Leak in my 2-27

I've got a steady trickle of water that enters the bilge from the stern. There is no water visible under the cockpit covers and no water under the engine. It appears to be under the fiberglass on which the engine is attached. If you reach toward the stern at the top of the bilge, you can feel the trickle coming a gap between the hull (I guess) and the fiberglass floor on which the engine is mounted. Has anyone experienced this sort of leak and give me an idea from where it could be coming? Would a leak in a rudder post seal cause something like this? I will probably have the boat hauled soon to inspect the bottom but it would be nice if I could correct this without hauling. Thanks for any help, Bruce

Our Cal 36 had a leak from shaft log And the previous owner had yard Remove engine and reglass the Shaft tube ..top and bottom.. Most cals hulls made with 2 half s Port and starboard in rear where They meet they put the shaft log ...a fiberglass tube which the Shaft goes through...you need To CLEAN YOUR BILGE. ..and Find where the water is coming From...now that its clean.. 1 st...3 places..shaft log packing nut 2nd ...rudder post dive head first In Lazarette and see if it leaking At base ...take shop vacuum And see if you can more wetness.. 3rd the tube as it goes though the Hull also the seam as it goes forward Chances are that your saft log Need s adjustable or more Packing.. You should find the leak in The water.. than if you hull out Its harder to find ...4 feet of water = Pressure 5 to 8 psi. (est) Clean bilge makes all the difference Edward Cal 36 Cal2.27 On Dec 11, 2017 9:09 AM, "Bruce Boyles br… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats]" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > > I've got a steady trickle of water that enters the bilge from the stern. > There is no water visible under the cockpit covers and no water under the > engine. It appears to be under the fiberglass on which the engine is > attached. If you reach toward the stern at the top of the bilge, you can > feel the trickle coming a gap between the hull (I guess) and the fiberglass > floor on which the engine is mounted. > > Has anyone experienced this sort of leak and give me an idea from where it > could be coming? Would a leak in a rudder post seal cause something like > this? I will probably have the boat hauled soon to inspect the bottom but > it would be nice if I could correct this without hauling. > > Thanks for any help, > > Bruce > >

Sitting still or underway? My Cal 33-2 had a leak from stern underway. I crawled back there while the wife was steering and found one of the plastic thru hulls, normally out of the water at rest, submerged motoring. It needed rebedding. I replaced all of the stern thru-hulls and rebedded all during installation of course. No more leak. On Tuesday, December 12, 2017, Edward Stancil e.… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > > Our Cal 36 had a leak from shaft log > And the previous owner had yard > Remove engine and reglass the > Shaft tube ..top and bottom.. > > Most cals hulls made with 2 half s > Port and starboard in rear where > They meet they put the shaft log > ...a fiberglass tube which the > Shaft goes through...you need > To CLEAN YOUR BILGE. ..and > Find where the water is coming > From...now that its clean.. > 1 st...3 places..shaft log packing nut > 2nd ...rudder post dive head first > In Lazarette and see if it leaking > At base ...take shop vacuum > And see if you can more wetness.. > > 3rd the tube as it goes though the > Hull also the seam as it goes forward > > Chances are that your saft log > Need s adjustable or more > Packing.. > > You should find the leak in > The water.. than if you hull out > Its harder to find ...4 feet of water = > Pressure 5 to 8 psi. (est) > > Clean bilge makes all the difference > > Edward Cal 36 Cal2.27 > > On Dec 11, 2017 9:09 AM, "Bruce Boyles br… [at] yahoo.com > [Cal_Boats]" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: > >> >> >> I've got a steady trickle of water that enters the bilge from the stern. >> There is no water visible under the cockpit covers and no water under the >> engine. It appears to be under the fiberglass on which the engine is >> attached. If you reach toward the stern at the top of the bilge, you can >> feel the trickle coming a gap between the hull (I guess) and the fiberglass >> floor on which the engine is mounted. >> >> Has anyone experienced this sort of leak and give me an idea from where >> it could be coming? Would a leak in a rudder post seal cause something >> like this? I will probably have the boat hauled soon to inspect the bottom >> but it would be nice if I could correct this without hauling. >> >> Thanks for any help, >> >> Bruce >> >> >

