1982 CD36 - rainwater filling the bilge

[SSgtPitt]

I’m having an issue locating where the rainwater is coming in. We have the normal small leaks but the bilge pump is coming on, so there’s got to be a bigger leak somewhere.
Has any one with a CD36 had this same issue ?

[sloopjohnl]

i am far from a 36 being a '76 Ty owner. i had a slow leak that over a period of five years would be greater in the spring for a few weeks after launch until the leak slowed almost to a stop by seasons end. i considered it rain water but being on a freshwater lake could not differentiate from rain water and lake water. Last year at launch the leak was strong enough and rain was lacking that had me looking at the seacocks (gate valves). i noticed one was weeping. When i removed the offending seacock this spring the seacock came off the hull very easily and it became quite obvious the sealant had given up and water was making its way into the bilge.

[Frenchy]

You might check the drain hoses leading from the bridge deck to the cockpit wall. If they're leaking, it
wouldn't be usually noticeable. - Good luck tracking this down - Jean

[Paul D.]

The cockpit lockers on Femme were never properly sealed and lets in quite a bit of rain or on the too few occasions when I wash the deck, I find water. I would also check those lids.

[tartansailor]

Rain water leak into my CD 25 bilge was vexing in the extreme.
Finally after every effort you can imagine, including the above,
I ran sealant all along the deck side of the rub rail, on a hunch, and now
my bilge is bone dry. Hope this helps.
Dick

[sgbernd]

The best way I know to find these is to go to the boat when it is raining heavily and chase the leak. For the first forcasted storm of the rainy season, I make a practice of visiting the boat in the rain to check for leaks while raining and after it has been for some time to give the leak time to show itself. If I find leaks, I note the source and fix it later when I get time. It is the only way I know to find them. A heavy rainstorm is the best.

Use your fingers to feel the back of each bolt, backing plate, and thru-deck fitting checking for moisture. Sometimes, these are damp but don't drip (until suddenly they do). Use a pen light to inspect (from the inside) for any source of seeps, drips or leaks, hatches, port lights, vents, wire runs, mast boot, etc. Stick your head into the anchor chain locker and check the backside of each of the bolts securing the cleats, pulpit, bow sprit etc. Do the same in the cockpit lockers for the rear cleats, stanchions, aft stay, etc. Inspect the chain plates (on my boat, I need to remove the inspection plates to see these). You may be surprised at what you find.

When I started this discipline years ago, there were a lot of leaks, none very big, but added together accumulated quite a bit of water. Over the years, there are less and less as you work thru them.

s.g.bernd

[John Stone]

Well, it’s a 40 year old boat. It’s going to leak until you track them down. So don’t dispair. All older boats, and many newer boats, boats go through this ordeal.

When I gutted my boat there were signs of leaks everywhere—the toerail leaked bad, the eyebrow strips leaked (they are particularly vulnerable) the lockers leaked. The portlights leaked. We fixed all of them but of course our measures were drastic and much can be done as sgbernd recommended.

I would make sure it’s fresh water to rule out the obvious. Then I would eliminate the water tanks as a source of the leak too.

[John Stone]

Well, it’s a 40 year old boat. It’s going to leak ... until you track them down. So don’t dispair. All older boats, and many newer boats, go through this aggrivating ordeal.

When I gutted my boat, similar in age to yours, there were signs of leaks everywhere—the toerail leaked bad, the eyebrow strips leaked (they are particularly vulnerable) the lockers leaked. The portlights leaked. We fixed all of them but of course our measures were drastic and much can be done as sgbernd recommended. The mast is vulnerable too so check the base of it during a heavy rain.

I would make sure it’s fresh water to rule out the obvious. Then I would eliminate the water tanks as a source of the leak too. Just work each potential area and over time you will eliminate most or maybe all of them.

[SSgtPitt]

Thanks everyone. Lot’s to do.
And yes Far Reach, I follow your site and I agree, your measures were a little more than the average person is willing to do, but you’ve got a sweet boat.