I have a Catalina 30 and I have noticed that my bilge stays dry except when we get storms. The waves drive the water up through the thru hole and into my bilge. It is back flowing through the system into my bilge. My Rule 2000 does it's job and pumps it out but leaves 2 inches of water in the bilge. I have a check valve installed on the system but I am still getting water passed the check valve and pump. Any ideas how I can stop this water from coming in? Thanks
- Status
be careful
presuming you are referring to the bilge pump thru-hull, once water back flows into the boat, it becomes possible to siphon water INTO the boat and if the pump malfunctions, it can ruin your day. It also sounds like the check valve, which is prone to failure, has done just that. The safest solution is to reroute the pump hose so as to create an anti-siphon loop aboce the level at which water could (back)flow on a heel and install a larger pump to accommodate the increased pumping head (and get rid of the check valve which fails when you don't know it).
presuming you are referring to the bilge pump thru-hull, once water back flows into the boat, it becomes possible to siphon water INTO the boat and if the pump malfunctions, it can ruin your day. It also sounds like the check valve, which is prone to failure, has done just that. The safest solution is to reroute the pump hose so as to create an anti-siphon loop aboce the level at which water could (back)flow on a heel and install a larger pump to accommodate the increased pumping head (and get rid of the check valve which fails when you don't know it).
Check the position of the check valve
It may be opening due to gravity when you are heeling, allowing a little water in past it. Then when you tack the check valve closes and the water drains into your bilge.
It may be opening due to gravity when you are heeling, allowing a little water in past it. Then when you tack the check valve closes and the water drains into your bilge.
Sounds Odd
Jim – That sounds like an odd problem. Are you sure the leak is not somewhere else? Is it seawater or rainwater getting into the boat? What year Catalina do you have? On my ’78 C-30, my bilge loops up high above the cockpit and then down into the bilge so if a wave were to come up through the back it would need to climb about 4 feet at least to reach the loop. I did have somewhat of similar leak but it was at the thru-hull fitting of the bilge discharge located about six inches above the waterline. I understand plastic thru-hulls located close to waterlines are prone to cracks and could sink a boat should they become submerged (i.e. too many people on board, waves or snow weighing down the boat). Mine was leaking at the seal to the hull. I took it apart and resealed everything and the leak was gone. Perhaps your’s is leaking at the fitting itself and not through the hose. I would do a few things – check your thru-hull fitting and then put in a high loop on your bilge hose. Rob
Jim – That sounds like an odd problem. Are you sure the leak is not somewhere else? Is it seawater or rainwater getting into the boat? What year Catalina do you have? On my ’78 C-30, my bilge loops up high above the cockpit and then down into the bilge so if a wave were to come up through the back it would need to climb about 4 feet at least to reach the loop. I did have somewhat of similar leak but it was at the thru-hull fitting of the bilge discharge located about six inches above the waterline. I understand plastic thru-hulls located close to waterlines are prone to cracks and could sink a boat should they become submerged (i.e. too many people on board, waves or snow weighing down the boat). Mine was leaking at the seal to the hull. I took it apart and resealed everything and the leak was gone. Perhaps your’s is leaking at the fitting itself and not through the hose. I would do a few things – check your thru-hull fitting and then put in a high loop on your bilge hose. Rob
try a loop!
Jim: Try putting a loop in the line just before it exits the thru hull. You will need a piece of non-kink hose and a wire tie.
Jim: Try putting a loop in the line just before it exits the thru hull. You will need a piece of non-kink hose and a wire tie.
wet bilges
The most common entry point for rain-water is through a keel-stepped mast. As Steve suggests, you should have a riser loop on the bilge pump discharge, so the hose is routed downward to the thru-hull discharge port (hence “backflow” would have go uphill). Check valves are a BAD idea in bilge pump systems.
The most common entry point for rain-water is through a keel-stepped mast. As Steve suggests, you should have a riser loop on the bilge pump discharge, so the hose is routed downward to the thru-hull discharge port (hence “backflow” would have go uphill). Check valves are a BAD idea in bilge pump systems.
- Status