Keith,
The tanks are empty, I never filled them. The water is crystal clear (thanks
to Zebra mussels) Lake Michigan water - no fuel, oil, etc.
I am not completely convinced it isn't finding it's way to the stringer from
elsewhere, but I just can't prove it. I've removed all the floor boards and
the the thing is just bone dry everywhere except inside that limber hole. in
fact, if i stick my finger in the cutout in the stringer for the bilge hose,
which is several inches to port of the limber hole it is dry, so it almost has
to be coming from below.
My shower pump was straight forward, hose from the shower sump to a pump under
the sink and up to a thru hull at the toe rail. I disabled this yesterday
because i installed an automatic bilge pump and float switch to keep up with
the water and the only above the water line thru hull available was the shower
drain pump - i don't use it anyway. In off season I'll maybe add a thru hull
and reattach it.
Thanks for the input! Any opinion on tightening keel bolts in the water - I
cannot get a conclusive answer on this. Some sources say do it and some say
never. I've seen it argued on several forums, but haven't formed my own
opinion yet...
Thanks,
Erik
________________________________
From: "Morgenstern, Keith E CIV SEA 08 NR" <keith.morgenst...@navy.mil>
To: Erik Hillenmeyer <erik_hawk...@yahoo.com>; cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 2:51 PM
Subject: RE: Stus-List 35-3 Leak
Erik,
I've been mulling over your situation.
Here's my thoughts:
You indicate that it seems like the water is originating from somewhere
*inside* the stringer. We know that there are no keel bolts in there,
nor are there any openings to the ocean there...and it's in front of the
last keel bolt, so it seems unlikely (to me) that it's a grounding
problem.
So...where would water come from *inside* the stringer?
On my 35-3, they've run all the water hoses/pipes thru large holes in
the stringers, drilled maybe 1" or so down from the top.
If one of those pipes has a weeping leak where it passes over the
perhaps sharp edge of the hole drilled, it could seem like the water is
originating in there. Then gravity just makes the water tanks drip into
the bilge.
It's been a few days...at 2.5 gallons a day, your water tanks should be
noticeably low if this was the source. To test, put two different food
colors (or two different liquors) in the tanks, and close the valves at
the water pump so they aren't cross-connected, then wait it out. What
color/taste is the bilge?
Another possibility along these lines is an extra bilge pump pickup...on
my 35-3 there is a shower sump pump for the shower in the head. But
somewhere along the line (maybe at the factory) they put a 3-way valve
in, then ran a hose thru the bilge to a point between the mast and
engine, and there is a pickup there too. (it's my "aft" bilge pump
pickup)
If this was deranged like above (leaky hose/fitting), or if there was
some sort of siphon being set up from the shower to the bilge via the
overboard lines? It's a stretch...but maybe.
-Keith Morgenstern
C&C 35-3 cb
-----Original Message-----
From: Erik Hillenmeyer [mailto:erik_hawk...@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2013 17:03
To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Subject: Stus-List 35-3 Leak
Hello,
Been following on here for a while but never posted.
I have a new-to-me 1984 C&C 35 MKIII on Lake Michigan. When we launched
six days ago I noticed a large amount of water in the bilge when I would
go to the boat. Approximately 2.5 gallons every 24 hours. I have
narrowed the leak down to what I assume is a hull/keel joint issue.
After checking all the obvious sources for this much water (thru hull,
tanks, etc, etc) I finally noticed that all the water was coming from a
limber hole in the stringer just forward of the aft most keel bolt. The
water is NOTcoming out this limber hole because it's flowing through
there from a higher point in the bilge - it's flooding up from
underneath the stringer. The bilge area aft of this stringer is dusty
dry and I've elminated all other sources of water.
The first thing I'm in the process of doing is installing an automatic
bilge pump and float switch (PO never had one).
I also plan on tightening the keel bolts as soon as I get access to a
torque wrench and an extension that can reach the 2 feet to the deepest
part of the sump where one of the keel bolts is located. I'm hoping
this is some help in stopping or reducing the leak. The sailing season
is very short here and hauling out now would cost us a big chunk of
sailing, so I'm willing to try anything to stay in.
I've thrown this out on some other blogs, but wanted to know if other
C&C owners have experienced this issue or have some solutions for
getting her through the season.
Thanks,
Erik
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