Water in Bilge

[Guest]

Earlier this year, TPI did some work on the saildrive to correct a known saltwater leak. We still seem to have a slow leak of saltwater into the bilge. Any thoughts on what might be causing this?

[Posted by: Cecil Hemingway
]

[Guest]

We has a slow leak from the lower rudder bearing...not too difficult to get to and tighten with an allen wrench. See Edson Technical Bulletin posted on Class Site for additonal info

[Posted by: Peter Morrison
]

[Guest]

My boat was delivered with a mysterious saildrive leak. Turned out to be the (4) screws used to secure the fairing around the saildrive (underside) were too long and they pierced the hull, allowing water to enter the boat. The dealer sealed them with epoxy and everything has been dry for two seasons.

[Posted by: B Bistis
]

[Guest]

I had the rudder bearing leak; we performed the recommended maintenance from the bulletin and the leak has mostly subsided.

A secondary problem is that the limber holes are too high in the keel matrix. I had the local boatyard fill the center section in partially to improve drainage.

[Posted by: Eric
]

[drosowj]

I also had the "mysterious sail drive leak" which the local yard fixed with the factory's help.

The other known issue is the vented raw water exhaust loop in the engine room. The original equipment (stainless loop) is susceptible to pinhole leaks in the welds, as mine was. Every time I ran my engine, the loop leaked and salt water accumulated in the bilge. The salt water will also corrode your engine.

I replaced mine with a $30 molded, glass reinforced marelon loop from Defender.com. Just make sure to properly size the hose to the loop fitting. The fix shouldn't take more than thirty minutes start to finish.

[pmccomb]

The leak of seawater around the rudder stock. Solution: wrap a section of neoprene (wetsuit) 24" X 10" to form a cuff around the rudder hull base. Clamp in place using stainless steel clamps X 2.