86 replies to this topic

[Gatekeeper]

We just returned from a great 8 days down the French (pics to follow)...we backed out of our slip at 7am and powered across our bay through the narrows to the big lake. Amazing ride. Beam reanch and racing a storm we averaged over 6.5 knots and saw 8.1 twice. All 30 miles, no tacks.

Finally as were are nearing the river mouth I decide to go below and put the new head to good use...as I move forward in the cabin, "splash"...that's odd, we never have water in the bilge...I pump it out, and it comes back. OH OH!! Finally I decide to start looking for a leak, I look under the v-berth where the transducers are and the water is 12" deep.

WE'RE SINKING!! Turn this boat around!!

I bail out the locker and sponge up the water to see what transducer is leaking and if I have a chance at fixing it...no water coming in through the transducers ...check all the thru hulls. Nada. FAK!! Now I don't know what to fix...stuffing box? Nope. Shit, (or maybe not shit??)

Then it occurs to me. My hands are quite clean. Check the fresh water tanks (2 x 40 gallons)...one is bone dry. So dry I can't find the leak, but I don't give a rats ass. We turn back around and head for our favorite cove.

[Gatekeeper]

Some random pics...

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[full circle]

glad all was well.

[Jose Carumba]

We just returned from a great 8 days down the French (pics to follow)...we backed out of our slip at 7am and powered across our bay through the narrows to the big lake. Amazing ride. Beam reanch and racing a storm we averaged over 6.5 knots and saw 8.1 twice. All 30 miles, no tacks.

Finally as were are nearing the river mouth I decide to go below and put the new head to good use...as I move forward in the cabin, "splash"...that's odd, we never have water in the bilge...I pump it out, and it comes back. OH OH!! Finally I decide to start looking for a leak, I look under the v-berth where the transducers are and the water is 12" deep.

WE'RE SINKING!! Turn this boat around!!

I bail out the locker and sponge up the water to see what transducer is leaking and if I have a chance at fixing it...no water coming in through the transducers ...check all the thru hulls. Nada. FAK!! Now I don't know what to fix...stuffing box? Nope. Shit, (or maybe not shit??)

Then it occurs to me. My hands are quite clean. Check the fresh water tanks (2 x 40 gallons)...one is bone dry. So dry I can't find the leak, but I don't give a rats ass. We turn back around and head for our favorite cove.

It sure is a good thing the Smurfs had their tugboat there in case you needed assistance (says the guy with the smurf blue decks).

[auggie]

So......................did you live?

My wife & I were out this past weekend. We've got a new, 44 year old, boat so every time we got out,I'm looking for any leaks etc. At some point while it's blowing 20+, she goes below and says "there's water down here." Don't quite hit the panic button but go below myself while she drives. Not much water, the floor's a little wet is all. Eventually determine (I hope) that the boat must have leaned over on the mooring (it sits in the mud at low tide) and the bilge water slopped up inside a cabinet where it soaked a box o' rags. Seems the rags absorbed the water and were slowly releasing it inside the cabinet. Water then leached through a tiny gap between the side of the cabinet and the floor. Sailed another couple hours and all seemed ok but as usual, when you hear there's water in the boat, you do pay attention.

[Gatekeeper]

The little tug was amazing...I believe the owner built it.

In 8 days we (us and our cruising mate) never shared an anchorage with another boat. I'm so glad the never connected the upper and lower French. The dams are truly a wonderful barrier.

[Ajax]

Whew, great story Gate! You had me freaking out and laughing in the same breath.

[B.J. Porter]

We just returned from a great 8 days down the French (pics to follow)...we backed out of our slip at 7am and powered across our bay through the narrows to the big lake. Amazing ride. Beam reanch and racing a storm we averaged over 6.5 knots and saw 8.1 twice. All 30 miles, no tacks.

Finally as were are nearing the river mouth I decide to go below and put the new head to good use...as I move forward in the cabin, "splash"...that's odd, we never have water in the bilge...I pump it out, and it comes back. OH OH!! Finally I decide to start looking for a leak, I look under the v-berth where the transducers are and the water is 12" deep.

WE'RE SINKING!! Turn this boat around!!

I bail out the locker and sponge up the water to see what transducer is leaking and if I have a chance at fixing it...no water coming in through the transducers ...check all the thru hulls. Nada. FAK!! Now I don't know what to fix...stuffing box? Nope. Shit, (or maybe not shit??)

Then it occurs to me. My hands are quite clean. Check the fresh water tanks (2 x 40 gallons)...one is bone dry. So dry I can't find the leak, but I don't give a rats ass. We turn back around and head for our favorite cove.

Nobody even noticed when I mentioned that I almost sunk my boat on Monday over in my "do you know this pump" thread...

[hobot]

Not feeling the love BJ?

[B.J. Porter]

Not feeling the love BJ?

Nope.

Of course, perhaps NOT dedicating a thread to my own stupidity in almost letting my boat sink on it's mooring could be a factor.

[slap]

Not feeling the love BJ?

Nope.

Of course, perhaps NOT dedicating a thread to my own stupidity in almost letting my boat sink on it's mooring could be a factor.

You just needed a better thread title to draw people in. Words like "sinking" or "tits" tend to attract attention.

[B.J. Porter]

Not feeling the love BJ?

Nope.

Of course, perhaps NOT dedicating a thread to my own stupidity in almost letting my boat sink on it's mooring could be a factor.

You just needed a better thread title to draw people in. Words like "sinking" or "tits" tend to attract attention.

Could be why I didn't start a thread entitled "Holy Shit my Boat Almost Sunk while I was looking for these tits to post".

Unlike Gatekeeper my incident was sheer stupidity. Dumping it in my "Do you know this pump" thread was like taking confession with a deaf priest.

[Gatekeeper]

[You just needed a better thread title to draw people in. Words like "sinking" or "tits" tend to attract attention.

Certainly got my fak'in attention!!

[hobot]

Not feeling the love BJ?

Nope.

Of course, perhaps NOT dedicating a thread to my own stupidity in almost letting my boat sink on it's mooring could be a factor.

You just needed a better thread title to draw people in. Words like "sinking" or "tits" tend to attract attention.

Could be why I didn't start a thread entitled "Holy Shit my Boat Almost Sunk while I was looking for these tits to post".

Unlike Gatekeeper my incident was sheer stupidity. Dumping it in my "Do you know this pump" thread was like taking confession with a deaf priest.

Titillating buzz words in a threads title are sure to breed popularity among the crowd.

[Bob Perry]

"Help my tits are sinking!"

[Jose Carumba]

"Help my tits are sinking!"

I know a doctor who can refloat them.

[Poda]

That's why, for the most part, I post my retardation in active and popular threads (like the Farr Dance in Ajax's Continuing Ed thread..) My trip up a 24 ft boat's spindly IOR mast garnered good responses, but it had a snappy title
Ezxpect much more "Why is the boat trying to kill me/crew/commit suicide"in a couple of weeks when the mast on my boat goes up..
LO peeps have been warned- stay away.. Stay away from the deceptively beautiful boat with the flag blue hull..
To bring this back on topic, glad your boat didn't sink GK.. I still wanna go for a ride on the sucker, but work and family are really tying me up..

[Occams Razor]

Not feeling the love BJ?

Nope.

Of course, perhaps NOT dedicating a thread to my own stupidity in almost letting my boat sink on it's mooring could be a factor.

You just needed a better thread title to draw people in. Words like "sinking" or "tits" tend to attract attention.

Could be why I didn't start a thread entitled "Holy Shit my Boat Almost Sunk while I was looking for these tits to post".

Unlike Gatekeeper my incident was sheer stupidity. Dumping it in my "Do you know this pump" thread was like taking confession with a deaf priest.

To be honest BJ - after the couple of years of publicized trials and tribulations, we're kinda numb to it



-


Beside - wouldn't you feel robbed if you didn't have a good near-sinking story?

[hobot]

"Help my tits are sinking!"

Winning!

[Silvio]

"Help my tits are sinking!"

Winning!

+1

[Steam Flyer]

"Help my tits are sinking!"

I know a doctor who can refloat them.

Doctor phooey... I would be glad to help blow them up again if my wife doesn't find out


DSK

[Soñadora]

it doesn't matter where you are, when the bilge fills up with water the very first thing you need to do is PANIC!

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[familysailor]

"Help my tits are sinking!"

I know a doctor who can refloat them.

Doctor phooey... I would be glad to help blow them up again if my wife doesn't find out


DSK

Er..... You do realize you're talking about Bob's tits, right?

[Bob Perry]

Those were hypothetical tits Family.

[B.J. Porter]

Not feeling the love BJ?

Nope.

Of course, perhaps NOT dedicating a thread to my own stupidity in almost letting my boat sink on it's mooring could be a factor.

You just needed a better thread title to draw people in. Words like "sinking" or "tits" tend to attract attention.

