Water and unknown fluid in bilge

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May 3, 2010
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Catalina C-30 Mark III Tall rig Traceys Landing, MD
1995 C-30 with PSI dripless stuffing box. cannot determine where how water mixed with a petroleoum-based substance is getting in my bilge. smells like gasoline. very frustrating. is it possible that sea water is backflowing through bilge discharge opening in hull (and flowing down into bilge) when wakes of passing boats slap up against the hull while she's in her slip in the marina?
 
May 10, 2004
207
Beneteau 36 CC Sidney, BC, Canada
Sloop - Are you in fresh or salt water? 1st thing to do is taste the water to see if it is salt and not from a water tank. If it appears while the boat is docked you might want to check your rudder shaft stuffing box and two cockpit drain hose connections ( access at aft end of quarter berth on 83s not sure about your model) - Get someone to rock the boat fore and aft while you are below looking at these fittings - they are "above water" but not always. As for the "fuel" check around your fuel tank - wipe all the edges with a clean paper towel and see if you have a pin hole leak in your diesel tank.

Does your 95 have a small floor hatch at the foot of the stairs? If so check in that to see if there is water/residue that can pool in that area - if so it's an indication that the fluid is coming from the stern - aft of the engine compartment.

Another source (but only when you are running the engine ) would be the coolant overflow - a clear tube runs from the coolant cap down into the bildge. Just my two bits worth.
 
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