STILL water in STBD ER

[holtcl]

Getting there. The water I find in the bilge is indeed quite salty. Therefore I'm not convinced that this is "the" source but it's certainly something to fix in the process of elimination.

The other thing I wonder about is the possible accumulation of salt from rain water coming down the deck. The last time I ran the boat conditions were rough and she caught a lot of salt spray. Though I rinsed her down heavily there is still a good bit of residual salt on her. That coupled with the potential for residual salt hanging around the bilges on a 40+ year old boat, it makes me wonder.

I know I said in a previous post that I wasn't getting rain water because the boat is in a covered slip, but the pulpit sticks out just enough to catch a little rain water, which rolls down the deck, and into that drain.

Cheryl

 

[jrbrein]

Even if it is not the real leak...keep looking. You will find it.

I admire your tenacity!

Jonathan

 

[nautibake]

Thanks Robert- I appreciate that.

Today I poured some red food coloring down the STBD deck drain and some of it did leak down into the area behind the aft head, suggesting that there is a problem in there somewhere. Not sure if it's "the" leak but it's another thing to fix and eliminate.

Cheryl

I was in my Stbd ER last week trying to troubleshoot the AC and had a helper spraying down the boat. While in the ER I noticed a small stream of water running down the deck drain hose into the Stbd ER. Just enough to kick the bilge on every couple of days so I hadn't had a chance to try to chase it down but it sounds like a similar issue as yours.

 

[rsmith]

Getting there. The water I find in the bilge is indeed quite salty. Therefore I'm not convinced that this is "the" source but it's certainly something to fix in the process of elimination.

The other thing I wonder about is the possible accumulation of salt from rain water coming down the deck. The last time I ran the boat conditions were rough and she caught a lot of salt spray. Though I rinsed her down heavily there is still a good bit of residual salt on her. That coupled with the potential for residual salt hanging around the bilges on a 40+ year old boat, it makes me wonder.

I know I said in a previous post that I wasn't getting rain water because the boat is in a covered slip, but the pulpit sticks out just enough to catch a little rain water, which rolls down the deck, and into that drain.

Cheryl

Fix the known issue first. See if it goes away.

 

[holtcl]

Thanks all- I hope to get progress made this weekend on the deck drain, before the colder weather sets in. Will report back...

Happy New Year to all!

Cheryl

 

[holtcl]

For those of you have fixed deck drain leaks, how have you done it? Have you gone in from the deck side or from underneath? I kind of tried both ways today but decided to stop and ask for advice before tearing up anything further.

I removed the screen from the deck side but it seems like it would be better access to get in from underneath. I made an observation hole in a chase in the aft head, however access there still seems iffy so that's where I decided to stop for today and ask questions. Thoughts? Note that the pic posted sideways.

Thanks-

Cheryl

 

[SEVEN]

I am able to view mine thru the aft head inspection plate. Not sure what you picture is showing. Is your hose horizontal? Or am I looking at this wrong?

 

[SEVEN]

Your. Sorry

 

[holtcl]

There is no inspection plate so I am having to "make" one in the aft head. The pic I posted is sideways-sorry about that.

I don't suppose you can post a pic of your inspection plate- might give me an idea of where to place mine?

Cheryl

 

[Pascal]

There was no access panel on mine either but someone at some point had cut into that plywood cover. Both drains (just forward and just aft of the wing door) are connected to custom welded brass Y about a foot belbow the deck. One hose is smaller than the other.

Those oil grey hoses are brittle with age, you may want to replace them while in there, at least the section between each drain and the Y

At some point, someone had replaced a section with an elbow radiator hose. Without clamps....

I also pulled the actual deck drain (the one behind the wing door) and re bedded it although the leak I was chasing turned out to be from th davit standpipe base

I have a couple of picturs of the deck and what s behind the cabinetry that I took when I tored own the head. I ll try to post them later on, marginal connection here in the exumas

 

[rsmith]

You need to go buy a fien multitool or that type for cutting out stuff like theis looks like you used a hole saw

 

[holtcl]

I've got a fein tool - that initial hole I started with a small hole saw then expanded with a rotozip and it's pretty bad I realize. I figure I could clean it up and expand the hole, but I would like more information on location before I go further and start making more holes. For example, should the hole be bigger and where it's currently at, or above as in the ceiling?

Update: Searched previous posts on this, some had pics- looks like access is in the ceiling portion of the medicine cabinet- will try that and report back...

Reporting back: Got the access panel opened up in the ceiling portion using fein tool. That was the ticket to access the part where the drain hose connects to the drain. That connection actually looks good- meaning that it did not drip when I flushed water down. This leads me to believe that the leak is coming from the drain connection to the deck (e.g., needs re-caulking) or there is a hole in the drain hose itself. Since the re-caulking is an easier job I'm going to do that first and see if the problem continues.


Cheryl

 

[holtcl]

So after re-caulking the drain connection at the deck, water is still coming in.

Therefore, I believe that hose may need to be replaced - this is the drain hose just forward of the aft deck wing door on the STBD side.

For folks who've done this before- any wisdom to share? Did you start at the top or the bottom? I haven't yet looked to see how I'm going access where the hose fits to the bottom end of the drain near the water line.

What type of hose did you use?

So much fun.

Cheryl
Cinderella
1971 53 MY

 

[Pascal]

Here is what it looked like on mine, which just a year older. Obviously someone had worked on it using unclamped radiator hoses...

You need to be able to reach the custom made Y as this is where the leak could be. It will be hidden behind the medicine cabinet so you may have to cut an access panel

On mine the hose went straight down and then back up to the sea chest resulting in stuff getting trapped in the loop

For most drains and pumps I use the black and clear ribbed hose found at west marine. It s a littl stiff but bends without kinking

 

[jrbrein]

Hi Pascal,

Great photos! It is nice to see what things look like taken apart.

How can I access all of the photos of your work in progress?

Dumb question but I will ask anyway - Given the time period that these boats were built, have you ever com across any galvanized steel pipe or fittings? I would hope not!

Jonathan

 

[Pascal]

No steel pipes or fittings (come on now, these may be old boats but they re hatteras!)

But I have found some corroded brass fittings, like on the sea chests. Not a problem for most except those used for the air con discharges which are corroding.

I have a thread or two going covering the work with some pics.

For all the pics since I started, see this public FB album

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/...542.1073741827.1452437519&type=1&l=26307af31d

 

[SEVEN]

My leak was at the bottom at the exit point. I was able to see it from the shower inspection plate. Before cutting your walls up any more check there. Turn a eater hose on and let the water run into the outside drains. Then check the exit scupper. Hope this is where yours is as well.

 

[holtcl]

Pascal & SEVEN- super helpful replies- I can't thank you enough.

Pascal- I'm trying to understand the sources of the two deck drains (and corresponding hoses above the "Y") in your picture. One is from the drain forward of the wing door, but where does the other hose go? It can't be the aft deck corner it's not far back enough. What am I missing?


I will also remove the shower inspection plate and do another water test just in case. It's time to re-caulk it anyway. Due to where the red dye came out in one of my previous tests I think the leak is higher than that, but it's worth not making an assumption.


Cheryl
Cinderella
1971 53 MY

 

[Pascal]

There are two drains, one in front and one just behind the wing door so that at rest if th bow is just a littl bow heavy depending on tank levels water drains out. Then drain just being the door is smaller which is why the Y is custom job with welded pieces

 

[SEVEN]

One more thing. Make sure the exit point is clean and clear. Over the years hair, leafs and dirt can clog the exit point and make the drains back up. One of those plastic drain cleaner tools worked for me.