I have a leak in the small bilge just in front of my mast. I am pretty puzzled. The leak exits about 3 inches below the mast base into the small bilge zone. I think the hole is at about 45 degrees aiming for the middle of the mast base somewhere. Water is definitely coming when it rains - a slow drip. I do not have a furling main sail.
I tried to run a bamboo skewer up into the hole and see if it was hollow. It got stuck about an in. 1.5 inches in.
That is fresh bilge paint there. You can see the drip coming down over the little cup in the second photo.
Is this a weep hole that was made intentionally? Or do I have a problem here?
Where did Catalina typically put the weep holes at the mast base?
Thanks!
Bardo
Catalina 36 tall rig - fin keel. Hull 828
Seattle
Mine does the same. When it rains the lines that enter the mast bring in the rain water due to capillary action and water ends up at the base of Mast and in your bilge.
I use a srynge and pick up the water and dry the area each week. I believe this water may cause the Catalina smile problem by permeating down the keel bolts nearby. To prevent this I placed 2" tall plastic cylinders around the keel washers and places ample 3M 4200 around them. This has provided a good solution.
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Sail La Vie 1999 Catalina 36 MKII, M35B-17031, Coyote Point, San Mateo, CA
About Sail La Vie
Bardo,
I'm pulling up the floors this week to begin a Lonseal teak and holly upgrade and will check to see if I have the same weep hole on my 1985 C36
Paul Handly
1985 C36 TR FK #440.
Annapolis, MD
You know, I spent the category 5 Atmospheric River Event (sarcasm intended) here in California on my boat. I wanted to see what kind of water issues/ ingress I may have on my boat that I have now had for almost 2 years. One small leak on a gasket of the main hatch that I replaced ( guess I did a bad job) . The next leak was from the mast, and it was not minor nor too major. I have a 1989 Mk I, the leak was forward side of mast from what I'm assuming was an old hole where mast wiring ran? But it leaked enough to make me slightly concerned when I'm not on board, and with the fact that I will be heading to the tropics next year. I'm assuming its the mast top plate (or whatever the technical name is), has some holes from previous anchor light or whatever?
David Lane
S/V Grace
88' Catalina 36'
Oxnard, Ca
Lessons learned from removing floor boards and fixiing forward keel bolt:
- pull your forward floor board at least once a year and take a look at that keel bolt
- floor boards do not need to be screwed down - velcro or double sided tape removable is a good option to make it easy to remove and inspect
- on my boat 1988 hull #828 there is a weep hole that runs 45 degrees at a downward forward angle so the mast
base drains straight forward into the forward small bilge and around the forward keel bolt. The weep hole is just in front of the mast.
- know where your weep holes are. Inspect them regularly. Keep them clean.
- Your bilge will always have 1-2 inches of water in it unless you do something extraordinary. The bilge pump cant drain the last inch. Water will come in from the mast, prop shaft, maybe cold box drain, plus any leaks on the boat.
- I have now properly maintained 9 out of 10 keel bolts. Still working on the one under the fuel tank. AARRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!! Your keel will not fall off if 90% of your keel bolts are working correctly. It is a calculated risk now.
- I am planning to do a haul out in March when the rainy season slows down here in the PNW. I will be pulling the mast to inspect the mast base at that time. I plan to remove the metal mast base plate and replace with a fresh one. I will also be putting a new mast boot on the deck mast penetration. I will also carefully check the keel attachment for signs of trouble.
- my rigger looked at everything with me yesterday. He gave me the green light to sail all winter. A good rigger is a a great resource.