Not sure how to search this topic, so I'll just ask.
How do others deal with the water that collects aft of the strut support area? I've concluded that if I don't want to keep using the wet/dry vac, I need a small pump to send it up & over the strut hump to the bilge.
My strut was replaced. did the OEM have a tube/chanel for the water to drain past?
Thanks
—
Paul & Ann -
"Freestyle" -
1985 C36 #454 -
North Puget Sound, WA
So, No one has had trouble with water collecting in the Mk 1- aft most section of the bilge, behind the drive ashaft strut hump?
Paul & Ann -
"Freestyle" -
1985 C36 #454 -
North Puget Sound, WA
Paul,
I too have water collecting in that area. On my boat I believe it gets through the hole made for the radar post. I believe that there are a few articles on this and they are related to the rudder post and its seal. You can tighten the seal and perhaps that is the problem. I have the walk through stern and there are a multitude of places that water can come from. To my knowledge there was no tube or drain other than it fills and spills over.I sometimes sponge it out.
I had to replace my strut a few years ago. Had one fabricated out of SS with a much healthier cutless bearing and the body with some meat to mount a spur line cutter.
Gary Bain
S/V "Gone With The Wind"
Catalina 36', Hull #: 1056, Year: 1990, Engine: M-35
Standard Rig
Moored: Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Home: Auburn, Maine
Thanks Gary,
Yes, just this morning I stumbled upon an old Tech Notes article about it.
When I realized that it was not just a small seeping leak around the rudder post, but that the aft locker also fed this trapped bilge area, I gave up trying to keep the water out. I just need a method now (small pump) to forward it on to the bilge.
The last time I left the water standing there for a month or so, it got so scummy, it was ready to grow arms & legs and climb out by itself. That can't help with the cabin odor either.
I'll figure out a pump & either float or manual switch.
Paul & Ann -
"Freestyle" -
1985 C36 #454 -
North Puget Sound, WA
Could you fill it in to prevent the water getting trapped?
Michael & Jayne O'Neill * Steadfast * 1985 C36 #372 * Salem, MA
Actually, a friend of mine who sails a Hunter made that same suggestion. I need to give that some re-consideration. Thanks.
Paul & Ann -
"Freestyle" -
1985 C36 #454 -
North Puget Sound, WA
I have been on and worked on several mk1 c36 sailboats. Every single one has the water pooled exactly as you mention!
Duncan McNeill
1984 Catalina 36 #178
standard rig fin keel M25
Channel Islands
Thanks Duncan. That's interesting indeed.
In the end, I just filled it in. Improvising, I can't even remember all that I used, except that it included cat litter and a fiberglass seal ;-)
Nevertheless, I can still see the wet seepage coming from that area as passes under the drive shaft toward the bilge.
Paul & Ann -
"Freestyle" -
1985 C36 #454 -
North Puget Sound, WA
Hope I'm not too far off topic here (my first post to C36)...
Our '84 C36 also always has this pool of water, but we've put it to good use. I put the sonar transducer for our Garmin 50s in it and it works great. No thru-hull or transom mount needed. Works at all depths and engine speeds.
FWJ
Kismet, 1984 C36
Paul
I too have water pooling in the same area behind the prop shaft strut on our 1983 C36.
When we pulled the boat out of the water for the season a few weeks ago we noticed a considerable stream of water trickling out of the strut. I wiggled the strut a little and I could see even more seepage from around it.
Our boat has always collected water in that area, which overflows and drains down the hull under the engine and into the bilge.
I am thinking about completely removing the strut and re bedding it in the hope of solving this issue at last.
I'm wondering if anyone has gone that route before and to what end.
Bob Serotini
1983 C36 Hull #81
Milwaukee, Wi.
I had a 1984 Catalina 30, keep in mind this was before many of the manufacturers began to upgrade their processes because of blistering etc. On my 84 bondo was used to fair the area of the strut. We noticed that this area was moist. Same with the fairing for the keel. The bondo was absorbing and holding onto the water.
On another note because of the age of your boat you may wish to replace your strut altogether. What may look perfectly OK may not be. On my 36 younger than yours the strut bronze was brittle and starting to crumble, don't know why, but it was. I replaced with a fabricated SS strut which allowed me to use the largest cutlass bearing for a 1" shaft. It also gave me more body to drill and tap for my Spurs cutter. The fabrication done locally was less than purchasing the bronze replacement, which was a long delivery.
Gary Bain
S/V "Gone With The Wind"
Catalina 36', Hull #: 1056, Year: 1990, Engine: M-35
Standard Rig
Moored: Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Home: Auburn, Maine
I discovered (upon removing the center tank to replace the prop strut) that that aft cavity on our boat had been filled with expanded foam. That would eliminate the problem; as far as I can tell that cavity serves no function at all.
Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY