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Nothing Exciting But Slight Leak Squared Away

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3411 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/20/2024 : 22:05:44

Not much action on the Forum, so figured I would provide this brief ...update.

The summer started off with numerous extremely hot days mid 90s...and higher. This really put a dent in the days I normally would go sailing. However, the second half of the summer, the temps moderated a bit and was able to get out sailing.

As far as maintenance/upkeep:
1) Had my grandkids on the other day. We were baby sitting them for the day and we first actually went to the Quantico Marine Corp Museum, then a playground on the Quantico Marine Base and then stopped by for a bit to sit on the boat. Later on......when we get home ! My spouse casually mentions to me that my grandson, 7 yrs old, had opened the little door below the VBerth and indicated it was wet down there ! Just great! Now that I am home!

The next day, I went down to the boat and indeed there was about 1 1/2 cups of water just sitting there on the hull just inside the Vberth door....and no where else. I dried the area and could not really determine any obvious leaks but it is where the seacocks and the thru-hulls for the knot meter and original depth sensor (no longer used). The twist cap to one of the thru0hull sensors, I was easily able to tighten it an 1/8-1/4 turn and that seemed to me the most likely culprit. I went sailing. When I came back, checked that area and it was dry. Subsequent inspections of that area over the next couple of weeks, the area remains dry !
Have to thank my grandson for observing the initial water 9n the VBerth area. He was just looking around and happen to come across it....and actually mentioned about it !

2). I had decided early last Spring to replace the lettering (boat name) on my starboard hull side since over the past few years, I have smudged it docking my boat along the finger slip.
Boat US was able to find my font, size and color which was from way back in 2005/6 ! This was important since it was an unusual font and size in that the capitals for "Robin" and "Nest" the font had extremely long tails to the letter. Anyway, the lettering was identical and the install was easy. Then a freak storm and some loosening of one of my dock lines, the lettering came into contact with the dock and the lettering was in worse shape than before I replaced it !
For some reason, the oat US Graphics site, you cannot pull up your past order and the Email and receipt I received from my early spring letter purchase did not detail my font, etc and so I had to seek assist from their staff again. How I did this I have no idea but the info they provided was either partially wrong or when I entered the data they provide onto their online order form, I goofed everything up. Even worse.......when I received the new lettering over the summer, I waited a month or so before installing it and then just did it.....and not until I removed the backing paper that I realized that not only was the color wrong (should have been a Pacific Blue instead of Black) but the font was at least 2-3 fonts larger.....and now I had just installed it.

On a positive note, you can only see one hull side at a time and so it's not immediately apparent that the font and color do not match. Secondly, I will eventually smudge the lettering again and so I will probably get another opportunity to order and replace the lettering !

Planning on sailing tomorrow. Temps in low 80s and winds expected to be about 6-8mph.

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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4299 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2024 : 14:16:14

Mine has always collected water there also. I.ve always thought it was from the anchor locker drain. Since it's so hard to reach that area and it seems it rarely rains here anymore I never messed with it since it's always just a small amount that collects there.

I'll check my thru hulls when I'm down at the boat next week.

And as far as the lettering... others may not notice the difference when looking at the boat... but we will ALL know and remember! LOL

Association Member

GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

Edited by - GaryB on 09/21/2024 14:25:14

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3411 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2024 : 20:40:36

Regarding the lettering, approaching my finger slip, it looks good but boy is that lettering large - Definitely easy to read ! At least I had moved it further aft, as far as I could so it would be less prone to coming in contact with the finger slip or fenders.

Regarding the leak, read your comment ...interesting ! So, that area under the VBerth was dry when I got down to the boat today but after sailing, I checked the area again and it was wet but not much water. Able to dry it with one wipe of a 6" x 12" cloth towel. While sailing, the river water was a bit choppy with some whitecaps. Not sure, maybe with the boat being tossed around a bit, maybe it was some residual water from last time. It's not from rainwater since the area was dry since the last time I was onboard about a week ago. I'll be inspecting that area periodically and see if any water returns. Similar to your experience, it is just a small amount of water....and my bilge area remains dry - not affected.

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4299 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2024 : 05:52:49

quote:
Originally posted by OLarryR

Regarding the lettering, approaching my finger slip, it looks good but boy is that lettering large - Definitely easy to read ! At least I had moved it further aft, as far as I could so it would be less prone to coming in contact with the finger slip or fenders.

