I am considering purchasing an 82 model 22' we tested it and found aprox 1/2 inch of water in the bottom of the boat (under the walking surface in the cabin) ,the current owner said that at one time there had been as much as 3 inches covering the whole bottom. What are some possible causes? we are new to sailing and don't want to get in over our heads thanks
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Well a few are !
Being you are in Austin Texas, I have to ask if you have a great deal of humidity in the summer? If so it might be just that sweating on the interior of the hull will end up being bilge water. If not then look at any below the waterline fittings including where the stern ladder holes are drilled and the fitting where the swing keel cable enters the hull. If in fact it is a swing keel version. It may be that that hose is beginning to break causing a leak. If so it's not that big of a deal nor costly to fix it. If it is not a swing keel, check the keel bolts in the floor where it is thru bolted to the hull. Hope this helps, Dave LaPere
Being you are in Austin Texas, I have to ask if you have a great deal of humidity in the summer? If so it might be just that sweating on the interior of the hull will end up being bilge water. If not then look at any below the waterline fittings including where the stern ladder holes are drilled and the fitting where the swing keel cable enters the hull. If in fact it is a swing keel version. It may be that that hose is beginning to break causing a leak. If so it's not that big of a deal nor costly to fix it. If it is not a swing keel, check the keel bolts in the floor where it is thru bolted to the hull. Hope this helps, Dave LaPere
And some more are.....
James, Dave offers some good advice. However, I think that first a determination needs to be made as to whether the leak is green water or rain water. Also is the leak confined just the bilge area or is the cabin sole involved also? If it is green water, then check all the areas Dave mentioned in addition to the lower rudder gudgeon, and the lock down bolt(if it is a swing keel). If it is rain water and it affects just the bilge area then I would check the bedding of any hardware that is mounted on or near the toe rail area of the deck. A leak there could enter the boat between the liner and the hull at one point and manifest itself at another point inches or feet away. Check lifeline stanchion bases particularly. It might be possible for water to enter around some of the rub rail mounting screws. IF there is water in the cabin look closely for leaks around the cabin port lites(windows) sometimes these will leak directly into the cabin around the glass weatherstrip or around the frame which can leak between the coach roof and liner with the water entering through one of the light fixtures under the lite. Check also the shroud chainplate eye bolt mountings. Any and all through-bolted fixtures could conceivably provide a path for water entry. Hinges for hatches and lazarettes should also be checked. Cockpit scuppers, their hoses, and clamps might prove to be the source of a leak. One way to check for leaks is to have some one inside the boat with a flash light observing some of the above areas that have access while another person runs water from a hose on the outside. Let the water run on just the lower/deck area first and akkiw time for the water to migrate. This will isolate one section and help pinpoint the leaks area. If you start at the roof, then all sections will be saturated at once and a guessing game as to the origin of the leak will insue. Another option would be to pressurize the inside of the boat, bathe the outside with soapy water, and look for bubbles(too much work). Take some colored chalk or dry-erase markers and draw a line under any of the through-bolts on interior vertical surfaces. If a leak occurs here, the water will wash away a visible track under the bolt and possibly leave a colored trail. Oh, also look for saturated/rotten core in the deck and coach roof. I've rambled on enough here and have probably overlooked some other possibilities. Somebody help me out here. B.J.
James, Dave offers some good advice. However, I think that first a determination needs to be made as to whether the leak is green water or rain water. Also is the leak confined just the bilge area or is the cabin sole involved also? If it is green water, then check all the areas Dave mentioned in addition to the lower rudder gudgeon, and the lock down bolt(if it is a swing keel). If it is rain water and it affects just the bilge area then I would check the bedding of any hardware that is mounted on or near the toe rail area of the deck. A leak there could enter the boat between the liner and the hull at one point and manifest itself at another point inches or feet away. Check lifeline stanchion bases particularly. It might be possible for water to enter around some of the rub rail mounting screws. IF there is water in the cabin look closely for leaks around the cabin port lites(windows) sometimes these will leak directly into the cabin around the glass weatherstrip or around the frame which can leak between the coach roof and liner with the water entering through one of the light fixtures under the lite. Check also the shroud chainplate eye bolt mountings. Any and all through-bolted fixtures could conceivably provide a path for water entry. Hinges for hatches and lazarettes should also be checked. Cockpit scuppers, their hoses, and clamps might prove to be the source of a leak. One way to check for leaks is to have some one inside the boat with a flash light observing some of the above areas that have access while another person runs water from a hose on the outside. Let the water run on just the lower/deck area first and akkiw time for the water to migrate. This will isolate one section and help pinpoint the leaks area. If you start at the roof, then all sections will be saturated at once and a guessing game as to the origin of the leak will insue. Another option would be to pressurize the inside of the boat, bathe the outside with soapy water, and look for bubbles(too much work). Take some colored chalk or dry-erase markers and draw a line under any of the through-bolts on interior vertical surfaces. If a leak occurs here, the water will wash away a visible track under the bolt and possibly leave a colored trail. Oh, also look for saturated/rotten core in the deck and coach roof. I've rambled on enough here and have probably overlooked some other possibilities. Somebody help me out here. B.J.
Look for water Tracks
Using a flashlight, look carefully around the inside of the boat where the chainplates come through, up around the bulkhead. If you have the old style chainplates (no screws to keep them from rotating) You could be leaking there, if so you will probably see a little trail of dirt or rust where the water is coming through. Ditto for stanchion through bolts and jib track through bolts. All these are easy to fix with some bedding compound. This area is a likely source for leaks because the water could be standing on the deck over top of these areas during a heavy rain. If you are leaking around the jib tracks look for water drops on the shelves below the windows. Also check around the through hull connector for your radio antenna and mast light. Although these could leak, they are mmounted high enough and with good drainage so they usualy don't. Are the cushions wet? Where? that will give you another clue where the water is coming from. Given the amount of water you are getting I bet you will find the leak on the topside on the deck Jim
Using a flashlight, look carefully around the inside of the boat where the chainplates come through, up around the bulkhead. If you have the old style chainplates (no screws to keep them from rotating) You could be leaking there, if so you will probably see a little trail of dirt or rust where the water is coming through. Ditto for stanchion through bolts and jib track through bolts. All these are easy to fix with some bedding compound. This area is a likely source for leaks because the water could be standing on the deck over top of these areas during a heavy rain. If you are leaking around the jib tracks look for water drops on the shelves below the windows. Also check around the through hull connector for your radio antenna and mast light. Although these could leak, they are mmounted high enough and with good drainage so they usualy don't. Are the cushions wet? Where? that will give you another clue where the water is coming from. Given the amount of water you are getting I bet you will find the leak on the topside on the deck Jim
Deck-Hull
My 1975 leaked at the front of the bow where the deck joins the hull until I sealed it with silicone and added a turnbuckle tiedown on the inside of the cabin (between the forestay bolts and the eye for trailering). Water entered from any light chop while sailing. You can get a kit to do this from Catalina Direct. Also they sell new heavy duty chainplates which are insurance on older boats.
My 1975 leaked at the front of the bow where the deck joins the hull until I sealed it with silicone and added a turnbuckle tiedown on the inside of the cabin (between the forestay bolts and the eye for trailering). Water entered from any light chop while sailing. You can get a kit to do this from Catalina Direct. Also they sell new heavy duty chainplates which are insurance on older boats.
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