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Leak in Keel/bilge area

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centurion
Deckhand

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USA
9 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/14/2004 : 23:02:13

We just got our 1980 fixed keel Cat 25 and have noted a slow leak in the bilge/keel bolt attachment area. Would this be coming from the keel bolts? All the fiberglass looks clean and solid. We sponged it out and it stays dry for a few days, but after about 10 days there is about 1/8 inch of water accumulated. If it is the keel bolts/nuts, which are very rusty, how hard is it to seal them and what do I use? Also, the boat is in the water and we do not have a way to pull it out to work on it.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 12/14/2004 : 23:17:01

What's the weather like where you're at?
The water may be from condensation... or a topside leak ending
up down in the bilge (the most common thing that happens)

If you're in salt water a quick 'taste test' will tell the story.

The keel bolts don't go through to the outside... they
dead-end in the keel itself. Only way you'd get water
through a keel bolt is if the keel is loose and not tightly
bedded to the bottom.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 12/14/2004 : 23:32:56

Hey Larry, when did they go from iron to lead keels, from iron bolts to SS bolts?

Centurion, there are a lot of conversations about the fin keels in the archives, you should try to find some of them. Do you know if your hull has a Catalina smile? Have you inspected the out side of your hull around the keel?

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2004 : 07:44:19

If the boat is in the water, I think that leak would have you at the bottom in 10 days. My guess would be water coming in from the top and finding its way to the bilge.

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2004 : 19:41:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 Hey Larry, when did they go from iron to lead keels, from iron bolts to SS bolts?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

According to the database, the switch from cast iron to lead for the Fin Keel probably happened somewhere in the production run between hull #3290 and #3744, in the 1982 or 1983 model year. My data on this is pretty sketchy, most of the entries I have just say "fin keel", only a handful specify "iron" vs "lead". And the switch may not have happened at exactly a single hull - there may have been an overlap in time when the factory had a number of both lead and iron keels in inventory and were delivering boats alternately with one or the other. I have had a couple of e-mails from people who claim to have heard this in phone conversations with Catalina factory parts department employees or other similar sources with insider information.

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2004 : 01:58:52

Want to find out for sure ? Get some sidewalk chalk and draw a line around the top of the bildge with the chalk nice and thick. If the water is from the top like condensation or rain it will wash the chalk away where it crosses it.

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ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2004 : 10:24:06

On a previous boat I did the chalk exercise and also paper toweled the bilge area bone dry and made little "dams" between the bolts, to isolate the culprit. It turned out some genius had drilled about a 3/16 hole from out to in, underneath the engine pan. It required repair from outside on a haulout but was the devil to understand up to the chalk-and-dam procedure. Fair winds, ron srsk Orion SW FL

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2004 : 11:07:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by lcharlot
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 Hey Larry, when did they go from iron to lead keels, from iron bolts to SS bolts?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

According to the database, the switch from cast iron to lead for the Fin Keel probably happened somewhere in the production run between hull #3290 and #3744, in the 1982 or 1983 model year. My data on this is pretty sketchy, most of the entries I have just say "fin keel", only a handful specify "iron" vs "lead". And the switch may not have happened at exactly a single hull - there may have been an overlap in time when the factory had a number of both lead and iron keels in inventory and were delivering boats alternately with one or the other. I have had a couple of e-mails from people who claim to have heard this in phone conversations with Catalina factory parts department employees or other similar sources with insider information.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hey Larry,

Would catalina ever consider giving you or the org. copies of their database sans the purchaser personal information? I know they kept records on every boat built?

dw

Edited by - on

centurion
Deckhand

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USA
9 Posts

Response Posted - 12/17/2004 : 10:01:45

Thanks, guys! I appreciate the response. When we hauled the boat to the lake (Grand Lake in Oklahoma) I looked the hull and keel over while it was on the trailer. It all looked good, except a thin layer of moss and a couple of very small (1" or less) blisters. We stayed on the boat a week ago during a rain storm at the marina and noted two small leaks, one on the thru-bolt in the head from the standing rigging turnbuckle, and one on a V-berth hatch hinge bolt. I have since sealed both areas. I didn't notice water from anywhere else, but we are going to the boat today to replace some items and will check again for water in the bilge. I am VERY happy to know that the fin bolts can't leak!

Edited by - on

seastream
Navigator

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USA
242 Posts

Response Posted - 12/29/2004 : 22:59:47

If you want to know whether your keel is lead or iron, try sticking a magnet on it. Magnets won't stick to nonferrous (lead) metal.

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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.