Weeping hull leaks

[John Garabedian]

Noticed Continuous slow stream of water entering my bilge, not enough to sink a boat but enough to make me wonder where it was coming from. After Isolating all possiblities, I noticed that in my aft cabin, at the very furthest astern the cat 36 has a small cavitiy in the hull directly in front of the rudder post. You can reach this area in the aft cabin by lifting the cushions and a cover board at the very back end of the cabin. There are two little pinholes on both sides of the rudder postthat I beleive lead outside the hull. I call these weeping or dripping holes. Anyhowits a very slow dripping, however over a period of 48 hours you will accumulate about a gallon of water in your bilge. My question is: does anyone know why those pinholes are there, and do they serve a purpose?

 

[Keith]

weep holes

I have a 36 and the cavity that you are talking about is dry on my boat. No weep holes. Mine is a 91. You might check the rudder packing which is about a foot above the area you are talking about. It is there to prevent water from comming up the rudder post and into the boat. If that is dry, check the tru hull for the engine exhaust. I have had a small leak there in the past which was letting water in while the engine was running.

 

[Russ, C36 #206]

Also

My 1984 C36 had a leak where the strut is attached to the hull. Apparently this thing is held on by bolts then glassed over at the factory. After years, the vibration, etc., had caused it to weep a small stream of water - about the same as you mention. Only solution was to chip/grind away the glass - haul the boat and remove/rebed the strut. This solved the leak... dry as a bone now (except a tiny bit a rainwater down mast).Russ

 

[John Garabedian]

Weeping Holes

Thanks for the info on your 84 cat 36. My boat is an 86, so it sounds like you have experienced the issue.

 

[William T Allen]

Weeping Leaks

I have a 2001 Catalina 400 and hit a reef last year. After the repairs I noticed slight weeping leaks on my strut bolts. I also hauled the boat back out and had the bolts ground out and reglass so now no more weeping. Stop the weeping before it becomes leaking and sinking. Bill