STILL water in STBD ER

[Fanfare]

I kept getting water from the area of my port rudder post. I was expecting a packing problem but it turned out to be more complicated. I knew there was a strong reinforcing shelf at the top of the rudder posts. Turned out there was a corresponding reinforcement at the hull consisting of a piece of plywood about 2 x 2 ft. glassed into the hull with the rudder going through the center. Over the years this plywood had become saturated and rotted, losing all its compressive strength. Fortunately there was room beneath the beds to cut through the glass from above and replace it. Did this on both sides. Don't know if this practice was continued on newer boats. But if that is your problem no amount of rudder packing adjustment will cure it.

 

[jrbrein]

I am new to this forum and have owned 4 cruising sailboats over the last 30 years. I am becoming a Hatteras boat owner wanna be!

I live by the rule:

"You don't get what you expect....You get what you inspect"

When we were traveling offshore, I had a punch list of things (sails, rigging, turnbuckles, ER, stuffing box etc...) that we would check hourly! It was the hourly boat check and you got up and did it especially when running at night out in the ocean. It was like peace of mind. I learned this from a retired navy skipper who I used to sail offshore with.

This mystery leak is a blessing in disguise for you. I see that you are making the most of it!!!

Jonathan

 

[SEVEN]

Very wise advice Jonathan. I have done this for all of my 39 years of boating.

 

[holtcl]

Fanfare- interesting - will check that too. I've got one side ripped apart pretty good already back there. Hopefully it's something that can be accessed for inspection, and service if needed.

Cheryl

 

[jrbrein]

Seven,

I hope you enjoy many more years of boating!

Jonathan

 

[holtcl]

ok - the water is definitely coming forward into the STBD ER through the limber hole at the aft of the STBD ER. When I unplugged the limber hole, the build-up of water over the past few days came flowing in.

Also, (before I pulled the plug) in doing a "routine" check of sea cocks, I found a standing pool of water when I lifted the hatch in the floor of the middle head, where the raw water feed to the middle toilet is. And this lies directly behind the STBD ER.

After allowing the water to dissipate from under the middle head bilge area, I was still unable to tell where the water was actually coming from. Common sense would say that it's from the toilet intake, so I closed that sea cock and will see if water is still coming in after my next check.

The other piece of plumbing going through that area is the aft shower drain, however that water source has been turned off for a month how.

Oh, the fun...


Cheryl
Cinderella
1971 53 MY

 

[Pascal]

Water in the bilge under the middle head can come from shower (which you eliminated) or the sea cocks for the head. My 1970 has been converted to vacuflush and the sea cocks capped.

There are two of them. One down low under the hatch, just inboard of the head and outboard of the shaft.

The other one is under the exhaust hose, under the vanity. This one actually wasn't capped on my boat just closed with no hose ! When i tore down both heads and shower I knocked the handles and water started coming in !

 

[oscarvan]

Water in the bilge under the middle head can come from shower (which you eliminated) or the sea cocks for the head. My 1970 has been converted to vacuflush and the sea cocks capped.

There are two of them. One down low under the hatch, just inboard of the head and outboard of the shaft.

The other one is under the exhaust hose, under the vanity. This one actually wasn't capped on my boat just closed with no hose ! When i tore down both heads and shower I knocked the handles and water started coming in !

Bet that got your attention!

Is there a way down there along the inside of the hull from deck level?

 

[Pascal]

No it s under the sink vanity

Problem is that the access panels are way too small I didn't even know there was an old TH there

When I haul out In a couple of months i will remove every unused TH and glass the holes.

 

[SEVEN]

Question, how did you clean out the limber holes? What did you use? I have been looking for a bottle brush small enough to fit. Last comment on your water leak. I found a leak in the bottom of the water scupper on the aft deck. When ever it rained or we had a wash down 90% drained out but the rest dripped in from the thru hull inside behind the head.

 

[MikeP]

What about the shower sump? On our 53 the sump is located under the queen bed in the master. If the shower sump bilge pump or hose fails or if there is a leak in the sump, the aft bilge will get the water from the shower and eventually fill to the point where it will migrate forward into the ERs via the limber holes. No need to ask how I know that!

 

[oscarvan]

Pascal, I worded my question poorly. I mean, is it possible for WATER to drip down the inside of the hull from deck level. I mean, the two TH's and shower pan may have nothing to do with it. It may be coming in from outside up higher.

 

[holtcl]

I see this post is generating a lot of good (and helpful) discussion!

My shower has been shut down for over a month so I hope that would be eliminated in my case.

I've checked the water intakes and discharges for both aft and middle heads and I don't believe they are the obvious source of the issue, however the ingress is so slow it's hard to catch it "in action" so now I've got the intake for the middle head (the one closest to where I saw the accumulation) shut off to see if the water coming in stops. Hard to see the entirety of that hose and if there is a very small (e.g., pinhole) leak then I hope to isolate that by shutting off the intake.

I will also uncover the access panel to both mid and aft vanities to see if there's a problem behind there that I'm not seeing, as mentioned in a previous post. Great lead.

Cheryl
Cinderella
1971 53 MY

 

[bobk]

I see this post is generating a lot of good (and helpful) discussion!

My shower has been shut down for over a month so I hope that would be eliminated in my case.

I've checked the water intakes and discharges for both aft and middle heads and I don't believe they are the obvious source of the issue, however the ingress is so slow it's hard to catch it "in action" so now I've got the intake for the middle head (the one closest to where I saw the accumulation) shut off to see if the water coming in stops. Hard to see the entirety of that hose and if there is a very small (e.g., pinhole) leak then I hope to isolate that by shutting off the intake.

I will also uncover the access panel to both mid and aft vanities to see if there's a problem behind there that I'm not seeing, as mentioned in a previous post. Great lead.

Cheryl
Cinderella
1971 53 MY

Dust some talcum powder around that TH where you found water pooled. If it is running TO that area, you will find the tell tale track in wet talc.

Bobk

 

[Tim Powell]

I chased water for almost a 2 years . I wrapped the ac condensation lines with pipe insulation and went away ups you said salt watter

 

[SEVEN]

One question that has not been answered. What did you use to clean out the limber tubes? What type of tool, brush, chemicals etc. I know mine has oil resado deep inside and I want to clean out. Please help.

 

[jrbrein]

This is a long shot but it happened to me in a house with an ice maker in the frig..

The water line to the ice maker was a 1/4 inch plastic tube that developed a pin hole leak that was under the kitchen floor in the crawl space. I happened to find it one day while doing some work under the house. It was not a drip but a fine spray that you could not see. I just happened to feel something as my hand went by it!

I replaced the line with a stainless steel mesh line.


Jonathan

 

[Tim Powell]

One question that has not been answered. What did you use to clean out the limber tubes? What type of tool, brush, chemicals etc. I know mine has oil resado deep inside and I want to clean out. Please help.

Go to the dollar store purchase all the baby bottle brushes they have . Secont get a rubber pipe the handle of the brushes will fit in snug. A good d greaser i like greased lighting it does not seem to hurt hoses that purple stuff does,.

 

[rsmith]

One question that has not been answered. What did you use to clean out the limber tubes? What type of tool, brush, chemicals etc. I know mine has oil resado deep inside and I want to clean out. Please help.

Wire coat hanger and a piece of rag
I've got a limber tube that runs under my aft fuel tank under my mid tank and drains the aft bilge into the. Center where all the water collects for pump out. Several times its clogged from paint chips and muck. I run an electrical fish tape through it.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

High pressure water hose and a wet vac works for me.