Regarding the leak, read your comment ...interesting ! So, that area under the VBerth was dry when I got down to the boat today but after sailing, I checked the area again and it was wet but not much water. Able to dry it with one wipe of a 6" x 12" cloth towel. While sailing, the river water was a bit choppy with some whitecaps. Not sure, maybe with the boat being tossed around a bit, maybe it was some residual water from last time. It's not from rainwater since the area was dry since the last time I was onboard about a week ago. I'll be inspecting that area periodically and see if any water returns. Similar to your experience, it is just a small amount of water....and my bilge area remains dry - not affected.

Now that I think about it a little more, I remember tasting the water a few times over the years and it was always freshwater so not coming from a thru-hull.

Now I'm guessing it's getting in from the anchor locker hose. The locker never has water standing in it so the hose must be cracked or a clamp is loose.

Association Member

GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

Edited by - GaryB on 09/22/2024 05:54:34

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5320 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2024 : 06:45:22

Thanks Steve and Gary, good topic.
I check the drain hose from the sinks and cooler every year. They become brittle over time especially if exposed to freezing temperatures if there�s any water that collects. There�s enough excess hose that I can trim off the bad end and re-attach it to the hose barb.
A bad hose or failed hose clamps (I use two per connection) can sink your boat and really ruin your day.
My paddle wheel speedometer is mounted in a through hull sleeve and is removable. I check that each spring too, but have never removed it.

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3411 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2024 : 21:24:51

I doubt the water is coming from my forward galley/sink drain - I keep the seacock shut. About the only time I open it is when approaching winter time when I sometimes will add marine antifreeze to the sink and then briefly open and then shut the seacock as soon as the antifreeze level drops just below the sink drain but still in the sink drain line. Besides, the antifreeze is colored and the small amount of water found below the VBerth area is clear.

I inspected my anchor locker the first time I spotted the water (a few weeks ago) and there was no water present in the locker. I removed some of the line and the drain hole did not appear clogged. But it is possible that the drain line beneath the anchor locker has deteriorated and/or its connections leaking when it rains. Even so, does not explain why the area was dry all last week but then after I sailed, there was some water again. The water may be some residual that settled once I returned to the dock or I doubt it is this but what if there was a small section near the bow where the deck to hull flange is not sealed. It is possible during some choppy water conditions that water could enter that way...especially since it is a small amount of water.

I expect to go sailing again tomorrow. so I will check out if the area is dry - We only had one brief rain since the last time I was down to the boat. I will also check that area after I sail - Inspecting the anchor drain line, etc.

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

Edited by - OLarryR on 09/22/2024 21:27:58

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3411 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2024 : 15:26:25

It was overcast, on and off drizzling, so I did not go sailing today but I spent sometime looking
Into the source of that leak.

1) The area adjacent to the VBerth door was just slightly wet, no real accumulated water.
2) The deck/hull joint along the outside hull has no openings except it is hard to determine if a possible opening exists at the bow tip where the stay/anchor roller fitting is located. However, it would appear unlikely that any water enters from there since the freeboard is high off the water and there would have to be adverse weather while sailing to kick up sufficient spray and I have not been out in any adverse weather conditions this year or even last year. So, not considering this a viable leak path.
3) I inspected the anchor stowage area, the drain hole, the drain tube accessing it from below the VBerth to the hull drain connector and also removing the small wood panel at the VBerth bow to inspect the drain tube and connector to the anchor stowage. This flexible tube has what appears to be a plastic/vinyl wire coil around the tube that I guess helps maintain it�s shape and is also sort of a protection against abrasion - the coiled wire and tube, tube clamps and connectors seem okay, no noticeable deficiencies. I then poured a bottle full of water down the anchor stowage drain to see if it was clogged - The water drained quickly right out the drain hull connector. So, no clogs. I then reinspected the tube and connectors accessible from the VBerth wood panel at the bow and also the portion of the tube and connector accessible from below the VBerth. No drips and no wetness from hand touching.
4) The seacock and thru hulls for the original depth and knotmeters had no wetness.
5) The only thing of note was a few weeks ago when I noticed about 1+ cup of water along the hull bottom and adjacent to the VBerth door. No water or wetness in the bilge. At that time, after drying the area, I noted that one of the thru hull sensor threaded caps could be easily tightened 1/8 to 1/4 turn. I believe this was the source of the small leakage I had observed.
6) a week later, that area near the VBerth door was dry but after sailing that day, there was some wetness observed. My past posting I indicated that perhaps there was some residual water from the initial leakage that may then have settled once again adjacent to the VBerth door.
7) So, my inspections today was to determine if there was any other apparent leak paths and/or find out why some residual water settled into the area near the VBerth door.
8) I found an area of residual water and may have been sitting there ever since I tightened the thru hull twist cap. I have a link below to a screen shot on my website of a project I completed many years ago - a plexiglas shelf and containment box that protects the thru hulls and seacock against disturbances by anyone storing gear under the VBerth. The storage is fine and not an issue. However, from the link, you can see a rubberized camping pad matl that I used below the plexiglass side panels to cushion the sides and not having direct contact with the hull. So, there was about 2 ounces of water in front of the plexiglass front panel. The rubber pad was holding the water there. I suspect that when I went sailing, some of that water got past the pad and settled adjacent to the VBerth door. If that is what happened, then no addl leak. The tightening of the thru hull twist cap probably solved the minor leak issue.
9) Time will tell if issue is resolved - A few weeks and a few sails. Hopefully it is a done deal.

