Water in the bilge

[Chris Hunsicker]

After our last bottom job several gallons of water enter the bilge, but only when under way. Sitting at the dock with the keel up the bilge stays dry. We take on water whether we are sailing or motoring. Any ideas the best place to start looking for leaks?

 

[Allen Schweitzer]

Some thoughts...

I'm not sure of the design of your boat, but here are 2 spots that immediately came to mind:1. Rudder post (assuming you don't have a transom-mounted rudder)2. Prop shaft stuffing box (assuming you don't have an outboard auxilliary).--Allen

 

[Lauraine]

Nothing's worse that a leak you can't find...

Not sure about the C25 but on the C22 swing keel the culprit is sometimes the "cone" that the keel cable runs through. Water may bubble up and over the top if the ball in the cone has been disturbed or stuck. The ball acts the same as the ball in a snorkel tube - prevents water entry. Especially since you mention the problem seems to have arisen after your last haulout, I would check to make sure all is well with this. Good luck

 

[Leon Sisson]

Lower rudder gudgeon

Check your lower rudder gudgeon while motoring at full power. To do this, you need to crawl headfirst into the quaterberth, remove the inspection panel under the aft center of the cockpit, and stick your head in there with a flashlight. Look for a trickle of water flowing forward in the skeg from the lower gudgeon. If that's your problem, rebed/replace the gudgeon, and check the upper one while you're at it. The attachment screws may be threaded into tapped holes in brass plates buried in the fiberglass laminate of the transom.On my 1979 C-25, I ordered the upgrade gudgeons & pintles from Catalina Yachts, drilled out the original 1/4" holes in the gudgeons and transom for stronger 5/16" bolts, and added 3/16" thick fiberglass and epoxy backing plates. To get at the hidden side of the upper gudgeon installation, you'll need to install a 4" Beckson plate in the aft wall of the cockpit.Good luck.-- Leon Sisson

 

[Bill]

Water inside hull

Chris,We have hit the fixed rudder on hard bottoms so many times that we finally broke the bottom gudgeon off. It was not thru bolted and didn't have a backup plate, but now it has. I suspect some of our water problem was a slow leak around the bottom gudgeon screws while underway. We also have the type of thru hull valves that have a lock to secure them to keep them from turning or leaking. I think some of our water beats in the hatch during hard rains. Good luck! Remember that it's called "Bulge Water". That's where it is and most boats have it.