I own a great day sailor - a 22.5 foot 1968 Pearson Ensign. I am thinking about purchasing a 1976 30 foot Pearson. It has the original motor. The boat is worn but not abused - subject to survey. I checked the bilge and discovered water. The owner said that was common and not a problem. I work hard to keep my bilge dry and was surprised by his comment. Is this a common - no never mind - situation with Pearson 30s? Thanks, Bob Schuetz
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Bilge Water
Bilge water exists in boats with inboard engines pimarily because of the stuffing box. This is where the propellor shaft exits the hull from the engine. Most older boats have teflon flax, which requires dripping water to provide the lubrication and cooling necessary to keep the water OUT at this point. You can easily replace the dripping-type stuffing box packing with new dripless packing, made by at least two firms. This uses a special material so that you tighten up the stuffing box to not need any water dripping because the water's lubrcation/cooling is taken care of by the new material. We had a Catalina 25 for 11 years with no water in the bilge. No shaft thru the hull either. Only other sources of bilge leaks are obvious. Your survey should take care of those. Go for it.
Bilge water exists in boats with inboard engines pimarily because of the stuffing box. This is where the propellor shaft exits the hull from the engine. Most older boats have teflon flax, which requires dripping water to provide the lubrication and cooling necessary to keep the water OUT at this point. You can easily replace the dripping-type stuffing box packing with new dripless packing, made by at least two firms. This uses a special material so that you tighten up the stuffing box to not need any water dripping because the water's lubrcation/cooling is taken care of by the new material. We had a Catalina 25 for 11 years with no water in the bilge. No shaft thru the hull either. Only other sources of bilge leaks are obvious. Your survey should take care of those. Go for it.
Multiple points of leakage.
Bob: Like Stu mentioned, water can come in from the stuffing box. This is very common. You can also have leaks from stanchions, the ice box etc. You name it and it can leak. The only leak I would REALLY worry about would be the keel bolts (and that is not the end of the world). Be sure that the surveyor is aware of your concerns and see if he/she can determine the source. When you have an outboard engine and you get water in the bilge you have things to starting thinking about. When you have an inboard engine, you ALMOST expect some water.
Bob: Like Stu mentioned, water can come in from the stuffing box. This is very common. You can also have leaks from stanchions, the ice box etc. You name it and it can leak. The only leak I would REALLY worry about would be the keel bolts (and that is not the end of the world). Be sure that the surveyor is aware of your concerns and see if he/she can determine the source. When you have an outboard engine and you get water in the bilge you have things to starting thinking about. When you have an inboard engine, you ALMOST expect some water.
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