Could be why I didn't start a thread entitled "Holy Shit my Boat Almost Sunk while I was looking for these tits to post".

Unlike Gatekeeper my incident was sheer stupidity. Dumping it in my "Do you know this pump" thread was like taking confession with a deaf priest.

To be honest BJ - after the couple of years of publicized trials and tribulations, we're kinda numb to it



-


Beside - wouldn't you feel robbed if you didn't have a good near-sinking story?

S'Ok, I'm planning to become an attention whore of epic proportions in the next week or two.

[Beau.Vrolyk]

...snip....

It sure is a good thing the Smurfs had their tugboat there in case you needed assistance (says the guy with the smurf blue decks).

That Smurf Tug is "Awwwww Sooooo Cute!!!" according to my daughter!!! I tend to agree that it's sort of a boating version of Thomas the Tank Engine.

BV

[Steam Flyer]

"Help my tits are sinking!"

I know a doctor who can refloat them.

Doctor phooey... I would be glad to help blow them up again if my wife doesn't find out


DSK

Er..... You do realize you're talking about Bob's tits, right?

I thought he was quoting a nice young hottie (from a good family of course).

Now I am more determined than ever that my wife not find out


FB- Doug

[Ishmael]

"Help my tits are sinking!"

I know a doctor who can refloat them.

Doctor phooey... I would be glad to help blow them up again if my wife doesn't find out


DSK

Er..... You do realize you're talking about Bob's tits, right?

I thought he was quoting a nice young hottie (from a good family of course).

Now I am more determined than ever that my wife not find out


FB- Doug

Pissing in his pocket isn't enough, now you're sucking his nipples? Eeeewww.

[Soñadora]

All threads lead to tits

[Beau.Vrolyk]

All threads lead to tits

Yup! We here on this board keep 'em out-front at all times. That said, not sure I want to get into that discussion above of Bob's Tits - ick!

(No offense intended, Bob. I'm sure your tits are very nice. Just not my brand.)

BV

[Gatekeeper]

That said, not sure I want to get into that discussion above of Bob's Tits - ick!

If I had thought this thread was going to evolve to a discussion of Bob's "things"...I would opened a seacock and let her sink.

I'll bet I'm going to have nightmares now.

[Bob Perry]

I hear you Dan. I know we are not SA but for CA we may have sunk to a new low.

[Gatekeeper]

It's Summer...we are a cold weather inspired sailing think tank (sink tank?) ... we'll be back with a (kinder gentler) vengeance!!

[Beau.Vrolyk]

OK - back to the Smurf Tug Boat. What is that thing???

[Gatekeeper]

I have no idea...here's a bigger shot. I would love to build one of these!!

Click on the Smurf.

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[Jose Carumba]

Sorry for the hijack Gate.

[Gatekeeper]

Sorry for the hijack Gate.

I love a good hijack ...we are nothing if not a fun bunch.

Now, someone source plans for the cutie Smurf tug.

[Soñadora]

cutie Smurf tug.

yeah, ok....HTFU Stefan

[Gatekeeper]

Mine would be black with flames painted on the bow...

[hard aground]

Glow in the dark phosphorescent green for me.

[Jose Carumba]

Sorry for the hijack Gate.

I love a good hijack ...we are nothing if not a fun bunch.

Now, someone source plans for the cutie Smurf tug.

Some sources, but not for the one in the pic.:

Berkeley

Glen L

Devlin

[Soñadora]

Sorry for the hijack Gate.

I love a good hijack ...we are nothing if not a fun bunch.

Now, someone source plans for the cutie Smurf tug.

Some sources, but not for the one in the pic.:

Berkeley

Glen L

Devlin

I really dig those Berkelys

That would be perfect for the city lakes here...no gasoline engines allowed.

[Steam Flyer]

... ...
I thought he was quoting a nice young hottie (from a good family of course).

Now I am more determined than ever that my wife not find out


FB- Doug

Pissing in his pocket isn't enough, now you're sucking his nipples? Eeeewww.

Is that how YOU'd re-inflate them in case of sinking?

not only "Eeeewww" but "FAIL" also comes to mind.

DSK

[Bob Perry]

I think the Hobbit tug is stupid looking. The sheer is weird. There is no reason at all it could not have been very cool looking.
It's "cute" all right but it could have been so much better.

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[Gatekeeper]

Bob

You never know what might evolve...one day (maybe soon) I may seriously think of building a mini tug. I have a great sailboat, but this could be a lot of fun.

