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Common places where leaks occur on a C250?

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mowrangler
1st Mate

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USA
66 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/13/2012 : 07:48:24

Well.. I finally got Four Winds in the water this weekend and headed out yesterday afternoon for a sail, but when I got to the slip I found wet carpet. Aaarrgghh....

So, a lot of hand pumping and eventually set a temporary bilge pump in with the outlet running out the thru-hull where the sink was previously routed. I got it mostly dry, and was able to see that one of the thru-hulls where the transducer had a bit of a leak. I tightened it down and hit it with a little silicon, which drastically slowed the intake. Unfortunately, by this morning there was still a few inches of water in the bilge again.

So, I am trying to do an inventory of places where the leak could be occurring... there are the two transducers, and the rubber washer at the top of the vent to open the ballast tank looked a bit aged. Other than that, is there anywhere along the centerboard where it could be coming in? (I haven't figured out how to get to it from the top yet) Anywhere else I may be overlooking?

Also, for any of you who have dealt with this kind of thing before, any recommendations on resealing the transducers from the top without having to take the boat out of the water?

Thanks in advance,

Ross B
95 Catalina 250 WB #29
Moving up to 90 Catalina 28 in June 2015
Four Winds
Spokane, MO

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2012 : 08:18:26

How's your ballast tank?

Edited by - John Russell on 08/13/2012 08:18:45

mowrangler
1st Mate

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USA
66 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2012 : 08:30:54

It is full, but other than that I don't know. I'm hoping it isn't a leak in the ballast tank, as I'm afraid that would be much harder to find and remedy...

I assume a good test for a ballast leak would be to get a low pressure pump and try to blow out the ballast while listening for leaks?

Edited by - on

bill bosworth
Navigator

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USA
172 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2012 : 19:34:02

Ross;
There are very few places that can cause a leak, thru hull fittings would be my number 1 suspect, that being said, I did have a ballast tank leak which occurred in the seam between the head compartment and the V berth. My leak made some mess but didn't leak enough to add 2 inches of water overnight. I was able to repair the leak with the boat in the water, no problem for past couple of years.
Best of Luck
Bill

Edited by - on

mowrangler
1st Mate

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USA
66 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2012 : 22:04:36

Thanks Bill,

I went down tonight and have eliminated the ballast tank valve from the list of possible leak points, as it was now dry as a bone. Unfortunately, there was a couple of inches of water in the bilge again after 11 hours, but at least it was not out into the cabin. I did go ahead and wire an electric bilge pump into the boat and ran the hose up to a new thru-hull next to where the manual pump exits. That should at least allow me a little peace at night...

I'm hoping the bilge will at least keep the water low enough so that it doesn't make it up to where the transducers are, which will allow me to determine if they ever dry out. I really still feel like this is the culprit, but am kind of leery of the water ballast as well. Since mine is a really early hull number and I can see cracks in the inner liner where the rear berth is at, I wonder if they hadn't quite worked out all of the kinks. :)

I am going to try to look over the front half of the boat tomorrow, though, as most of my effort thus far has focused on the rear berth back. I have the bulkhead completely out right now and everything is opened up enough that I hope it will leave the new areas dry and make the offending area more obvious. Someone in another thread also mentioned putting some food coloring in the ballast tank to check for leaks, so that is on my docket for this weekend if I don't find any more before then.

Thanks for you input and I'll keep everyone in the loop with what I find,

Edited by - on

Jack Schafer
Navigator

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USA
112 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2012 : 19:39:53

do you have wheel steering? possibly the rubber gasket at the tiller entry is worn and waves are splashing in

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frankr
Captain

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256 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2012 : 17:26:12

The cubby holes in the cockpit area are known to leak also. My 2003 leaked when new

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2012 : 20:09:02

Dry it out thoroughly, then put paper towel (ideally colored paper towel) around the edges of the ballast tank, around the base of the ballast valve hump, along the ridge at the base of the trunk bulkhead and around the hoses of the water tank.

You should be able to detect wet towel very quickly that will identify where it's coming from.

Paul

Edited by - on

mowrangler
1st Mate

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USA
66 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2012 : 09:36:50

So far after 16 hours with food coloring in the ballast tank, none of the color made it into the bilge but a few gallons of water did. I dried completely around the thru-hull transducers last night and they seeped enough water to wet the paper towel again, so everything is pointing to them as the source. I'll be back down to the marina for a sail tomorrow, so assuming there is no green food color in the bilge by then, I'll feel good that at least it has been eliminated (for now).

Edited by - on

britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2012 : 10:09:42

Ross,
I would be surprised if the transducer well was the problem, unless your boat is significantly different from ours.

Our 'well' is located under the V-Berth and has the ballast tank surrounding it.

The water would have to rise above the well to flood into the area above the ballast tank.

If it were leaking enough around the thru-hulls for the depth and speed transducers (that's what we have in our Well) that would be a significant leak and I'm sure you'll end up pulling the boat out to fix it.

We get a minor leak around our transducers, but never had more than 2" of water down there. But then, we don't leave JD in the water between sails.

Keep us up to date.

Paul

Edited by - on

mowrangler
1st Mate

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USA
66 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2012 : 11:32:54

I have come to the conclusion that the early hulls did not have the V Berth location for thru hulls, as I can't find anything like this under my V-berth. (I have hull # 29)

(Image linked to tech tips in Miracle Max)

The previous owner installed the transducers under the rear berth about a foot in front of the bulkhead. Frankly, the installation isn't that great and the panel on the ST30 is only showing garbage, so I planned on replacing them this fall anyway after I pull it out. This just may necessitate moving the task up my list of things to do.

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britinusa
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Response Posted - 08/22/2012 : 11:38:04

Now it's making sense! I could imagine a leak there just keeps on going!

We have the ST40 System, and, after a repair at Raymarine and reinstallation, the wind meter show garbage and it made a sound similar to morse Code!

Raymarine advised me to 'tap the buttons! Sounds like one is stuck!'

I did, it was, and now works fine.

Paul

Edited by - on

mowrangler
1st Mate

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USA
66 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2012 : 11:48:43

I'll have to try the tapping thing... I took a photo of the screen and was going to send it to Raymarine to see if they have any recommendation for diagnosis, but it kind of fell to the backburner with the little leak.

Edited by - on

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.