I recently bought a 1980 Catalina 25 and the keel is attached to the boat with screws that go into the boat at the bilge. When I had the survey done there was no mention of any problem with the screws. Now, every time I take the boat out the bilge fills up. I don't get any water when the boat in in the slip (even with heavy rains), I have an outboard rudder and non of the thru hulls are leaking, so I can't think of any other way water might be coming in. Two of the screws have some type of gunk or putty applied to them so the nut at the base of the screw is hidden. My question is...should the surveyor have identified this as an issue in his report? I was not with him when he inspected the boat. Secondly, how do you recommend I proceed to deal with this problem? I'd like to try and fix it without having to take the boat out of the water. Your opinion is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Margaret
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D
Don
Water in the Bilge
I, too, have a 1980 C25 fin keel. You say that water only shows up in the bilge after sailing and not at the slip or during heavy rains? It would seem that if the bilge is dry in the slip that the water is not coming from the hull. Also, rain isn't causing it either. Uhmmm,...maybe it's the water tank under the starboard settee. Mine has a vented cap and if the tank is too full and I heel the boat over, water will spill out from the tank into the bilge. Are all the plumbing(lines, tank, valves,...etc) systems in good working order with no leaks? Another possible source is from rainwater. Rainwater could be getting trapped in a compartment somewhere in the boat and only after the boat is heeled or jostled in waves does it make it's way down the the bilge. You may want to post this question on the C25 forum at the C25/C250 National Association Website. As a new owner of a C25, I highly recommend you visit this website and particularly the forum because every imaginable question you may have will most likely be answered by the many C25 experts at the association. Click on the link below to get the the C25/C250 National Association website and then click on the "Sailor's Forum", then select "Catalina 25 Specific Forum". Hope to see you there.
I, too, have a 1980 C25 fin keel. You say that water only shows up in the bilge after sailing and not at the slip or during heavy rains? It would seem that if the bilge is dry in the slip that the water is not coming from the hull. Also, rain isn't causing it either. Uhmmm,...maybe it's the water tank under the starboard settee. Mine has a vented cap and if the tank is too full and I heel the boat over, water will spill out from the tank into the bilge. Are all the plumbing(lines, tank, valves,...etc) systems in good working order with no leaks? Another possible source is from rainwater. Rainwater could be getting trapped in a compartment somewhere in the boat and only after the boat is heeled or jostled in waves does it make it's way down the the bilge. You may want to post this question on the C25 forum at the C25/C250 National Association Website. As a new owner of a C25, I highly recommend you visit this website and particularly the forum because every imaginable question you may have will most likely be answered by the many C25 experts at the association. Click on the link below to get the the C25/C250 National Association website and then click on the "Sailor's Forum", then select "Catalina 25 Specific Forum". Hope to see you there.
G
Gary
Bilge Water
Check your through bolts on the rudder grudgeons and your stern ladder if you have one they should be sealed with 3M 5200 or other sealer.
Check your through bolts on the rudder grudgeons and your stern ladder if you have one they should be sealed with 3M 5200 or other sealer.
J
john renfro
J
Joe
Watch
Sounds like a previous owner tried to fix the problem by applying sealant to the bolts, and it didn't work. Try opening up the bilge and watching while sailing. You should be able to see where the water is coming from. If it seemes to be seeping from the keel bolts, use a paper towel to dry them, and verify it. I had constant seepage from the keel bolts on my Soling a few years ago. Fot this to happen, the water has to get in from the outside. There was a crack around the keel that was visible from the outside. We ground open the crack a bit and filled it with a sealant (I think it was Life Calk.) That fixed the problem. If it only happens while you're sailing, though, you may want to just pump out after sailing rather than spending money to seal it.
Sounds like a previous owner tried to fix the problem by applying sealant to the bolts, and it didn't work. Try opening up the bilge and watching while sailing. You should be able to see where the water is coming from. If it seemes to be seeping from the keel bolts, use a paper towel to dry them, and verify it. I had constant seepage from the keel bolts on my Soling a few years ago. Fot this to happen, the water has to get in from the outside. There was a crack around the keel that was visible from the outside. We ground open the crack a bit and filled it with a sealant (I think it was Life Calk.) That fixed the problem. If it only happens while you're sailing, though, you may want to just pump out after sailing rather than spending money to seal it.
M
Margaret Schwartz
gallons
The was only 1 1/2 inches in the bilge before sailing; by the time I returned to the dock the bilge was full--another 4 inches.