[Bob Perry]

Gate:
Few things could make me happier than drawing up a garage sized tug for you. We'd make the guy with the green tug hang his head in shame.

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[Gatekeeper]

Gate:
Few things could make me happier than drawing up a garage sized tug for you. We'd make the guy with the green tug hang his head in shame.

Can you make it basic enough for a simpleton to build?? What a great project this would be....time for a new thread!! Stay tuned.

[Paps]

I have no idea...here's a bigger shot. I would love to build one of these!!

Click on the Smurf.

Why??

[Bob Perry]

Gate:
I can give you full size patterns but I am no boatbuilder so I can't help you with the little details of just how you nail the thing together.
I can give you a laminate schedule and basic construction detailing ( she'll be hell for stout).
But we have a huge depth of knowledge right here.
We can get it done.

Hold on,,,,I thought we were going to add 9" to your keel next year.

[Paps]

Americans do seem to like building strange stuff, for no reason at all except "its not been done". While in LA, well really it was OC, I worked for a guy building VW based Trikes. We did a prototype for an enclosed model, the fucking thing would do a "wheelie" under any serious pedal pressure, not comfortable in any cornering situations!

But I was impressed by his "can do" attitude. And the crazy SoCal vibe!!

Also did Beer Can racing on a Erickson 39, scarey shit in any breeze in Long Beach, I got promoted to the foredeck after race 1 !! No-one really had a clue. Jugs of Margareta's after helped. Well except for the driving home after!

[Gatekeeper]

Gate:
I can give you full size patterns but I am no boatbuilder so I can't help you with the little details of just how you nail the thing together.
I can give you a laminate schedule and basic construction detailing ( she'll be hell for stout).
But we have a huge depth of knowledge right here.
We can get it done.

Hold on,,,,I thought we were going to add 9" to your keel next year.

Bob

Now that the wine has worn off I have to do some leg work first, like find a garage to work in. The quest begins.

As far as the keel extension, the added rake in the mast (thanks) has made such a huge difference I may live with the draft as is. It certainly is an advantage cruising.

[B.J. Porter]

Sorry for the hijack Gate.

I love a good hijack ...we are nothing if not a fun bunch.

Now, someone source plans for the cutie Smurf tug.

Moobs <> Good Hijack

[Gatekeeper]

Leak update...it looks like the leak may be at the vent. The tank is a low-flat design and at 20 degrees of heel the vent fitting on the tank will be very low. It looks like a new hose and a clamp may sort this out.

I think.

[Gatekeeper]

It only took 11 months but I solved the leak...I have two 40 gallon tanks, one under each settee. They are plumbed so that water will flow freely from one to the other, and the water pump draws from the port side tank. Not what I would have done, but so be it.

After sailing for at 20 degrees of heel for several hours the SB side tank (now very much uphill) tried to flow into the port tank...the two 3.5 inch tank inspection caps both leaked and emptied the high side tank by over flowing the low side tank.

A couple "O" rings at best...a valve to stop water flowing between tanks, at worst.

Whewww!!

[blackjenner]

We just returned from a great 8 days down the French (pics to follow)...we backed out of our slip at 7am and powered across our bay through the narrows to the big lake. Amazing ride. Beam reanch and racing a storm we averaged over 6.5 knots and saw 8.1 twice. All 30 miles, no tacks.

Finally as were are nearing the river mouth I decide to go below and put the new head to good use...as I move forward in the cabin, "splash"...that's odd, we never have water in the bilge...I pump it out, and it comes back. OH OH!! Finally I decide to start looking for a leak, I look under the v-berth where the transducers are and the water is 12" deep.

WE'RE SINKING!! Turn this boat around!!

I bail out the locker and sponge up the water to see what transducer is leaking and if I have a chance at fixing it...no water coming in through the transducers ...check all the thru hulls. Nada. FAK!! Now I don't know what to fix...stuffing box? Nope. Shit, (or maybe not shit??)

Then it occurs to me. My hands are quite clean. Check the fresh water tanks (2 x 40 gallons)...one is bone dry. So dry I can't find the leak, but I don't give a rats ass. We turn back around and head for our favorite cove.

In the story, "The Boat That Wouldn't Float," they thought they were sinking. They had just come through a terrible storm and thought they had sprung a plank or two, or something. It turned out to be just like your story. A hose had come loose off of the water tank. They figured it out by tasting it. Seemed awfully fresh...

Glad you weren't actually sinking.

