CD270 Taking on Water

[Jon Patterson]

We recently purchased a 1984 CD270 - Hull #2. It was put into the water a week ago and immediately began taking on water. The boatyard cannot find the entry area, and we think it may have to do with the centerboard. Has anyone had this type of problem?

Short of ripping the entire boat apart, we can think of no other way to find the leak. Any suggestions?

Thank you.



cpatterson1@attbi.com

[JimL]

I'm sure you'll get some good advice. In an extreme difficult case, here's an interesting story.

A few years ago, I had to work on a new Land Cruiser that had an air leak (wind noise issue). I tried everything under the sun, with no luck. Finally, I told the technician (half joking), "Let's seal it up, put air pressure on it, and check it with soapy water (for bubbles)."

We realized it just might work, so we bought a bunch of duct tape, rigged an air hose through a floor drain hole (pulled the rubber plug and taped a low pressure nozzle into the hole), then put very low pressure (about 1-2 psi) into the car and started painting it with soapy water. We found the air leak coming from UNDERNEATH a door edge chrome weatherstrip!

Reading your post, I realized that a person could tape up the cockpit hatches, fordeck hatches, main hatch, etc. and put low pressure air into the cabin (very low.....maybe the outlet of a vacuum cleaner). You'd have to tape over the outlets for exhaust, bilge pumps, etc. If you find bubbles coming up around the boat, put on a mask and fins and go find the leak! I don't really know if this would work.....maybe....it wouldn't be too hard to try. I know that low pressure air will blow bubbles....the old 8-wheel drive Mobile Command Unit (for the Minuteman Missle System) had a low pressure air pump that would put positive pressure on the transmission, transfer cases, differentials, and brake drums. This allowed the vehicle to ford deep water without damaging complex components (especially from muddy water). When you run it into deep water, it blows bubbles all over the place (a friend of mine owns one....bought it at a surplus auction for $125. The brute is the size of a motorhome, and runs on diesel fuel or whatever.....Runs great.)

Has anyone ever heard of this method working on a boat?

Best regards to all, JimL



leinfam@earthlink.net

[Gary L.]

We recently purchased a 1984 CD270 - Hull #2. It was put into the water a week ago and immediately began taking on water. The boatyard cannot find the entry area, and we think it may have to do with the centerboard. Has anyone had this type of problem?

Short of ripping the entire boat apart, we can think of no other way to find the leak. Any suggestions?

Thank you.

Jon,

First, does the 270 have a hydrolic lift for the centerboard? If a hose is loose or missing, water might leak through the pump. Second, I just had a cutlass bearing replaced on my CD30, which has a slow leak in the area, i.e. water fills the area around the shaft log, and fills the area below the engine. Third, when I had my CD26, a leak developed in or around the rudder post. Otherwise, I would check all the through hulls. Hope you find it soon.

Gary Lapine
Red Witch III
CD30C, #339
Somerset, MA



dory26@attbi.com

[Jon Patterson]

Thank you for your suggestions. I think I've found the problem. The cutlass bearing was replaced just before we bought the boat. It appears that either the stuffing box wasn't repacked properly or that the nut was not tightened enough. I'm going to check these two things out and try putting her in the water again.

With any luck that will solve the problem.

Thanks again.
Jon



cpatterson1@attbi.com