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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Water in bilge

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cks
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126 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/22/2010 : 13:16:38

So my boat ('83 FK) went in the water this week and today i noticed that the bilge compartment underneath the head/main cabin was full of water. I only looked because the rug in front of the head was soaked. I never noticed this before. I bailed out most of the water and with little i could see, i could not see a leak. All of the other compartments seem dry. What do i do next?

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Dave5041
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Response Posted - 05/22/2010 : 16:38:34

Check it again after a day; if there is water in the bilge again and you can't find the leak, haul it out and start checking things. I would think that the most likely area is around the keel with through hulls a distant second. Hull damage would seem to be the only other possibility for a leak below the waterline. If you don't have water, there are myriad possibilities but they won't sink you right away. I am presuming that you haven't had torrential rain.

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Voyager
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Response Posted - 05/22/2010 : 18:25:31

Can't tell whether your boat is in salt or fresh water. If I get water in the bilge, I check whether its salt or fresh (using an ohmmeter). I have several leaks topsides - stanchions mostly - so rain gets into the bilge. I've only had salt water in the bilge once - after a very wet close reach.

I found the oddest thing after a big rain this week - rather than fresh water, I had some kind of clear slime -- gross!

I assume some kind of bacteria or algae got into it. I wiped it up and it's dry now, but that was a first for me.

Definitely check it frequently, since you won't get a second chance.

Edited by - Voyager on 05/22/2010 18:28:25

bigelowp
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Response Posted - 05/22/2010 : 18:46:28

I have a very "used" fk/tr boat. That said, I have never had salt water (I sail on salt water) in the bilge BUT always seem to have some fresh water from all the leaks associated with the hatchway, windows, deck oriented leaks. I always check the bilge and find, mid season that she is dry BUT if there is heavy weather, such as rain, I will find water in the ice chest and bilge. I think most owners of 25's will report similarly, so, if I were you I would check if the water was from the hul or deck and then work toward remediation.

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cks
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Response Posted - 05/22/2010 : 20:02:56

My mistake for not checking the bilge before the boat was put in. The boat is in salt water but over the past few months, we have had some big rainstorms while the boat was on the hard. i do plan to check it again tomorrow. I painted the bottom last month myself and if there was hull damage i think i would have noticed them. Two questions:

1. How much does an ohmeter go for?

2. If it is fresh water, what would i do to investigate the source? One thing that was peculiar was that the contents in the main cabin port compartment underneath the bench seemed damp- but there was no water in that compartment and the two compartments did not seem to connect.

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GaryB
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Response Posted - 05/22/2010 : 21:47:34

1. An ohmeter can be picked up at Lowes,Home Depot, or Radio Shack for $10 - $15 dollars, maybe less.

2. Take some chalk and draw a line around the inside of the opening to each compartment where you're getting water (if you're getting water in the sump where the keel bolts are located reach down inside the opening to the sump and draw a chalk line on the inside of the hull where it turns down into the sump). If it's rainwater it will run down the inside of the hull to the lowest part of the sump and wash away the chalk as it does. This will give you an idea where you need to start tracing the leak.

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Dave5041
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Response Posted - 05/23/2010 : 06:41:25

Cheap volt-ohm meter about $10 and useful and generally accurate enough for use around the boat. Should read near 0 for salt water and high for fresh, but any dissolved electrolyte like rain picking up salt from the deck and many cleaners will make the freshwater conductive too. Cheapest technique is to put your finger in it and lick your finger. The most common above the waterline sources are ports, cockpit scuppers, and genoa track screws. Thru bolted deck fittings, mast step and stanchions will usually leak into the cabin.

Edited by - Dave5041 on 05/23/2010 06:47:33

cks
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Response Posted - 05/23/2010 : 08:09:29

Ok so it's fresh water. I already had a "voltmeter" and it occurred to me that it also measures resistance therefore "ohmeter". Anyway, the bilge stayed dry overnght so it must be coming from from above waterline. I am still not sure how to find the source though. Any further suggestions will be appreciated.

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Voyager
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Response Posted - 05/23/2010 : 08:33:16

If its coming in from rain, that's a little better news. The three major offenders are (a) windows/ports/light, (b) stanchions for holding up the lifelines and (c) chain plates where the shrouds attach. Rebedding items B and C are easiest. Repairing window seals is involved, but doable. There are a load of screws on the genoa track, so that could take a while to rebed. You're hoping for an 80-20 rule, where 20% of the fixes will cut the leaking by 80%.

You can narrow down the leaks by taking a felt marker (water soluble ink) and mark a horizonatl line on different areas where you can access inside the bilge, then shoot the hose water at various items and check for drips. Not 100% accurate, but it will help you find the larger leaks.

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
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Response Posted - 05/23/2010 : 08:34:56

Anchor locker, cabin windows, cockpit scuppers,... Those are sources that let in larger quantities of water. I substantially reduced the accumulation years ago by sealing around the edges of the scuppers (brass tubes through the transom) where significant quantities of rain water pass through. Check for a clogged anchor locker drain.

Probably the best way to sleuth this out is to get into the boat during a heavy rain and start snooping around in your storage hatches--the dumpster (sail locker), under the quarterberth, and whatever openings you have to the bilge (which varies based on interior). If you can't do that, another trick is to draw some strategically placed parallel lines on the inside of the hull with colored chalk. Water running across them will wash away the chalk, giving you an idea of the location and path. You can also try simulating the rain with a hose...

Don't worry--you're in good company on this one!

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 05/23/2010 08:43:08

Dave5041
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Response Posted - 05/23/2010 : 13:52:43

Check the genoa track screws. I just tightened them all without re-bedding and solved multiple small leaks. The factory bedding on Pearl is a thick mastic (somebody suggested that it might be butyl tape) that never hardens, so tightening can sometimes work.

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JAB
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Response Posted - 05/25/2010 : 20:27:08

I recently checked for deck leaks by <b>pressurizing</b> the cabin and spraying soap solution around ports, stanchions, hardware mounts, etc.

Started by fabricating a plywood companionway drop board and boring a hole in it. Screwed a Shop Vac fitting over the hole and inserted the vacuum hose, which led from the blower side of the Vac.

Then pored over the cabin roof with a spray bottle of dish soap solution and looked for <b>bubbles</b>. Sure enough!

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DaveR
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Response Posted - 05/26/2010 : 06:54:35

A bad anchor locker drain hose left a lot of rain water in the forward portion of the bilge on my boat.

Edited by - DaveR on 05/26/2010 06:55:18

redeye
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Response Posted - 05/26/2010 : 10:55:50

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19316&SearchTerms=anchor,locker,drain

this guy did the works.

I did this once on another boat with plastic pipe and resin. Easy to grind/sand flat.

He did a -great- job showing you how he does it.

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redeye
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Response Posted - 05/26/2010 : 11:00:26

Oh... I had water showing up in the bilge I could not trace, and when I replaced the companionway trim I found it was coming in at the top of the trim, between the liner and running down into the bilge area.
It had me stumped but I didn't look to hard, and found it by accident.

All my bilges have water in them, to me it is when they get water/oil/gas it becomes a problem.

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redeye
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Response Posted - 05/26/2010 : 11:02:41

Oh I'm sorry.. that was Frank... He does everything well ( not Kidding )

You should see his boat shed!

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andypavo
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Response Posted - 05/29/2010 : 06:20:17

If the water in your bilge is green and slightly saline then your margarita cooler sprung a leak.

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