[blackjenner]

it doesn't matter where you are, when the bilge fills up with water the very first thing you need to do is PANIC!

GaaaaaaHHHH! That's been on my mind ever since we got Brigadoon back from the yard. I'm sure we put the new transducer in right. I'm sure the stuffing box is adjusted properly but, we were mucking with places where the hull has holes. I'm sure nothing is wrong but, I've had this nagging worry that will likely hang around for a few days until I settle down.

The nice thing is, we have a great indicator of how our boat is sitting in the water. We live aboard so, the sink drain seacock is open all the time. The lake water level is *right at the dink drain level*. I look at it every morning. We know this works as a gauge because, during the winter, when we were carrying a good snow load, the water was up about an inch.

Anyway, I still worry. My house can burn to the ground (water line), then sink.

[Ishmael]

it doesn't matter where you are, when the bilge fills up with water the very first thing you need to do is PANIC!

GaaaaaaHHHH! That's been on my mind ever since we got Brigadoon back from the yard. I'm sure we put the new transducer in right. I'm sure the stuffing box is adjusted properly but, we were mucking with places where the hull has holes. I'm sure nothing is wrong but, I've had this nagging worry that will likely hang around for a few days until I settle down.

The nice thing is, we have a great indicator of how our boat is sitting in the water. We live aboard so, the sink drain seacock is open all the time. The lake water level is *right at the dink drain level*. I look at it every morning. We know this works as a gauge because, during the winter, when we were carrying a good snow load, the water was up about an inch.

Anyway, I still worry. My house can burn to the ground (water line), then sink.

Quoted for posterity.

[Gatekeeper]

This is the cover in question...it is threaded into what I believe to be a polyethylene tank. I can't find replacement flat gaskets, but I have O rings which would seem up to the job.


The PO had smeared silicon on everything and I won't repeat that mess (I hate that crap), but is there any sealer that works with this material?

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[Beer Fueled Mayhem]

My inspection ports are leaking also. Can you use butyl tape?

[Ishmael]

Nothing sticks to polyethylene, within reason, so the best you can do is a good compression gasket. In addition to an O-ring, I used a ring of Permatex Form-a-Gasket. I only drove the port in partway and allowed the gasket to set, then turned it in a few more times and had a double line of defense.

[blackjenner]

it doesn't matter where you are, when the bilge fills up with water the very first thing you need to do is PANIC!

GaaaaaaHHHH! That's been on my mind ever since we got Brigadoon back from the yard. I'm sure we put the new transducer in right. I'm sure the stuffing box is adjusted properly but, we were mucking with places where the hull has holes. I'm sure nothing is wrong but, I've had this nagging worry that will likely hang around for a few days until I settle down.

The nice thing is, we have a great indicator of how our boat is sitting in the water. We live aboard so, the sink drain seacock is open all the time. The lake water level is *right at the dink drain level*. I look at it every morning. We know this works as a gauge because, during the winter, when we were carrying a good snow load, the water was up about an inch.

Anyway, I still worry. My house can burn to the ground (water line), then sink.

Quoted for posterity.

Heh... *sink* drain level.

[sculpin]

In the story, "The Boat That Wouldn't Float," they thought they were sinking. They had just come through a terrible storm and thought they had sprung a plank or two, or something. It turned out to be just like your story. A hose had come loose off of the water tank. They figured it out by tasting it. Seemed awfully fresh...

Glad you weren't actually sinking.

Gate can't do that trick, it is all fresh where he is! I did it once. I'd changed from a hand pump to a foot pump in the head (to port) on our Aloha 27, and it turned out that the foot pump was low enough resistance that on a starboard tack the aft tank (to starboard) would drain through the sink tap, flow down the back of the sink, onto the sole, and scared the crap out of the admiral. When I realized there was water on the cabin sole, but not so much in the bilge, it occurred to me to taste it.
The fix there was to use the forward tank for the head, and the aft tank for the galley sink - which is higher. I put a valve in to separate them, it would allow them to be cross connected if needed.

[Ishmael]

In the story, "The Boat That Wouldn't Float," they thought they were sinking. They had just come through a terrible storm and thought they had sprung a plank or two, or something. It turned out to be just like your story. A hose had come loose off of the water tank. They figured it out by tasting it. Seemed awfully fresh...

Glad you weren't actually sinking.

