Water Leak Discovered

[Piratenorm]

I have discovered the source of my long-annoying water leak, but I don't know what's the reason. My Catalina 30 Mk 1, 1983, has an anti-siphon loop under the galley sinks, like most do I'm sure. But out of the top of it is a fitting from which protrudes a clear thin-walled tube, about 1/8" I.D., that loops out of the center of the loop and comes back down into the engine compartment, and out of this is water mixed with exhaust residue dripping about a drop a second. Why? I have looked on-line at Catalina Direct and West Marine and none of the anti-siphon loops I can find have this tube running from them. Is it meant to be there? Is this one unique to the re-powered engine installed by a P.O.? Any thoughts, because I'm sure it shouldn't be venting water with exhaust molecules in it.
Thanks

 

[hvbaker]

I have discovered the source of my long-annoying water leak, but I don't know what's the reason. My Catalina 30 Mk 1, 1983, has an anti-siphon loop under the galley sinks, like most do I'm sure. But out of the top of it is a fitting from which protrudes a clear thin-walled tube, about 1/8" I.D., that loops out of the center of the loop and comes back down into the engine compartment, and out of this is water mixed with exhaust residue dripping about a drop a second. Why? I have looked on-line at Catalina Direct and West Marine and none of the anti-siphon loops I can find have this tube running from them. Is it meant to be there? Is this one unique to the re-powered engine installed by a P.O.? Any thoughts, because I'm sure it shouldn't be venting water with exhaust molecules in it. Thanks

One thing you don't have to worry about is the exhaust molecules are not coming out. The anti siphon loop is on the water side before water is injected into the exhaust. It sounds as if the duckbill was damaged or removed from the top of the anti-siphon loop and the tube was inserted. You might trying leading the tube up and not down and see if that stops the leak or perhaps buy a new duckbill valve and cap. The cap might be the difficult thing to find. The duckbill valve can be found for under 10 dollars and a whole new loop about 40 dollars. Good luck.

 

[Bob S]

http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|51|2234299|2234294&id=102603

I removed mine and soaked them in vinegar overnight then rinsed them real good and re-installed them. You should have one in your port cabinet for your waste tank too.
Google duckbill, there is a lot of information out there and it's important that it functions properly.

 

[Piratenorm]

Of course! There are times when you stare at a problem and you're too close to it to see the answer! I discovered this after struggling through a swap out of my impeller, and anyone with a mid-engine Catalina 30 knows how much fun that can be. Thanks. I'll try the vinegar trick when the boat gets laid up next month, as to get in to the cabinet I will have to remove the cabinet door because my new Isotherm front door fridge prohibits the door from opening far enough to get to the valve with 2 hands. I'll live with it until then.
As always, Thanks for the help.
Norm