Catalina 350 International Association

Howdy,

Writen on phone so forgive typos plz...

Firstly im learning this as i go, no experience and everything im doing is from google/youtube, and im stumped so maybe yall havw ideas.

Would appreciate help/ideas to identify possible source of slow but steady salt water into my bilge.

If u are in thr salon bilge access it seems to be coming in thru the drain hole far poet side in middle bilge section.

I noticed salt and moisture in reare most bilge compartment(between hot water manifold and companionway/engine compartment, looked in there and saw caked gunk and the drain hole at the rear of that was solidly caked up with"mud" I cleared whay I could by reaching in, and used a bottle/straw brush to try to clear further thru the hole but no idea if I cleared any more or just packed it back tighter.

I found this cauee I thought the water was from my ac line, and I did have a leak that was coming off the pump/elbo but I replaced and fixed that. So it definitely isn't co ing off ac line, the generator sea cock/strainer is in the next bilge compartment forward and also isn't leaking.

I turned head inlet off up in the vbeeth and it didn't seem to effect flow.

I have corrosion but doesn't seem to be leak on prop shaft seal that can see(tho while running im not sure but while sitting still it doesn't seem to be leaking)

Do I need to lift the sole panels to source the leak? Has anyone lifted them, is it just unscrew them or are the sewled/glued down too?

Any ideas or help would be appreciated...pics follow

(the gunk in that Pic is to show haw bad it was near the companionway, I cleared everything I could by hand reaching under) the hole u cab see on the side is obviously clear


The water seems to be thru this small hoke port side of bilge.





Noticed moisture here which made me look under sole, saw the pile of gunk in back and residue from salt that was left by water, the hole that is in the back(i cannot see it just feel it, was wet inside and completely filed with mud/gunk



(the gunk in that Pic is to show haw bad it was near the companionway, I cleared everything I could by hand reaching under) the hole u cab see on the side is obviously clear

When you say “a slow but steady stream” do you mean you can actually sit there and watch water flowing into the bilge or is it a steady accumulation over time? Since you’re sure it’s salt water then the ingress would have to be coming from an intake or discharge that occurs below the water line. That points towards the head including the shower sump and sink drain. Check carefully under the head sink and make sure there isn’t any leakage from the thru hulls or hoses. Having said that I would expect a leak in that area would be noticeable in the forward part of the main bilge compartment.

There’s not much to be gained by taking up the floor boards. All you will see is the fiberglass liner underneath which has very few penetrations.

Yes, its VERY slow, but I can see a slow stream of water cone from that hole, hit the block next to that sea cock and then divert and fall in the bilge, i can also reach thru that bigger hole where the white hoses are and feel water there.

So if I understand you right, there's no access to the bilge areas under the floor panels, its just solid fiberglass?

If I'm understanding your description correctly we're talking about the area under the big table in the salon? I've never removed the floor in that area but in other areas there are only a few penetrations in the liner mostly for water drainage.

Yes exactly that area, that's where its coming thru, I was hoping that by lifting aole I could find and follow the water to aource the leak

Edit: noticed a little water across on starboard side of bilge and realized its coming much less and slower from same hole on that side as well.