Gate can't do that trick, it is all fresh where he is! I did it once. I'd changed from a hand pump to a foot pump in the head (to port) on our Aloha 27, and it turned out that the foot pump was low enough resistance that on a starboard tack the aft tank (to starboard) would drain through the sink tap, flow down the back of the sink, onto the sole, and scared the crap out of the admiral. When I realized there was water on the cabin sole, but not so much in the bilge, it occurred to me to taste it.
The fix there was to use the forward tank for the head, and the aft tank for the galley sink - which is higher. I put a valve in to separate them, it would allow them to be cross connected if needed.

Exactly what level of crisis would you need to connect the holding tank to the freshwater system?

[b6sfull]

Gate........fun to read. Glad you had a great time on the French.....hard to beat a Northern Ontario cruise no matter where.

[sculpin]

In the story, "The Boat That Wouldn't Float," they thought they were sinking. They had just come through a terrible storm and thought they had sprung a plank or two, or something. It turned out to be just like your story. A hose had come loose off of the water tank. They figured it out by tasting it. Seemed awfully fresh...

Glad you weren't actually sinking.

Gate can't do that trick, it is all fresh where he is! I did it once. I'd changed from a hand pump to a foot pump in the head (to port) on our Aloha 27, and it turned out that the foot pump was low enough resistance that on a starboard tack the aft tank (to starboard) would drain through the sink tap, flow down the back of the sink, onto the sole, and scared the crap out of the admiral. When I realized there was water on the cabin sole, but not so much in the bilge, it occurred to me to taste it.
The fix there was to use the forward tank for the head, and the aft tank for the galley sink - which is higher. I put a valve in to separate them, it would allow them to be cross connected if needed.

Exactly what level of crisis would you need to connect the holding tank to the freshwater system?

Both tanks are fresh... geeze... shouldn't you be eating bacon somewhere???

[Tom Ray]

I went to Regatta Rainy Time In Abaco around 1990 on an Express 37 named Demon. We did some racing between tropical waves of rain. During one, we were doing well against our main competition, a J-something. Then they gradually started to catch us. We kept trying different things, they kept catching us. They went by.

I think a sail change was called, but for some reason, someone got off the rail and went below to find a LARGE amount of water over the floorboards. An oil change prior to the trip had left enough residue to give the whole thing a nice sheen and make it slick and stinky when we got the water back out.

The culprit was an open seacock in the head that would allow backflow of seawater when heeled enough, which we evidently were for quite some time.

Oh, I think we lost. At least to the extent that you can be a loser if you're spending time racing a sailboat in the Abacos. Even in the rain, it doesn't suck!

[memopad]

My boat is currently taking on water and I have no idea where from. Has me stumped!

The R28 has an odd bilge arrangment with a shallow one under the engine pan and a shallow one over the keel. Keel is dry, water keeps collecting under the engine. I took maybe a gallon out after last sundays sail (forgot to check before we started) and almost every time i get on the boat i have to get the water out there. Stuffing box doesn't appear to be the culprit but I need to double check it when the shaft is turning. Seacocks and thru-hulls also don't look like they're leaking. I'm at a total loss on this one.

[Gatekeeper]

My boat is currently taking on water and I have no idea where from. Has me stumped!

The R28 has an odd bilge arrangment with a shallow one under the engine pan and a shallow one over the keel. Keel is dry, water keeps collecting under the engine. I took maybe a gallon out after last sundays sail (forgot to check before we started) and almost every time i get on the boat i have to get the water out there. Stuffing box doesn't appear to be the culprit but I need to double check it when the shaft is turning. Seacocks and thru-hulls also don't look like they're leaking. I'm at a total loss on this one.

What kind of engine?

[memopad]

Atomic 4, raw water cooled. I haven't noticed any water dripping anywhere or any part of the engine wet so far.

The water I'm getting out isn't super clean. Has a bit of a sheen to it and is pretty cloudy looking. Not sure if it's just residue from normal engine operation and a part of the boat that you can't access to clean or what. No smell of fuel or oil in the water anyway.

[IrieMon]

Had a scare a couple years back when sailing along and observed water just above the floor boards. Fired up the engine, tacked toward home, started the bilge pump and went about checking the normal head/galley/engine/shaft thru-hulls with no issue found. After tacking. the water ingress had stopped..... back into the slip and no more water. wtf ?

Only leaked on starboard tack and took me a while to figure out...... a cockpit drain-hose had a small split at the hull egress, which is right at the waterline. Took me way too long to replace... I hate working under the cockpit !

[kimbottles]

Sailing on our old Aage Nielsen Yawl Tioga (IV) many years ago in the San Juan Islands SWMBO came up on deck with a panic look on her face and announced we had water over the floor boards.

