[C320-list] [C320- Fresh water leak

[Bob Borelli]

I replaced my emergency steering access with one from Catalina Direct 'Inspection port 8-3/8" OD  #Z3669.
No leak problems in the last 3 years.

If my fresh water pump cycles unexpectedly I know there is a fresh water leak somewhere.
First ensure all three faucets are closed.  Sometimes its the transom shower that's open.
Then look under the galley sink for signs of leak.
If not then I pour blue food color into either forward or aft water tank, one at a time.
Let the blue run out the faucets then go trace the supply lines.

The propane locker is all fiberglass with a drain hose at the bottom goes out thru clam shell on the transom.
I found rain water filling the fiberglass locker and leaking onto the refrigerator compressor when the hose was clogged at the clam shell.
Water leaking here will run forward into the bilge.

I figure if water was leaking from the holding tank or shower sump hose connections it would be self evident.
And water supply connections from sea valve to toilet maybe not so evident.

Bob Borelli  1995 C320 no. 208
________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of Dave Hupe via C320-list <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 8, 2023 2:10 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Cc: Dave Hupe <hoopdtwo at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] [C320- Fresh water leak

I agree with Doug about the emergency steering access port leakage. I have replaced mine but am not very happy about the port design. The seal in not very robust.   I have taken to applying a thin coat of Teflon grease (others have used Vaseline) to improve the seal temporarily. Has anyone used a different port to improve the seal???
Another leak that I discovered was the propane tank "pan" that the tank sits down into.  The pan itself on my boat had 4 screws to hold it down into a hull recess. The sealant underneath was bad and water leaked actively onto my refrigerator compressor and then down into the bilge. It was not hard to remove the pan, clean the surfaces, reapply sealant (I think I used 4200) and screw back in place .... leak gone!  If I remember correctly, the propane tank was removed but hoses didn’t need to be removed.  However, I think I had to disconnect the bottom pan drain hose temporarily.
Dave Hupe
1994 C320 #32

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

  On Thu, Jun 8, 2023 at 12:27 PM, Doug Treff via C320-list<c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:   Check under your Auxiliary Steering port at the base of the pedestal. Mine was leaking. As evidenced by the water pooling on top of the steering gear below. I ended up replacing the entire port including the mounting ring with a new one from West Marine. Perfect fit. And one less leak.

--
Doug Treff
doug at treff.us

On Sun, Jun 4, 2023, at 11:43 PM, Cheryl Dahl via C320-list 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