Through-hull failed....

[OdayGeorge]

I just wanted to share an experience which may be helpful to someone in the future, as this site has been so helpful to me in the past.

Recently, I went for a five hour day sail in Charleston Harbor in our '86 O'day 31, out the jetties and into the Atlantic for a while. As many of you do, I run through a checklist to be sure everything is in working order and ship-shape, including assuring the impeller is pumping the engine cooling salt water out the stern - which it was.

After a great sail with nice 1-3 foot following seas pushing me back into the harbor, I pull into my slip, tied up, and went below to find my floorboards floating in 5-7 inches of water. The bilge pump is on, but not making a difference as far as I can tell. A quick examination of all the sea cocks finds no source of the water. But the water isn't rising, so I grabbed a square bucket (because it can bail much water flush along the floor) and start bailing.

I could stop right here and tell you the problem, but I'll drag the story a little longer and say that I still had my stereo on and didn't determine what was wrong until I turned it off and heard water running behind the engine.

Sometime, between checking the stern for the exhaust water and returning, the the plastic through-hull for the bilge pump waste snapped off at the stern and the hose fell into the space behind the rudder. There is a hole in the stern next to the engine exhaust which wasn't there when I pulled out. The bilge pump was recycling the water in the boat! I've no idea what caused the piece to fail. What's more alarming is the piece, which I generally consider to be above the waterline, is actually well below the water line while underway, especially with a following sea. So I was by myself, never going below for 5 hours, and slowly draining the ocean into my boat while the bilge pump merrily recycled the water in the boat! The piece lasted 30 years, but it's now a brass fitting.

All is well and I hope someone finds the story useful. I like to say that you can do something you enjoy for years, and then once in a while, you get 15 minutes of real experience.....

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

The piece lasted 30 years, but it's now a brass fitting.

Brass will corrode...it should be bronze, stainless steel, even plastic (marelon)...after all, the last plastic one did last 30 years!
Glad it happened while you were aboard and could keep your boat from sinking in its slip!

 

[OdayGeorge]

Thanks, it is bronze, I miss-typed. Thanks.......

 

[Benny17441]

I was aboard a boat where the cockpit shower hose broke of the hand held push button nozzle and the whole fresh water tank discharged inside the hull. Needless to say the water pressure breaker was ON. We had been off the boat for a couple of hours and as we returned on the dinghy we saw a large circle of oily water around the boat and knew something was not right. We had replaced fuel filters on the go on a previous outing and surmised the water being discharged by the bilge pump must have mixed with some spilled fuel to give it that glistening. We also surmised that someone aboard (wives) could have accidentally hit the shower nozzle on their way out to the swim platform. Moral of the story make sure the shower hose is stored properly and the access lid is closed tightly. It is normal to use Plastic thru-hull fixtures for above the waterline ports but there are good composite materials and there are also cheap plastic ones; make sure you inspect yours and when replacing use quality fixtures.

 

[Golden Road]

In renovating my 1982 O'Day 30, every thru hull is being removed and replaced. For one - the wood backing plates are punky allowing movement. This is bad because, two - some of the original thru hulls are giant 4 lb bronze monsters, 1 7/8" overall hole sticking up about a foot interior which have way too much leverage on a 3/8 " lay-up hull. When I removed the head overboard thru hull there was clear evidence of lamination fracture. I could send a picture, but trust me. That head thru hull is coming out, as did the whole holding tank rig - going to composting toilet - giving back all the storage under the v-berth. I am going with Marelon in most cases; light, low profile. As for the above waterline stern thru hulls; plastic needs to be checked because of U.V degradation. However there are advantages as far as better flow sometimes.