[C320-list] Weeping Keel Bolt

[Bob Borelli]

Bilge pump running every 10 minutes would give me cause for concern.
On my hull 209 leaking water tanks, holding tank or hoses would leak into the lower bilge, not the upper bilge pan.

I would suspect the keel bolts because they penetrate the upper bilge pan.
I would towel dry, air dry around each bolt individually and sprinkle green Comet or a product specifically designed to locate tiny water leaks.

I have poured food colored water into the bilge area under the shaft/stuffing box, it drains to the upper bilge pan and the lower bilge,
From the hole cut out for the elbow from the aft tank going forward to the water pump.

The Cold box drain, stuffing box, raw water pump and hoses, indirect coolant hoses would drain into the upper bilge pan.

I've ruled out leaks from the water, holding tank, hoses, rudder deck plate, by using food coloring.

Bob Borelli  1995 C320 no. 209.
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From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of jackbrennan <jackbrennan at bellsouth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2021 12:15 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Weeping Keel Bolt

Another potential source is the seawater pump. There is a shaft seal that will drip into the pan under the diesel for a long time before becoming bad enough for you to notice.Jack BrennanSonas, 1998 Catalina 320Tierra Verde, Fl.Sent from my Galaxy
-------- Original message --------From: John Morrison <sail-ability at sympatico.ca> Date: 5/26/21  11:02 AM  (GMT-06:00) To: C320-List at catalina320.com Subject: Re: [C320-list] Weeping Keel Bolt If the holding tank were the culprit your nose would probably let you know!!JohnM 1999#574Sent from my iPhone> On May 26, 2021, at 11:42 AM, P.F. Ross <pfrstl at gmail.com> wrote:> > Tom,> > I, too, have wondered about water collecting in my bilge around keel> bolts.  Like Dave, my boat is much older than yours and has the "shallow> bilge" so water leak paths are probably different between your boat and> mine.> > One thing I have done to "test" this water source is to wet the very tip of> my finger in the water and taste it on the tip of my tongue (and I know I> am not the only one who has done this).  Salty = bad news.  So far, I am> ok, both with not tasting salt and still being alive.  Also, prob not a> good idea if you suspect a holding tank leak.> > Not sure where you are, but obviously would not work if you were in fresh> water.  Good luck!> > Frank Ross> Beta Wave #206> > > >> On Tue, May 25, 2021 at 5:34 PM Dave Hupe <hoopdtwo at yahoo.com> wrote:>> >> I doubt a keel bolt is leaking unless your keel to hull joint is severely>> bad.  My boat is 1994, much older than yours.  I have had similar concerns>> in the past when I detected seepage that appeared to be a leaking bolt.>> Instead there was seepage from elsewhere that migrated into/below the>> structural grid toward such a low spot and only looked like a leaking bolt>> on first reaction.  One source of water was my shaft packing gland after I>> had replaced it and not tightened it much at first.  More recently, I had a>> leaking original water hose within the structural grid that went from my>> galley area to the head sink.>> Dave Hype>> 1994 C320 (#32)>> >> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android>> >>  On Tue, May 25, 2021 at 4:30 PM, RONALD HODEL<ronandgail2 at me.com>>> wrote:   I have no idea having not had that experience but, golly, I would>> have thought the marina staff commissioning the boat would have said>> something right away.>> >> Ron Hodel>> #1070 Lokomaikai>> >> Sent from my iPad>> >>>> On May 25, 2021, at 1:24 PM, Tom Grass <tgrass462 at gmail.com> wrote:>>> >>> Our bilge pump has been running quite regularly (every 10 minutes or>> so, 6>>> seconds each time) ever since launch two weeks ago.  We assumed we might>>> have an internal water leak from one of our two water tanks.>>> >>> We just learned that during commissioning the marina staff noticed a keel>>> bolt which was apparently allowing water to “weep” into the bilge.  We do>>> not know the details of this condition, for example does the boat have to>>> be pulled to fix?>>> >>> Have any of you had similar experiences?>>> >>> Thanks.>>> >>> Tom & Tracy Grass>>> S/V Bucket List>>> 2008 Catalina 320 MK II>>> # 1135>> >>