http://catalina25.homestead.com/VBerth2.html

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

Edited by - OLarryR on 09/23/2024 15:30:53

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3411 Posts

Response Posted - 10/11/2024 : 21:32:23

It was premature to indicate this issue was resolved. I still have some minimal water collecting...below the VBerth area, adjacent to the wood access door near the seacock and sensor thru-hulls. But it is not from the thru-hulls. After I dried the area, I checked about a 1/2 hour later and the area was still dry. Checked again 3 days later and the area was still dry and remained dry after sailing. There was also no rain during those 3 days.

Gary, believe you are right that the small leak must be coming from the anchor locker drain hose or its clamps. Especially since you determined it was fresh water. Awhile ago, I indicated that I had emptied a water bottle into the anchor locker and it drained immediately out the drain/hull connector. So, the drain line is not clogged and I recall that when I did that, I also checked the drain line for any wetness and there was none, so I do not believe it is cracked. But I will have to more thoroughly check that hose and the clamps again.

I suspect what may be happening is if after a rain, water is very slowly trickling out near the clamps/hose to fitting connection and directly running along the inside of the hull and not wetting the outside of the drain line/hose. I may put a chalk line along the inside of the hull near the drain line clamp/fitting connection to see if after a rain, the chalk line is disturbed. I may also temporarily use a section of a toilet bowl wax ring to sort of make a small dam ( 1" high) inside the hull, near the bow, to see if water collects forward of the small wax dam.

It's not a lot of water. The other day, it was easily wiped up with a small towel/cloth. The most I have ever seen is 1 1/2 cups of water. I may also try just spraying some waterproof/resistant spray adhesive down the anchor locker drain and then into the drain connector from outside the hull. See if that has any effect reducing or eliminating the leakage.

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

Edited by - OLarryR on 10/11/2024 21:35:01

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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4299 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2024 : 15:49:54

quote:
Originally posted by OLarryR

Gary, believe you are right that the small leak must be coming from the anchor locker drain hose or its clamps. Especially since you determined it was fresh water. Awhile ago, I indicated that I had emptied a water bottle into the anchor locker and it drained immediately out the drain/hull connector. So, the drain line is not clogged and I recall that when I did that, I also checked the drain line for any wetness and there was none, so I do not believe it is cracked. But I will have to more thoroughly check that hose and the clamps again.

My anchor locker drains nicely but yet water collects in the same area near the teak door under the v-berth.

Association Member

GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3411 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2024 : 21:47:16

I am planning on going down to my boat this Wednesday. Probably will go sailing. I am going to bring a can of spray sealant that supposedly waterproofs joints, etc. I will spray up the anchor drain hull connector to see if that has any effect if the small leakage is coming from the hose drain to hull connector fitting. It is a possibility - Even though water drains out to the anchor thru them hull connector with no blockage, it's possible that some water sits right inside the hull connector at the fitting to hose connection The sealant spray is very easy to apply. See if it has any effect.

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

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