[C320-list] Hot water heater leak

[Paul Rickman]

I have had a nagging leak from the hose connecting to the input side (cold water) of the hot water heater. 
The problem is that it never leaks until the water has heated up. I have replaced the short
3 inch hose four times over five seasons. This connection gets very hot and I guess it wears out. 
Once I even lost all my fresh water while motoring
to an anchorage. Fortunately, I had enough bottled water to get me through the night and back to
the marina. It is never a good sign when the bilge pump turns on. I'm a little guy shy now, leaving
the water pressure off while under way. This spring, thinking it was the whale fitting, I put too much
pressure on it and it snapped. So I've replaced everthing from the hot water heater to the blue tubing,
included a whale back pressure fitting. The Annapolis West Marine on Forrest Drive carries some
of the Whale fittings -- but you have to ask for them as they are in a box on a high shelf. The box
is labeled "quick connect fittings".

 Paul
Affinity 657
Bay Bridge Marina




________________________________
From: Scott Thompson <surprise at thompson87.com>
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 5:39:04 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Rudder post deck plate

My hot water heater was leaking last year and was replaced by the yard a few weeks ago just before launch.  Needless to say, the yard maintenance supervisor and I went over the fresh water system very carefully as this was the prime suspect.  However we found no evidence of any leaks, and could not find any evidence of new water coming into the bilge after draining it.

On the other hand, the water appeared right after a thorough cleaning of the boat, including a lot of water running in the cockpit, and we found water in the depression at the the top of the rudder post and immediately around the top of the rudder post just below the inspection plate.  I've known it was leaking for some time, so that's my working hypothesis for now.

I never noticed any leaks from the regulator valve on the old hot water heater.  I'll keep my fingers crossed on the new one.


Jon Vez wrote:
> Scott,
> 
> Do you have a hose and some type of container attached to your hot water
> heater regulator valve? If not, you will be amazed at how much water gets
> pushed out...I think it was Adam that suggested a hose and 1 liter bottle to
> catch the water. I've used this for several years now (a 99 vintage boat as
> well) with great success. You can also change the regulator out, but I
> haven't bothered. The only other water I get is from the fridge runoff since
> mine wasn't plumbed to the sump--another project on my list!
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Jon Vez
> Solstice #582
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Scott Thompson
> Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 3:16 PM
> To: Catalina320.org
> Subject: [C320-list] Rudder post deck plate
> 
> I've been aware for some time that the deck plate for the emergency tiller on Surprise is leaking.  Indeed this is the only source of possible fresh water in the bilge that I could identify, when I found the bilge full of fresh water recently.  I cannot find any mark of a manufacturer on the plate.  Does anyone know a source for the gaskets on these somewhat unusual deck plates.
> 
> Surprise is a 1999 vintage boat.
> 

-- Scott Thompson
Surprise, #653