely not a consideration. What could happen to the buyer of the boat. It will last 20 years then it is someone else’s problem.

 

[dlochner]

This is a very poor design as too many hoses and connections are running through a blind area and holes that are neither grommeted or at least sanded smooth.

This is really an undocumented feature to remind you to replace your hoses once every couple of decades when they are about to leak in some more obvious location. It also provides the opportunity to practice patience and problem solving skills.

 

[LeslieTroyer]

Take some of your old hose cut a length equal to diameter of hole. Slice thu one side lengthwise and use to “geometry the hole. Enlarge the hole if things are tight.

 

[Ward H]

Glad you found the leak. As you said, now you can concentrate on the next issue. All caught up? Don't worry, the next issue is always waiting until you least expect it.

 

[Knot Stressin']

Take some of your old hose cut a length equal to diameter of hole. .

Now thats a great tip! But dont you mean cut it to the length of the circumference of the hole?

 

[LeslieTroyer]

Now thats a great tip! But dont you mean cut it to the length of the circumference of the hole?

Oh my you are correct. Do what I mean not what I say.