Almost sank my 36c

[pathat315]

I would like to share my scary adventure with you that happened last month. Heading for Put in Bay Ohio from my Marina north of Monroe Michigan. About 32 miles one way. Was almost half way there, near Middlesister Island, when I noticed the bilge light was on. Conditions were breezy with 3-4 footers. I sent my 2 buddies down to check the bilge. When I looked down from the bridge as they opened the back hatch on the deck, I noticed both of their eyes get very big. They said a lot of water in the bilge and coming in fast. I then told them to check the engine compartment for water and inspect the thru-hulls. They said the engine compartment was dry and thru-hulls looked good. They checked the back hatch again and water still coming in fast. Very dark and hard to see under the back hatch. Also, visibility is blocked from the gas tanks.
I made the decision to come about and head for my marina which is the closest port with a lift. Very scary next 10 miles. Engines ran fine, but I could notice the increased weight in the boat and had a hard time keeping the engines synched. Came into the channel of the marina and now boat was getting heavy and exhausts starting to go under water. Friends now said water coming in fast from the front hatch and in the engine compartment. Fortunately, the maintenance guys were still in the marina and had the lift waiting. Hoisted the boat up and drained the bilge.
The cause/source of the water was the exhaust hose between the salon bulkhead wall and the muffler. This large hose runs from the back of the engine through the bulkhead wall, to the muffler, then exits the rear of the boat out the exhaust. Midway between the wall and muffler the rubber hose is double clamped. I did not know these clamps were there. You can't see them from the engine compartment because of the wall and you can't see them from the back deck because they are blocked by the gas tanks. The clamps did not break, but the seam vibrated slightly loose on the bottom causing the exhaust water to be dumped in the bilge instead of out the boat. If I had know this, I could have shut the engine off and stopped the flow of water. Put the seam back together, tightened the clamps, dropped the boat back in the water and off to Put in Bay. No problems since.
I also noticed clamps from the muffler to the back of the boat. I can only see them looking over the top of the gas tanks. Impossible to inspect because no room to move around between the gas tanks and side of the boat. Any 36 owners know how to inspect those seams/clamps? Moral of the story, check your clamps. I always do this, but did not know they were there.

 

[34Hatt]

My 34C was the same way what I did this past winter was fiberglass tube instead of hose and glassed it to the muffler. This way no hidden clamps or seams. It always bothered me that I could not get to them.
Glad it turned out o.k you did the right thing going back right away!

 

[yachtsmanbill]

HATT TRICK broke 3 out of 4 clamps at the riser and MAN was the water gushing in--slowed to idle-Was on ICW at NOLA and lottsa traffic. Put on 3 new clamps and back underway. As always-- BE PREPARED for ANYTHING and dont panic!! While doing this I pictured goin into the mud if I had to. Havent lost a boat yet.
(crossed fingers and toes) Still have several more to change!! ws

 

[Nick]

Well it was your lucky day! That sluggish feeling of the boat with all that water is frightening!

I have been troubled by the hoses and clamps beween the mufflers and the glassed exhaust fittings at the transom on our 37. I have tried to figure out how to pull the muffler, replace it (one is quite loud) and the hose without tearing up the cockpit floor. The mufflers and hoses are outboard of the fuel tanks and it's tough to get access. Last time I looked I thought about cutting open the bulkhead between the engine compartment and the cockpit where the exhaust hose connects to the inlet of the muffler and pulling the muffler and hose into the engine bilge area. Looks like a b.... of a job.

Thanks for sharing the happy ending!

 

[doc g]

I know it is hard to do but the first thing you should do is shut it down. I was on a Sea Ray a few years ago which was begining to sink as we trolled . The cap did not even see the bilge pump light on! I argued with him until he shut down and we found the broken hose on the stb engine. Bilge pumps caught up and we idled back on the port engine. Had we followed his plan, to haul azz to the marina, I am convinced we would have sunk it . It is almost always cooling water that is sinking you in this situation.........Pat

 

[SKYCHENEY]

You should inspect your exhaust periodically. When I bought my boat, I found that both exhaust tubes had been overheated presumably by muscrat nests. The PO did nothing about it, so I had to replace/repair the leaking exhaust. Of course the surveyor never caught. Imagine that.

 

[brian4190]

i agree with pat. on the couple of times in the last 30 plus years that i have noticed my bilge filling up while under way it was the exhaust water.you can usually tell because the water in the bilge is very warm. if you shut the engines down then you wont be able to tell where the water is comming from. i think it may be better to put both engines in nuetral or idle speed while you are checking things out. running for shore at speed is not a good idea if you dont know where the water is comming in as it may start comming in at a much faster rate. i guess in theory if you shut down and close every seacock in the boat you should be ok if you did not punch a hole in your hull somehow.( almost impossible in a hatteras....... ?)

 

[34Hatt]

Nick
Last time I looked I thought about cutting open the bulkhead between the engine compartment and the cockpit where the exhaust hose connects to the inlet of the muffler and pulling the muffler and hose into the engine bilge area. Looks like a b.... of a job.

That is how I did mine it will be a B&*^h but It is better then the other options!
Nick are you going to be around this weekend going to Brewers Greenport to look at a job Saturday morning!

 

[ohiohatteras]

Well it was your lucky day! That sluggish feeling of the boat with all that water is frightening!

I have been troubled by the hoses and clamps beween the mufflers and the glassed exhaust fittings at the transom on our 37. I have tried to figure out how to pull the muffler, replace it (one is quite loud) and the hose without tearing up the cockpit floor. The mufflers and hoses are outboard of the fuel tanks and it's tough to get access. Last time I looked I thought about cutting open the bulkhead between the engine compartment and the cockpit where the exhaust hose connects to the inlet of the muffler and pulling the muffler and hose into the engine bilge area. Looks like a b.... of a job.

Thanks for sharing the happy ending!

100% agree with Nick! I had to REPLACE both mufflers on my 36c and had the cut the opening in the bulk to the engine room and pull them out that way...then re-glass the section back in after muffler install! The only way I found to reach those hose clamps was using 3 - 16" quarter drive socket extnesion with a flashlight and focusing using one eye and reach all the way across the fuel tank (which is slowly delaminating cuz of ethanol!).....it's a Total b....of a job!
If you decide to do the job....feel free to ask any questions. Next time you are heading to PIB ...drop me a note! We are there about 6 times a year and stay over at Ladds or Crews Nest...
Good Luck
Todd

 

[jcchev]

So, is this same muffler configuration present on the 43', 44' and 48' Hatteras?

 

[Nick]

Dan,

I sent an email to you via your EOTL web page.

See you Saturday

 

[Genesis]

My 45C had solid glass from the side exits forward to the ER bulkhead - one piece (well, glassed together anyway).

Now the hoses that connected to that were a biatch to get to the clamps on, because they were BEHIND the bulkhead, and there was nearly zero clearance, but it wasn't anywhere near as bad as what you're describing.

The only "buried" clamps I had to deal with were for the fuel fill hoses. Someone had managed to get to them at some point in the past because the hose looked to be only a couple of years old when I bought the boat. How they did it I will likely never figure out.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Pat, thank you!!! for posting this. This is a problem on a lot of these boats as it is nearly inaccessible and doesn't get looked at, frankly. They SHOULD be checked; I will make sure ZMI does this when they are working on Blue Note. A lot of water goes through there, and as you say it is easy for a boat to sink from this.