I have discovered an unexplained slow leak in the stern area of Nirvana (36mk2, hull no.2255) and wonder if anyone has had a similar problem.
There is a small triangular low point inside the hull immediately to the rear of the rudder post. After a process of elimination I have isolated the problem to this immediate area. I checked all the possible through hull fittings in the stern area and ended up blaming the rudder packing gland, which was overdue for maintenance. No problem as I was about to slip the boat to do a full rub down and anti foul job.
With the gland re packed I was sure the problem was fixed; but not so!
I looked into the lazarette when I was motoring back from the slip to my pen and noticed water in the offending location.
I climbed into the lazarette and carefully dried out the area and again checked all possible areas for leaks. Everything including the rudder glad were completely dry. However, as I lay there in a contorted position with a friend motoring around the bay, I watched as the triangular depression slowly but surely fill with water.
I am in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (42 degrees South). I have had the boat for 12 months and there was no evidence of any damage then and nothing since.
However, thinking back I am sure it is a long standing matter. The boat was little used when I purchases her and the bilge area was messy. I sailed her home from Sydney last August and have been slowly working my way through the boat to clean and learn!
I flushed out the bilges several times and ended up with the way I like them - clean. The water that collected seemed to be from the mast, but in order to isolate any other areas I put bungs in the limber holes and watched. It was then I noticed water coming from the stern section of the boat.
I have replaced the stuffing box with a volvo stern gland - so no more leaks there!
The last area was the rudder post and when I slipped her to anti foul I noticed that the packing was dry and the area showed signs of leaking. It was when I replaced the packing and checked for leaks that I noticed the problem I queried.
I have now found that the seepage is very low when the boat is in the pen, but becomes more pronounced under way.
I have looked at the rudder tube repair article and am pretty sure that, unless the rudder post installation was faulty that the problem lies there. What concerns me is the notion of seepage through the hull somehow, in an area where there is no suggestion of any previous damage or stress.
Although it does not appear to be a major issue, I hate unexplained leaks and, unless anyone has any bright ideas, I will bring her back out and investigate from outside the hull.
Kerry Boden
First of all, I commend your technique in isolating the problem. Lurking in the lazarette isn’t something most people would think of, or would do even if they thought of it.
Has the boat ever been damaged? Of particular interest would be a rudder grounding.
I don’t know where you’re based or what kind of sailing you do, but If you’re not facing an imminent blue water passage, I suggest you telephone Catalina in Largo, Florida, and discuss this with them before you spend money to haul. You may still need to haul, but my impression from your message is that it’s a problem that may have been present for some time, and so it may not be urgent enough to require immediate haul.
Have a look at our Technical – Maintenance library for an article called “Rudder Tube Repair”. There is a cross section diagram - albeit not very detailed - of that area that may be of help to you.
This is an excellent topic for the C36IA Technical Forum because so many of our members could learn from hearing your reports. I particularly appreciate your approach to troubleshooting, and that’s something many of our folks could benefit from hearing.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
As the stern of the boat "squats" somewhat under power it could be as simple a matter as one of the thru-hulls in the stern area (ie: bilge pump) not having the hose clamps tightened enough. I read of one owner finding a leak from the propane locker vent fitting when under power over about 1800 rpms....
You could checkem and hope that it would be as simple as this - good luck and let us know the result!
---- Howard & Linda Matwick ----
--- S/V "Silhouette" - Nanaimo, BC ----
--- 1999 C36 MkII #1776 M35BC ---
Larry might be right, and i recommend looking for that info. We've had reports about the rudder tube leaking physically below the gland, anywhere from the gland to the hull. [url]http://www.c34.org/faq-pages/techdata-rudder-packing-gland.html[/url]
Good luck.
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
Thank for the useful responses, I think I have found the problem!
The leak is where the rudder post is faired into the bottom of the hull.
With the yacht stationary in the pen the leak slowly reduced to (almost) nothing after a few days. I scraped off the paint etc off the inside of the hull in this area and watched carefully. There are signs of moisture where the rudder tube is faired onto the hull. Presumably, the stern squatting underway and the increase in water pressure caused by motion forces water though a weak point in the join.
I have not had the chance to complete repairs yet, but am assuming that some glass tape and resin will do the job.
Thanks again for the advice offered.
cheers
Kerry
Kerry Boden