[C320-list] [C320- Fresh water leak

mseyler at cox.net mseyler at cox.net
Mon Jun 5 11:22:13 PDT 2023


I was able to solve a leaky clean-out port on my water tank by wrapping about 3 layers of Teflon tape on the threads.  The tape can't fall into the tank, so no contamination worries.

Mark Seyler
S/V Reality,
Catalina 320, #232
New Orleans, LA



-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of Allan Field via C320-list
Sent: Monday, June 5, 2023 10:56 AM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Cc: Allan Field <allanfield47 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] [C320- Fresh water leak

The hot water heater has a pressure relief valve with a short hose coming off of it (or should anyway). You might want to try sticking the hose into an empty plastic bottle of some kind, like a Coke bottle, and see if over time water collects in the bottle. If so, it's probably time to change out the pressure relief valve, a simple fix.

Another frequent issue is that the clean out ports on the fresh water tanks often leak when overfilling. I used to carefully smear Real-Tuff teflon paste thread sealant, available at Home Depot,  around the port threads.We didn't drink this water so even if some of the sealant fell into the tank, I knew it wasn't going into us! This probably is not the best fix for this issue but it worked for us...

Hope this helps!

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - C387, #103 (formerly C320, #808) Columbia, MD


On Sun, Jun 4, 2023 at 11:46 PM Cheryl Dahl via C320-list < c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:

> Hi Everyone,
> I am happy to have found this group and all the advice from so many 
> 320 owners.
> We purchased our boat 1997 #412 about 3 years ago and love it .
> We were never able to contact the previous owner with any questions 
> about the boat as he had been placed in a memory care facility. 
> Consequently, A lot of maintenance had been deferred.
> We have been eating the elephant one bite at a time and made good progress.
> One issue still plagues us though and that is our bilge is always 
> filling with fresh water. I have done the taste test multiple times. 
> The pressure pump does come on occasionally but not very often.
> I have checked around the forward and aft tanks and don’t see any 
> signs of leaks, nothing by the water heater or under the port settee 
> where the forward tank feeds aft to the pressure pump.
> Any suggestions or tips would be appreciate .
>
> Cheers ,
> Steve Dahl
> SV #412  Sans Souci
> Santa Barbara
>
>
> On Sun, Jun 4, 2023 at 9:29 AM Bruce Heyman via C320-list < 
> c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> > I agree with Jack.   Our strainer is mounted on the bulkhead wall next to
> > the pump.   I've found the filter almost totally occluded in the past.
> > Best,
> > Bruce
> >
> > Bruce Heyman
> > Somerset #671   San Pedro (LA) California
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf 
> > Of Jack Brennan via C320-list
> > Sent: Sunday, June 4, 2023 5:49 AM
> > To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> > Cc: Jack Brennan <jackbrennan333 at outlook.com>
> > Subject: Re: [C320-list] Water/moisture bottom of head bulkhead
> >
> > My pump has a Jabsco strainer semi-hidden under the cabin floor. 
> > It's vulnerable to getting clogged from hair, etc., so that's a 
> > place to check if the pump is not working.
> >
> > Jack Brennan
> > Sonas, 1998 Catalina 220
> > Tierra Verde, Fl.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Sent via the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone
> >
> >
> >
> > -------- Original message --------
> > From: KEN GEIGER via C320-list <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
> > Date: 6/3/23 11:39 PM (GMT-05:00)
> > To: C320-List at Catalina320.com, Jeff Smith via C320-list 
> > <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>, C320-List at catalina320.com
> > Cc: KEN GEIGER <kendgb at aol.com>
> > Subject: Re: [C320-list] Water/moisture bottom of head bulkhead
> >
> > My reefer/shower sump pump stopped working after some coffee powder 
> > was spilled into the reefer.  Took it out and apart, cleaned it and 
> > when back together it worked as before.
> > Ken GeigerNorthern Dream #765 2000
> >
> > Sent from AOL on Android
> >
> >   On Sat, Jun 3, 2023 at 9:58 p.m., Jeff Smith via
> > C320-list<c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:   Bob and Ken,
> >
> > Thanks for the tip that I can come through the aft stateroom. My 
> > pump is inop; I might as well replace it while I am doing this work.
> >
> > Jeff
> >
> > On Fri, Jun 2, 2023 at 12:21 PM Bob Borelli via C320-list < 
> > c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Jeff,
> > > I've replaced the sump pump on my boat.
> > > Just removed the 3 drawer cabinet frame,  5 screws, aft stateroom.
> > > Not difficult.
> > > As where the water came from?
> > >
> > > Guess - Leaky hose connection?
> > >
> > > The sump in the heads deck is attached to hose to anti-siphon to 
> > > hose to overboard sea valve.
> > > After replace sump pump, pour food color in sump & look for color 
> > > in bilge, if so trace leak.
> > >
> > > Amazon Prime.  Jabsco 37202-0000 12V Light Duty Bilge pump shower 
> > > with Pump Gard on suction side.
> > > this was the exact replacement for the original pump.
> > > Works great.
> > >
> > > Bob Borelli  1995 C320 no. 208  Sailing Associates Inc. MD
> > >
> > >
> > > ________________________________
> > > From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on 
> > > behalf of KEN GEIGER via C320-list 
> > > <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
> > > Sent: Friday, June 2, 2023 8:48 AM
> > > To: C320-List at Catalina320.com <C320-List at Catalina320.com>; Joe 
> > > Grande via C320-list <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
> > > Cc: KEN GEIGER <kendgb at aol.com>
> > > Subject: Re: [C320-list] Water/moisture bottom of head bulkhead
> > >
> > > I accessed and R and R my shower/frig pump on 765 through the aft 
> > > cabin bin hole, having removed the bins.  No cutting.
> > > Ken GeigerNORTHERN DREAM
> > >
> > > Sent from AOL on Android
> > >
> > >  On Fri, Jun 2, 2023 at 12:25 a.m., Joe Grande via C320-list< 
> > > c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:  Good evening, Jeff. My 
> > > #772 of course is not of the shallow bilge, but I have serviced my 
> > > sump pump, which on my newer model is mounted behind the angled 
> > > wall behind the toilet. My path was to cut a rectangular hole in 
> > > that panel to access the pump. After working on the pump and 
> > > reinstalling it, I covered it with a larger piece of Starboard.
> > > As to the source of the water, I would clean the sump filter. I  
> > > have discovered another method of access which I used to replace 
> > > the head faucet. Remove the 2 flop out compartments on the 
> > > bulkhead behind the stateroom door. I have to assume the shower pan is dry?
> > >
> > > Joe Grande
> > > 320IA Commodore
> > >
> > > Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
> > > Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> 
> > > ________________________________
> > > From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on 
> > > behalf of Jeff Smith via C320-list 
> > > <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
> > > Sent: Thursday, June 1, 2023 7:10:53 PM
> > > To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com 
> > > <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
> > > Cc: Jeff Smith <svsailmates512 at gmail.com>
> > > Subject: [C320-list] Water/moisture bottom of head bulkhead
> > >
> > > To all,
> > >
> > > I am currently on the hard and have been for 10 days (typical
> > maintenance).
> > > Today I noticed water stains along the bottom of the bulkhead 
> > > below the head door. My wife and I have noticed this before, but 
> > > we thought it was a stain from a previous water leak with the previous owner.
> > >
> > > I removed the bulkhead vertical wood trim, the bulkhead and the 
> > > white plastic trim on the seam. I can see moisture coming up the 
> > > wood, approximately 6" to 12", but there is no obvious source.
> > >
> > > 1. Is it possible it is from the shower sump? How do I access the 
> > > pump that is currently inop (tango uniform for my military 
> > > brothers and
> > sisters)?
> > >
> > > 2. The other question is, is it possible it is from under the 
> > > floor boards (bilge area??) beside the settee? Before I remove the 
> > > table, and all the other stuff I have stored there from my 
> > > maintenance, I thought I would ask if this is possible. Is this 
> > > part of the shallow
> > bilge?
> > >
> > > I am not inclined to think it is coming from topside, because it 
> > > is dry at the top and only wet at the bottom 6".
> > >
> > > My bilge area that I can easily access is dry.
> > >
> > > There is no sign of water staining on the bottom of the bulkhead 
> > > going to the aft cabin.
> > >
> > > I appreciate any thoughts in advance.
> > >
> > > Cheers,
> > > Jeff
> > > S/V Sailmates, #121
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>



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