Water in engine compartment Catalina 30

[Mike]

I recently went to check on my boat 2 weeks ago. There was water frozen about 2 1/2 inche thick just around the rear engine mounts. The boat is stored on land and the bow is higher than the stern. I winterized the boat usung 4 cases of antifreeze. 4 gallons through the engine. and another 12 gallons into the fresh water system ...being sure to run all faucets hot and cold untill the pink stuff ran thru.I'm hoping it's just rain water that driped into the anchor well and drained in to the bilge and eventually filled up into the engine compartment. Has anyone ever had this problem with their Catalina 30 ?

 

[Jim S.]

Rain Water

If its clear it must be rainwater. Check the steering quadrant compartment, and any other place rain can come in. I have seen several 30mklll with leaks around the chain plates, particularly the starboard one.

 

[Pete F.]

Leaks in general

I seem to have perpetual leaks in chain plates or other deck fittings, as I regularly bail gallons of water out of my bilge, even when the boat is hauled for the winter. Is the only fix to reseat all deck fittings and replace all window seals?

 

[Terry]

Four cases of antifreeze?

You should be able to winterize your engine on one gallon of antifreeze. A 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze makes two gallons which is more than adaquate to do the job. I disconnect the fresh water thru-hull and place the hose in a bucket of 50/50 mix and run the engine until the bucket is empty. The next step is to open the muffler petcock and allow it to drain and then lastly remove the zinc/drain plug for the heat exchanger and allow it to drain. This has served my boat well for the ten years that I've owned it(1989 cat 30). I can winterize the water system with three gallons of red pop by draining the tanks and water heater first and then bypassing the water heater. I then use the fresh water pump to run red pop through all faucets until they run pink.

 

[Ralph Gorby]

Sealing out the rain

1991 Cat 36... I'vev sealed the chain plates at the deck with 5200 - works very well and stops the leaks thru into the cabin. But I've never stopped rain from getting into the bilge from somewhere - likely emerg steering plate, or mast, or possibly a small leak around some water tank fitting when tanks are filled. Have emptied bilge and had it stay empty until the next rain! I've pretty much stopped worrying about it, so long as it's fresh water.

 

[JOlson]

drain frozen in stearing box behind pedestal

There is a small drain in stearing box behind pedistal this hose is to small and gets cloged with junk on anice day in the winter it frezes and the water comes in around shift cables and bolts J Olson