I handed off the helm and went below to start the pumps.

Finally found that the drip-less mechanical seal on the shaft had backed off and was leaking like a sieve.

Tapping on it caused it to spring back into place and the leak stopped.

I have never seen or heard of that situation again on a mechanical shaft seal but I guess we proved it can happen.

[Gatekeeper]

I have a similar situation on GK...the engine has it's own bilge with a "spillway" area to the main bilge where the pump resides. I think this design is an attempt yo keep engine oil etc from going to the bilge and being pumped overboard.

That said I have a leak somewhere in the cockpit that I can't find and it leaves me with a cup or two of water under the engine. I always appears to be engine, but I know mine isn't.

[Jose Carumba]

My boat is currently taking on water and I have no idea where from. Has me stumped!

The R28 has an odd bilge arrangment with a shallow one under the engine pan and a shallow one over the keel. Keel is dry, water keeps collecting under the engine. I took maybe a gallon out after last sundays sail (forgot to check before we started) and almost every time i get on the boat i have to get the water out there. Stuffing box doesn't appear to be the culprit but I need to double check it when the shaft is turning. Seacocks and thru-hulls also don't look like they're leaking. I'm at a total loss on this one.

Definitely check your stuffing box or shaft seal with the engine running and the boat under way. WHen we were racing the NM 68 this winter we mysteriously had water over the floorboards in the main saloon. We pumped it out and it didn't accumulate while we were sailing but once the engine was on it came back. We traced it back to the dripless seal. The bellows was old and would pull back from the face seal somehow. It was a bitch to get at because the boat had a v-drive and the seal was right under the engine.

[kimbottles]

My boat is currently taking on water and I have no idea where from. Has me stumped!

The R28 has an odd bilge arrangment with a shallow one under the engine pan and a shallow one over the keel. Keel is dry, water keeps collecting under the engine. I took maybe a gallon out after last sundays sail (forgot to check before we started) and almost every time i get on the boat i have to get the water out there. Stuffing box doesn't appear to be the culprit but I need to double check it when the shaft is turning. Seacocks and thru-hulls also don't look like they're leaking. I'm at a total loss on this one.

Definitely check your stuffing box or shaft seal with the engine running and the boat under way. WHen we were racing the NM 68 this winter we mysteriously had water over the floorboards in the main saloon. We pumped it out and it didn't accumulate while we were sailing but once the engine was on it came back. We traced it back to the dripless seal. The bellows was old and would pull back from the face seal somehow. It was a bitch to get at because the boat had a v-drive and the seal was right under the engine.

Looks like that is the same situation I had on Tioga, the bellows not keeping the seal faces together. So I guess it has happened to others.

Check your drip-less seals skippers.

[jackdaw]

My boat is currently taking on water and I have no idea where from. Has me stumped!

The R28 has an odd bilge arrangment with a shallow one under the engine pan and a shallow one over the keel. Keel is dry, water keeps collecting under the engine. I took maybe a gallon out after last sundays sail (forgot to check before we started) and almost every time i get on the boat i have to get the water out there. Stuffing box doesn't appear to be the culprit but I need to double check it when the shaft is turning. Seacocks and thru-hulls also don't look like they're leaking. I'm at a total loss on this one.

Definitely check your stuffing box or shaft seal with the engine running and the boat under way. WHen we were racing the NM 68 this winter we mysteriously had water over the floorboards in the main saloon. We pumped it out and it didn't accumulate while we were sailing but once the engine was on it came back. We traced it back to the dripless seal. The bellows was old and would pull back from the face seal somehow. It was a bitch to get at because the boat had a v-drive and the seal was right under the engine.

Looks like that is the same situation I had on Tioga, the bellows not keeping the seal faces together. So I guess it has happened to others.

Check your drip-less seals skippers.

Roger that. Although we have them on both our boats, dripless seals are what an automotive engineer would call FUF (Forget Until Failure) technology. Its the way most new cars are designed. No need to ever look at your transmission. Unless it fails. Sadly we don't go to the curb. We go to the bottom.

[blackjenner]

My boat is currently taking on water and I have no idea where from. Has me stumped!

The R28 has an odd bilge arrangment with a shallow one under the engine pan and a shallow one over the keel. Keel is dry, water keeps collecting under the engine. I took maybe a gallon out after last sundays sail (forgot to check before we started) and almost every time i get on the boat i have to get the water out there. Stuffing box doesn't appear to be the culprit but I need to double check it when the shaft is turning. Seacocks and thru-hulls also don't look like they're leaking. I'm at a total loss on this one.