The was only 1 1/2 inches in the bilge before sailing; by the time I returned to the dock the bilge was full--another 4 inches.
T
Terry Dannar
Mystery water in bilge
Margaret, I too have a 1980 FK/SR and fought a similar problem for a couple of months before solving it. Mystery water in the bilge drove me nuts. I had removed and re-bedded all of the windows and had caulked everything on the topside. The boat would sit dry, even in a downpour. After returning to the boat several days later I would check the bilge to make sure it wasn’t leaking and I would find everything dry. After going out for a sail, when we returned, there would be water in the bilge. I too thought it was the keel leaking. I noticed that some time there would be more water than others, and some time, no water at all. I could never see moisture leading to the bilge, therefore, thought it was the keel bolts. One afternoon, I was doing some rewiring and was accessing the area under the aft berth when I noticed some dampness running the length of the skeg from the transom to the bilge area. Following up on this I found one of the fasteners that hold the lower gudgeon (bracket that attaches the rudder to the transom) to be VERY loose. I could see that the dampness in the skeg started at the transom. There were no cracks in the fiberglass and the loose fastener was directly above the skeg. I then went out for a sail. I noticed that when motoring out of the marina, the transom goes down and these fasteners are under water (or nearly underwater) with water building up against the rudder. The water apparently weeps past the fastener, trails down the inside of the skeg and ends up in the bilge. It was then that I realized when I sailed out/sailed back, no water. When wind was light and I motored, WATER. The more I motored, the MORE WATER would end up in the bilge. Remove each fastener on the lower gudgeon and apply sealant to each one and to the gudgeon. This will involve going headfirst into the aft berth and removing the small wooden access cover. You will be able to see the nuts and may see dampness below them. Hopefully this will solve your problem. Terry Dannar
Margaret, I too have a 1980 FK/SR and fought a similar problem for a couple of months before solving it. Mystery water in the bilge drove me nuts. I had removed and re-bedded all of the windows and had caulked everything on the topside. The boat would sit dry, even in a downpour. After returning to the boat several days later I would check the bilge to make sure it wasn’t leaking and I would find everything dry. After going out for a sail, when we returned, there would be water in the bilge. I too thought it was the keel leaking. I noticed that some time there would be more water than others, and some time, no water at all. I could never see moisture leading to the bilge, therefore, thought it was the keel bolts. One afternoon, I was doing some rewiring and was accessing the area under the aft berth when I noticed some dampness running the length of the skeg from the transom to the bilge area. Following up on this I found one of the fasteners that hold the lower gudgeon (bracket that attaches the rudder to the transom) to be VERY loose. I could see that the dampness in the skeg started at the transom. There were no cracks in the fiberglass and the loose fastener was directly above the skeg. I then went out for a sail. I noticed that when motoring out of the marina, the transom goes down and these fasteners are under water (or nearly underwater) with water building up against the rudder. The water apparently weeps past the fastener, trails down the inside of the skeg and ends up in the bilge. It was then that I realized when I sailed out/sailed back, no water. When wind was light and I motored, WATER. The more I motored, the MORE WATER would end up in the bilge. Remove each fastener on the lower gudgeon and apply sealant to each one and to the gudgeon. This will involve going headfirst into the aft berth and removing the small wooden access cover. You will be able to see the nuts and may see dampness below them. Hopefully this will solve your problem. Terry Dannar
C
Chris Hunsicker
Mystery Water? Same problem
Hi Margaret, I have the same problem with water in the bilge. We stay dry at our dock, but take on several gallons when sailing or motoring at even moderate speeds. Our Cat 25 has a swing keel. I am unable to see any leaking around the keel pivot point at any time. Our next step is to try to see any leakage from the transom while underway. There are several through bolts, cockpit drains and an outlet for our bilge pump in the transom. All seem in great condition. Will watch the forum and post results with our continued efforts. Good Luck
Hi Margaret, I have the same problem with water in the bilge. We stay dry at our dock, but take on several gallons when sailing or motoring at even moderate speeds. Our Cat 25 has a swing keel. I am unable to see any leaking around the keel pivot point at any time. Our next step is to try to see any leakage from the transom while underway. There are several through bolts, cockpit drains and an outlet for our bilge pump in the transom. All seem in great condition. Will watch the forum and post results with our continued efforts. Good Luck
D
Don
Responses
Click on the related link below to take you to this topic on the C25/250 National Association website.
Click on the related link below to take you to this topic on the C25/250 National Association website.
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