Okay this is not fun. Actually, two problems.
1. Come back several times from a good sturdy day sail, some chop, rails down or close to, following seas on return, get back and I have a bilge full of salt water. Thru-hulls are closed, and at least to the best of my knowledge in good condition. Dockmate suggested check the rudder post, could be leaking. Some salt is in the shaft packing (one of those dripless newer fangled types, whatever you call them, rubber gasket up against a stainless plate).
Any other ideas before I have to haul the thing out of the water?
2. Bilge pump #1 (have 2) is new, shoots water everywhere when hoses are removed, but does not expel water when hooked up. Checked the backflow, it's not clogged. I can blow air through the hose. Get winded but it works. I even ran a length of heavy electrical wire through the hose. About seven feet goes in before it stops. Can't tell if there's a bend or a block. I'd really like to have both pumps functional since I'm also taking on water when sailing.
Does anyone have schematics for where the bilge outlets might be?
Ditto: Any other ideas before I have to haul the thing out of the water?
Dan
S/V Tao, C36 MI, #114
S/V Tao
Catalina 36
1983, Hull #114
Dan,
1. We sometimes get backflow through our bilge hose, because on our C34s the bilge hose outlet is on the middle of the transom which goes underwater when motoring or in following seas. May be happening to you in spite of #2.
2. You owner's manual should show that. Ours does for all hoses on the boat. If you can only go seven feet up, you need to trace the line and find out what's happening.
On our C34 boats, some have reported leaking at the rudder post fiberglass. Here's how ours is built, yours is undoubtedly similar: [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#)
Dan. I would dare say the water is coming from your rudder post packing gland. What you described was the packing gland on your prop shaft as you mentioned the shiney thing. The rudder post probably has play in it as Catalina does not have a upper bestow g for the shaft at the top only a fiberglass bushing which wear a lot. This then let's the post move around a lot thus making the packing unable to seal properly. I had rhe same issue until I made a upper bearing assembly for the rudder post. Now I have no water coming in as the post is not able to move around as it use to.
The other issue is most bilge hoses I belive will have a loop in in it so the water will not flow directly in. I know ours does and following seas are not a issue. Get down in there and get dirty. You will learn about your boat. Good luck.
Randy Sherwood
Mutualfun 1990 # 1057
T/R W/K M35a
Home. Charlotte, Mi.
Boat. St Augustine,Fl.
I got down in the stern (sort of, I'm a to tall to actually get down in there), and the rudder post looks fine. To port of the post a couple of inches two bilge pump hoses come up through the bulkhead and go on past to their outflows. But under those hoses, parallel to the bulkhead is a "slot" of light, about an inch and a half long, maybe 1/8 in wide. I couldn't get down close to the thing, but this looks like a hole in the hull. I tried to see it from outside, but short of diving, couldn't.
So, hoping for at least a temporary solution, I shot a tube of 5200 in and around the hole to plug it.
I'm guessing it's the source of incursion in a following sea. Any idea why there'd be such a hole in the boat?
S/V Tao
Catalina 36
1983, Hull #114
[QUOTE=drdanj;15172]I got down in the stern (sort of, I'm a to tall to actually get down in there), and the rudder post looks fine. [/QUOTE]
IIRC, the link I gave earlier said that the top of the rudder post was above water until motoring. You might want to check it when motoring. I can do it with a mirror.
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
Thanks for the suggestions. While down in there I found the rudder post dry and dusty, no evidence of it being wet at any time. I think I'll take a hose and just blast the underside as hard as possible, with someone up in the transom, should be able to see any leaks. Then if nothing, will take her out with everything cleaned, the covers off the aft berth and all, so I can see what happens.
Mysteries abound.
S/V Tao
Catalina 36
1983, Hull #114
I've had water in the bilge from three different instances:
[LIST=1]
[*]Left the seacock open to the head sink and the sink overflowed on a pounding starboard tack
[*]Marina did a poor job at winterization. In the spring a hose came off and emptied the water tanks into the bilge. Killed the fancy Sureflo pump at the same time.
[*]I had the forward water tank quite full, pounding up wind. Found the cover to the access panel loose and water coming in from the tank when I was heeled over.
[/LIST]
Unexpected water in the bilge will always get your attention.
Greg Jackson
SV Jacqui Marie
2004 C36, MKII
tall rig, wing keel,
you might also check your transom thru hulls. i just hauled my 84 out and found hairline cracks behind the flange where the flange and tailpipe of the thru hull meet.
James DeBrum
S/V Slip Mistress
1984 C36 #333
Charleston S.C.
jgdebrum@gmail.com
When I've had this issue it's been the head sink, but it didn't drain significantly into the bilge, mostly just around the counter area and floor/sump area...
---- Howard & Linda Matwick ----
--- S/V "Silhouette" - Nanaimo, BC ----
--- 1999 C36 MkII #1776 M35BC ---
Dan, on my 1986 C36 the two bilge hoses you see in the aft lazerette form a tee before going trough the transom. The one with the straight shot is the emergency (hand) bilge pump and the one with the restricted flow is the electric bilge pump. i was able to blow air also but it would not always overcome the back pressure to get suction. I put in another thru hull fitting for the electric bilge pump so the line goes overboard without restriction. All is well.
Griff