Since I put my boat in the water several weeks ago, I have noticed there seems to be a lot of water in the bilge. We have had a lot of rain. Yesterday I again totally dried out the bilge and checked it again several hours later. There were several inches of water in it. I then went through the boat and check everything-all dry. I then removed the front floor panel and the area was full of water. After totally drying the area out, water started seeping in around the very front keel bolt. There is only one up there. When I bought the boat 10 years ago it had a small 8" Catalina "smile", but it has not seemed to be a problem.
The Catalina expert (dealer's mechanic at the harbor) is gone for several days. Suggestions I have heard is to get a socket wrench, which the mechanic has, and see if the nut can be tightened. If that does not work, pull the boat and loosen the nut and apply 5200 sealant. The whole keel may have to be loosened and rebedded.
In the meantime I have two bilge pumps and a friendly power boater loaned me a household sump pump (AC current) which I rigged up with a garden hose out the front hatch. I suspect this problem has been growing for several years as the bilge always seemed to have a little water in it.
Any helpful suggestions or ideas are welcomed.
Richard
1994 C36 Tall Rig M1.5
Waukegan Harbor
Lake Michigan
Richard,
I always have water in the bilge even if the boat is out of the water, but I have narrowed it down to water coming down the mast to the mast step on the keel. I have an in mast furler so there is quite a few places for water to get in. When you said we had quite a bit of rain that makes me think your leak is above water line rather than below. Hope you don't have to get the boat hauled out.
Mark
Mark Middleton
S/V Lunacy
SW Michigan
2002 C36 MK II TR WK M35B
[QUOTE=windward1;8513]
The Catalina expert (dealer's mechanic at the harbor) is gone for several days. Suggestions I have heard is to get a socket wrench, which the mechanic has, and see if the nut can be tightened. If that does not work, pull the boat and loosen the nut and apply 5200 sealant. The whole keel may have to be loosened and rebedded.[/QUOTE]
You will NOT be able to pull the keel up by tightening the nut. The boat has to be hauled out if indeed you think you have leak there. If you look at the diagram from Catalina as to how the keel is attached (I recall it was posted here sometime in the recent past) the "smile" line is lower than the hull to keel point.
I'd do some searching on "Catalina Smile" to read about the repairs required.
Try this: [url]http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,604.0.html[/url]
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
Gentlemen,
Thanks for the reply. Mark, I had the area around the front keel bolt towel dried and watched as water seeped in around it. Unfortunately it is not rain water. Stu, thanks for the link. I will try the first suggested method for the for small leaks using 3M 5200 under the washer. I would like to find at least a short term solution to get me through this season. We will see.
Richard
1994 C36 Tall Rig M1.5
Waukegan Harbor
Lake Michigan
To close out this thread for anyone interested. The yard pulled the boat and lowered the keel after grinding the seam open. With day light under the hull you could clearly see a small hole about 1" by 1/16" next to the keel bolt on the port side. They then lowered the keel about a foot and patched the area with fiberglass and let it cure. The keel was then reattached, sealed and the whole seam fiberglassed on the outside. The area was sanded and fairing compound applied. Finally epoxy paint and VC17 applied. Just got the boat back in the water after weeks of bad weather, broken promises and excuses. Not a fun ordeal but the weather has been terrible up until now. No one is sure what caused this problem. The drain hole in the little bilge area had original fiberglass covering almost all of it. Scum and stuff had virtually sealed it as I took out buckets of water from under the front floor board. Most of the water was probably there over the frozen winter. I have never hit anything, maybe the PO did. Advice: if you have a smile check under the floor board.
Richard
1994 C36 Tall Rig M1.5
Waukegan Harbor
Lake Michigan
Thanks for the final report, Richard. It was a painful hassle, but that's in your wake now. Hope your weather lets you enjoy a great summer.
Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/
Duane,
Thanks for your comments. Today was a glorious sailing day on the lake-strong off shore warm wind, small waves and lots of sun. Now I know why we put up with all the aggrevation in maintaining a boat.
Richard
1994 C36 Tall Rig M1.5
Waukegan Harbor
Lake Michigan