Definitely check your stuffing box or shaft seal with the engine running and the boat under way. WHen we were racing the NM 68 this winter we mysteriously had water over the floorboards in the main saloon. We pumped it out and it didn't accumulate while we were sailing but once the engine was on it came back. We traced it back to the dripless seal. The bellows was old and would pull back from the face seal somehow. It was a bitch to get at because the boat had a v-drive and the seal was right under the engine.

Looks like that is the same situation I had on Tioga, the bellows not keeping the seal faces together. So I guess it has happened to others.

Check your drip-less seals skippers.

During a conversation with someone this last week, I discussed my choice to stay with a conventional stuffing box arrangement on Brigadoon over the install of a drip-less seal.

I had done some research prior to putting Brigadoon in the yard. I had read a few posts about the failure mode of dripless seals. That being, when they fail, they tend to do so in a manner that allows a lot of water in. A conventional stuffing box, not as much of a chance. It can fail/drip but it seems to be less generally catastrophic in nature.

The person I was talking to said, "I've never heard of a failure of a drip-less seal...Why wouldn't you use a PSS drip-less on your boat?"

Guess they don't read here.

[memopad]

I need to check the cockpit drains more carefully. They were clogged a couple weeks ago and that backed water up until it leaked in the cabin after a rain storm. Got to boat with water over the floorboards ooops. Got the drains unclogged in the cockpit by sticking the vhf antennae down the tubes. I miiiiight have cut/bumped/broken something when attempting to de-clog. Water is comming in the boat with engine off, and dry weather. Possible that it is near the waterline and only takes a little wave action (or sailing) to get more in.

[IrieMon]

Definitely check your stuffing box or shaft seal with the engine running and the boat under way

Also suggest turning at high RPM. Mine didn't leak much until I was 3/4 to WOT.... once I backed off to a lower speed, the stuffing box would stop leaking.

Hey memopad - when I was troubleshooting my cockpit drains, the hoses were the hot-water radiator style hoses with wire through them so they retained their shape even around the split. I only saw where the tear was by grabbing the hose and pulling a bunch of different ways.

Good luck !

[memopad]

Yeeeeah mine are a combination of rubber, pvc, and metal pipe lol.

[oldestoldersailor]

WHEN IN TROUBLE, OR IN DOUBT,

RUN IN CIRCLES, SCREAM AND SHOUT!

[memopad]

Amazingly my boat didn't have anymore water in it after a week of heavy rains. I sponged out all of the extra last night so I'll check again this afternoon when i'm on the boat again. I guess I was wrong about water coming in without the engine on... I'll stick my head down below and check the packing gland with the engine in gear, has to be something with that. Ooooor possibly a leak in the exhaust somewhere?

[Soñadora]

I have learned the ideal procedure to keep a boat from sinking.

1.) Remove boat from water
2.) Put boat indoors

I know, I know...beating a dead horse...

[Cavelamb]

I need to check the cockpit drains more carefully. They were clogged a couple weeks ago and that backed water up until it leaked in the cabin after a rain storm. Got to boat with water over the floorboards ooops. Got the drains unclogged in the cockpit by sticking the vhf antennae down the tubes. I miiiiight have cut/bumped/broken something when attempting to de-clog. Water is comming in the boat with engine off, and dry weather. Possible that it is near the waterline and only takes a little wave action (or sailing) to get more in.

I've had to fix something similar to that on two Catalina 27s. The steering cables had sawed through the cockpit drain tubes
just above the resting waterline. But at speed the stern wave climbed up high enough to flood the cabin in short order.

Poking something like that down old drain tubes might be a good way to sink a boat...

[Cavelamb]

I have learned the ideal procedure to keep a boat from sinking.

1.) Remove boat from water
2.) Put boat indoors

I know, I know...beating a dead horse...

Mine is nit indoors - just sitting on the trailer while we do the bottom and fix a few things
that needs her to be out f the water. Ok, sure, she won't sink. (One less thing to worry about!)

But she can't go sailing either.


"Ships in port are safe. But that's not what ships are for".

[Soñadora]

oh no, the boat can still sink if you don't follow step two ...

[Cavelamb]

oh no, the boat can still sink if you don't follow step two ...

What is that, Rain???

Water just falling out of the sky???

I've heard tales of it before, but still not sure I believe it.

[Soñadora]

a little dry, eh?