[C38] Bilge Pump and mast leak

Mon Nov 22 00:49:24 EST 2010

Some things seem impossible.  About 6 years ago I hauled Que Linda to paint
the bottom.  Since any bilge water leaks out the Catalina smile and onto the
fresh bottom paint,  I carefully scooped and sponged out the bilge.  Living
in Washington state, it rained for the next 2 days interrupting my bottom
job.  When I looked in the bilge, I was amazed to find 2" of water.  There
must be a way that rainwater gets into the bilge other than down the mast.
It also must have a way to run under the hull liner so that you don't see it
inside the cabin.

Phil Gay

C38 049 Que Linda

Everett, WA

From: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org
[mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] On Behalf Of Chuck Finn
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2010 8:33 PM
To: Catalina 38 Listserve
Subject: Re: [C38] Bilge Pump and mast leak

Steve,
I am at a mooring and wave action does leak into the bilge.  Especially when
the water tank is empty, which is often the case when I moor.  
I agree that one of the best/better upgrades was the spartite plug for water
leakage and structural integrity.  

But, here is my problem with the mast leakage resulting in gallons of bilge
water.  The math does not work.  Even a monsoon rain would not result in
gallons of water in the bilge.  Imagine you left a hole the size of our mast
open during a rain and calculate what perhaps a 1/2 square foot of surface
area would allow.  One inch of rain would result in maybe 72 cubic inches of
rainwater.   That is about a quart of water....  (1.3 quarts at most).  
If you want to argue that stays, etc. add more surface area, then we could
maybe account of 3 quarts at the very most.

If you want to see where the water is coming from.  Pump down your bilge and
towel dry the areas below inlets.  Put some blue contractors chalk down
between the inlet and the bilge and wait a day.  

This is interesting!
Chuck Finn
Mighty Quinn,   #114
Great Lakes

On 11/21/2010 1:57 AM, S Orton wrote: 

Chuck,  I believe the top of the rudder post is above the waterline when the
boat is at rest in the slip, so there should be no leakage from the post.
Now under way with a stern wave, that's a different story.  When I return
from a sailing trip I dry the bilge with a towel and it will stay reasonable
dry (not over a cup, probably from condensation) if it doesn't rain.  With
rain the Rule bilge pump like about two gallons for company.  Also for those
who don't have a Spartite plug, I would highly recommend the upgrade, not
only from a leakage standpoint, but the resin plug is a structural
improvement- giving an "even" lateral support to the mast at the mast
collar, vs the point contact force using the wood wedges.

Cheers, Steve O (Santa Susanna #304)

  _____  

Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2010 21:03:08 -0500
From: charles at finn.ws
To: listserve at catalina38.org
Subject: Re: [C38] Bilge Pump and mast leak

While some water can certainly come down the mast, I doubt you are getting
gallons.  If you don't have a Spartite plug at the mast/cabin connection
however, there will be quite a bit...  
I am willing to bet most of the water is actually coming through the rudder
post fitting.  I always have water in the bilge and can actually see a wet
path from the rudder post to the bilge.  For years I thought the flow came
from the shaft coupling, but I took some blue contractor's chalkline chalk
and sprinkled it above the shaft coupling which almost immediately indicated
the problem after only a couple of waves....
Several years ago we had a great discussion about this and someone (Tom T. I
think) talked about where we could obtain a boot.
I of course, did not get one....  Sure would like to hear from someone who
has a better memory about this than I do!

All the best,

Chuck Finn
Mighty Quinn with two bilge pumps and a wet bilge,  #114
Great Lakes

On 11/20/2010 8:23 PM, Larry Malmberg Live wrote: 

Same here and it seems that we always have some water in the bilge.  How
about the rest of you guys and gals on here, water consistently in your
bilge?

Best regards,

Larry Malmberg
Team Hassle

  _____  

From: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org
[mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] On Behalf Of Robert Miller
Sent: Saturday, November 20, 2010 2:48 PM
To: 'Catalina 38 Listserve'
Subject: Re: [C38] mast leak

I always flick on my bilge pump to the spring loaded manual position
whenever I go aboard.  Just to check.  My boat is weird.  When I fill my
fresh water tank it vents into the bilge when it is full.  When the bilge
pump comes on, I can tell it is full.

Bob Miller

"Bolero" #113 at Southwestern YC in San Diego. 

From: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org
[mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] On Behalf Of Steven Ribble
Sent: Saturday, November 20, 2010 1:38 PM
To: Catalina 38 Listserve
Subject: Re: [C38] mast leak

Paul, you know about "never" and "always"...  actually there WAS ONE TIME I
got on board after being gone for the week 
(or more) and I found the bilge was dry...but then again it didn't rain
during that period.

I used to have a Lovett 1200 bilge pump and I'd typically found about a
gallon in the bilge after being away for a while...now I have a Rule and I
usually find about 2-1/2 gallons...guess that's what I get for trying to
save $$!  I've done occasional [taste] tests of the water because I was
concerned that I had a hull leak but I've never noticed it to be salty (I
know, not the smartest test to do)...so I've always assumed it was from the
mast.  If you are getting salt water in the bilge you should go on a safari
to find its origin because not only is it unhealthy for your keel bolts, you
may have big problems if your bilge pump gives out (like mine did - water
was just below the salon floor when I discovered it wasn't working).

Steve

On Sat, Nov 20, 2010 at 3:17 PM, PAUL NOTTE <panotte at shaw.ca> wrote:

Am I to understand some boats do not  ALWAYS  have water in the bildge? One
of my weekly things to do is add fresh water to the bildge  to flush out any
sea water is this wrong ?

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