Early in the season I had a PSS Shaft professionally installed in my 1986 Hunter 34. The bilge was never dry ever since there is always some water in the bilge sometimes very little like 1" inch of water other times 5 Inches. When I start the engine and start moving either forward or reverse I don't see any leak from the shaft, I have even placed some paper tower under the shaft and no sign of water, however and the end of a sailing day the bilge is half-full? I spoke to the guy that installed the PSS Shaft and he says that the water is not coming from the shaft ? Has anybody ever had this problem, can the water in the bilge be coming from someplace else other than the shaft, like overflow from fresh water tank, waste tank etc... Appreciatte some advise.
PSS Shaft and Wet Bilge
- Thread starter Dreamcast
- Start date
- Status
Bilge water
If a PSS doesn't leak, it doesn't leak. They are foolproof. Your leak can come from several places, take some one else with you and go motor. Let them steer and take a flashlight and snoop around the bilge. I'd look at the rudder packing and the exhaust system. Both can leak and produce a large amount of water in the bilge.
If a PSS doesn't leak, it doesn't leak. They are foolproof. Your leak can come from several places, take some one else with you and go motor. Let them steer and take a flashlight and snoop around the bilge. I'd look at the rudder packing and the exhaust system. Both can leak and produce a large amount of water in the bilge.
pss seal
I would look for things the installer had to move or mess with during the seal installation. Exhaust hose or thru-hulls would be a prime suspects if they are near the area where the guy was working. A hose or fitting could have cracked just moving it out of the way. Let us know Ward
I would look for things the installer had to move or mess with during the seal installation. Exhaust hose or thru-hulls would be a prime suspects if they are near the area where the guy was working. A hose or fitting could have cracked just moving it out of the way. Let us know Ward
That's the Nice Thing About a Shaft Seal
That was a good idea you had checking the shaft seal with a sheet of paper so that is eliminated. The nice thing about a shaft seal is because the bilge is supposed to stay dry, if you ever see water in it you know somethings wrong. The sources you mentioned, and the previous posters, are all possibilities. There are so many other possibilities I think you'll just have to play detective. Dry the bilge out and watch what happens - at that rate it shouldn't be long before you see where it's coming from. Sprinkling some talk powder around could help spot the path. A few other items to check: keel bolts, water heater, and the ice box drain. Could the water be connected to rain or washing the boat?
That was a good idea you had checking the shaft seal with a sheet of paper so that is eliminated. The nice thing about a shaft seal is because the bilge is supposed to stay dry, if you ever see water in it you know somethings wrong. The sources you mentioned, and the previous posters, are all possibilities. There are so many other possibilities I think you'll just have to play detective. Dry the bilge out and watch what happens - at that rate it shouldn't be long before you see where it's coming from. Sprinkling some talk powder around could help spot the path. A few other items to check: keel bolts, water heater, and the ice box drain. Could the water be connected to rain or washing the boat?
I vote for the exhaust hose.
Do the tests but on my '86 H34 the exhaust hose had cracked clear through after 5 years of service and was filling the bilge with the engine running. And the crack was out of sight inside a beam, just under the loop at the outlet. Luckily the hose is less than ten feet long and available 'off the shelf' at any marine store. John, how was your trip? I printed out your travel schedule and took it along but we were on the other side of Vancouver Island.
Do the tests but on my '86 H34 the exhaust hose had cracked clear through after 5 years of service and was filling the bilge with the engine running. And the crack was out of sight inside a beam, just under the loop at the outlet. Luckily the hose is less than ten feet long and available 'off the shelf' at any marine store. John, how was your trip? I printed out your travel schedule and took it along but we were on the other side of Vancouver Island.
PSS Shaft and Wet Bilge Part II
Thank to all of you guys. I follow all the recommendations and after trouble shoothing everything I dried the bilge and noticed that water was coming in from four holes from the bottom of the bilge. It seems that the previous owner used too long of a screw to attached the bilge pump and the floater. I sealed the holes temporarily with 3M 5200 and as soon as we haulout I will epoxy the holes. I also spoke to Hunter technical department and they confirm that no water should be coming from under the bilge, therefore, I still have a leak somewhere. Hunter recommendation was to re-torque all the nuts and do the same inspections recommended by all of you. *5
Thank to all of you guys. I follow all the recommendations and after trouble shoothing everything I dried the bilge and noticed that water was coming in from four holes from the bottom of the bilge. It seems that the previous owner used too long of a screw to attached the bilge pump and the floater. I sealed the holes temporarily with 3M 5200 and as soon as we haulout I will epoxy the holes. I also spoke to Hunter technical department and they confirm that no water should be coming from under the bilge, therefore, I still have a leak somewhere. Hunter recommendation was to re-torque all the nuts and do the same inspections recommended by all of you. *5
Cockpit drain at he hull joint
I had a similar problem. It turned out to be the cockpit drain at the hull. There was a hairline leak where the tube is glassed to the hull. It was hard to find because it only leaked when under way, as this caused the waterline to come above the tube. To fix, all I had to do was to clean the tube from the bottom of the boat and put a layer of fiberglass around the tube where it is attached to the hull. You can pull the cover off under the aft cabin and shine a flashlight at the tube connections. Do this when you are under way and see if there is any water trickleing down the bottom of the hull.
I had a similar problem. It turned out to be the cockpit drain at the hull. There was a hairline leak where the tube is glassed to the hull. It was hard to find because it only leaked when under way, as this caused the waterline to come above the tube. To fix, all I had to do was to clean the tube from the bottom of the boat and put a layer of fiberglass around the tube where it is attached to the hull. You can pull the cover off under the aft cabin and shine a flashlight at the tube connections. Do this when you are under way and see if there is any water trickleing down the bottom of the hull.
- Status