As a standard practice, I always close all my thru-hull fittings prior to leaving the boat. This weekend, I found a bit of a problem. When I went to close the valve for the galley sink, I felt the pipe between the valve and the hull, and it was wet. I also noticed it was somewhat sticky, as if there was a sticky putty around the pipe.
Can anyone explain this sticky putty? Is this possibly a patch previously installed prior to our purchase of the boat?
Is there anyway to repair this leak before it becomes a big issue with the boat still in the water? We have a C36 MKII, 1995. Hull 1433.
Thanks for any advise.
Robert
—
Robert Trinkle
Troubador, 1995 C36 MKII #1433, SR/WK
Universal M35A
Kinsale Harbor Marina
Kinsale, VA
Robert,
I think you have to dry everything as well as you can, and then find out what exactly is leaking. If it is a hose connection, no big deal. Close the thru hull, take everything apart, clean, and re-assemble. If it is the thru hull valve, some can be replaced while in the water. Look on the Forespar website for a complete set of instructions. If the area between the hull and the base of the thru hull is leaking, I think you have a serious problem, and you should haul the boat to repair it. It sounds as though the PO tried a mickey mouse repair and it didn't work. Finding your boat sitting on the bottom would not be a good thing.
Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT
I hope we don't run into that problem... that would really suck.
I had the local marine tech look at it earlier this week. He saw a drip coming from the valve. He also said it would be okay, just to keep an eye on it.
However, I will take advise from both of you. I'll dry it out this weekend and and see what happens. If it gets worse, I'll get it hauled out and replaced.
The bildge pump is keeping things well under control, but I would like to see a dry bilge.
I guess the sticky putty substance is some sort of patch. I want to look into that further. And I'll check out that web site for replacement valve.
Thank for the advise. Any futher advise is greatly appreciated.
Robert Trinkle
Troubador, 1995 C36 MKII #1433, SR/WK
Universal M35A
Kinsale Harbor Marina
Kinsale, VA
Assuming you have the Marelon OEM valves that were standard issue, have you checked the screw that holds the handle in place for tightness? If that screw is loose at all it will allow a drip to occur and just tightening the screw will fix it. We had 2 dripping when we bought our boat and gently tightening the screw fixed them both. But be careful, if you break or strip that screw it can allow the ball to fall out and an uncontrollable flow of water will begin, you might want to have something handy to jam in there in the event that happens. A wood plug won't do, it is an irregular shaped hole that results, possibly one of the new foam plugs would be best to have around.
Please consider making an auto signature through the user control panel (User CP above), if you give us some info on your boat it will help providing advice specific to your boat.
Bud's right.
Here's why: [url]http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5078.msg33347.html#msg33347[/url]
The thing to remember is that the valves, themselves, are just fine.
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
I'll definitely check the tightness of the screw. Didn't do that this past weekend, but will next time we are down. This weekend all was dry on the valve/thru hull. I would be almost certain it would be the handle screw.
Thanks for the info and link. Great information.
Since this is our first Catalina, we are still learning the boat as we go.
BTW,, we love the C36. It seems real stable, powers through heavier seas and tacks great.
Robert Trinkle
Troubador, 1995 C36 MKII #1433, SR/WK
Universal M35A
Kinsale Harbor Marina
Kinsale, VA