I’ve seen a few cases where there is a small crack at the back of the keel right where it meets the hull. I think it had to do with resin starvation in a hard to get to spot at lay-up. The rudder post sleeve is nothing but a fiberglass tube on many Cals (some POs installed bearings top and bottom). I small crack at the bottom of the sleeve where it meets the hull is also possible. Someone mentioned that that the Cal hulls were as side to side halves, then bonded together. I know that many Js are built that way, but U thought that all Cals were laid up as full hulls. Take Care Charlie From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2017 11:11 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com; Edward Stancil <e.… [at] gmail.com> Cc: Bruce Boyles <br… [at] yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Leak in my 2-27 Sitting still or underway? My Cal 33-2 had a leak from stern underway. I crawled back there while the wife was steering and found one of the plastic thru hulls, normally out of the water at rest, submerged motoring. It needed rebedding. I replaced all of the stern thru-hulls and rebedded all during installation of course. No more leak. On Tuesday, December 12, 2017, Edward Stancil e.… [at] gmail.com <mailto:e.… [at] gmail.com> [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com <mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> > wrote: Our Cal 36 had a leak from shaft log And the previous owner had yard Remove engine and reglass the Shaft tube ..top and bottom.. Most cals hulls made with 2 half s Port and starboard in rear where They meet they put the shaft log ...a fiberglass tube which the Shaft goes through...you need To CLEAN YOUR BILGE. ..and Find where the water is coming From...now that its clean.. 1 st...3 places..shaft log packing nut 2nd ...rudder post dive head first In Lazarette and see if it leaking At base ...take shop vacuum And see if you can more wetness.. 3rd the tube as it goes though the Hull also the seam as it goes forward Chances are that your saft log Need s adjustable or more Packing.. You should find the leak in The water.. than if you hull out Its harder to find ...4 feet of water = Pressure 5 to 8 psi. (est) Clean bilge makes all the difference Edward Cal 36 Cal2.27 On Dec 11, 2017 9:09 AM, "Bruce Boyles br… [at] yahoo.com <mailto:br… [at] yahoo.com> [Cal_Boats]" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com <mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> > wrote: I've got a steady trickle of water that enters the bilge from the stern. There is no water visible under the cockpit covers and no water under the engine. It appears to be under the fiberglass on which the engine is attached. If you reach toward the stern at the top of the bilge, you can feel the trickle coming a gap between the hull (I guess) and the fiberglass floor on which the engine is mounted. Has anyone experienced this sort of leak and give me an idea from where it could be coming? Would a leak in a rudder post seal cause something like this? I will probably have the boat hauled soon to inspect the bottom but it would be nice if I could correct this without hauling. Thanks for any help, Bruce

On 12/12/2017 11:22 AM, 'Charlie Husar' hu… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats] wrote: > > > I’ve seen a few cases where there is a small crack at the back of the > keel right where it meets the hull. I think it had to do with resin > starvation in a hard to get to spot at lay-up. > > The rudder post sleeve is nothing but a fiberglass tube on many Cals > (some POs installed bearings top and bottom). I small crack at the > bottom of the sleeve where it meets the hull is also possible. > My other boat had this specific problem. It's not a Cal--it's a 57 year old Seafarer--but the fiberglass tube for the rudder stock had lost all its resin. Not sure how--maybe original "resin starvation" in manufacture, followed by years of water exposure. But a couple years ago toward the end of the summer I started finding water in the bilge. I crawled back under the cockpit sole and sure enough, the tube leaked when under way. It was an easy fix--use the existing tube as a form, and layer epoxy and fiberglass over it, making sure to include good tabs and fillets at top & bottom. Chris Campbell > >

I don't own a 2-27 but since another 2-27 owner hasn't answered here goes: How much water is getting in? Is water trickling just under power or stationary too? If it just drips under power maybe a packing gland needs tending? Again I don't know 2-27's but a delamination at the base of the rudder might be possible? Good luck & hoping she doesn't need a haul to fix it.

Thanks to all for their input. While reading it occurred to me that the water from the prop shaft actually goes underneath the fiberglass on which the engine is mounted. I've always had a drip there, even at rest. I got some food coloring and made a bottle of red water and poured it in the place where the water from the prop shaft collects. Sure enough, when I went back to the bilge, the water dripping down the bilge wall was red. It appears that my little drip has become a trickle. Would repacking the stuffing box fix this? (Is there a YouTube video that shows how to repack a stuffing box?)Is there a hull seal that the prop shaft is mounted in where it enters the hull? Thanks again to all, Bruce

Bruce,You are supposed to have a drip from the stuffing box, but not a trickle. You should google repacking a stuffing box and familiarize yourself with every aspect of it, especially incase of emergency's which will happen one day. Do not get dripless stuffing. That drop of water cools and lubricates the shaft while it spins in the packing which is sealing it.Matthew,86 Cal 33.2 Warmwinds On Tuesday, December 12, 2017, 3:14:56 PM CST, Bruce Boyles br… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Thanks to all for their input. While reading it occurred to me that the water from the prop shaft actually goes underneath the fiberglass on which the engine is mounted. I've always had a drip there, even at rest. I got some food coloring and made a bottle of red water and poured it in the place where the water from the prop shaft collects. Sure enough, when I went back to the bilge, the water dripping down the bilge wall was red. It appears that my little drip has become a trickle. Would repacking the stuffing box fix this? (Is there a YouTube video that shows how to repack a stuffing box?)Is there a hull seal that the prop shaft is mounted in where it enters the hull? Thanks again to all, Bruce

The stuffing box should only drip when the shaft spins, and really just drops, very slow. But really if you pack with that new type cord, Teflon impregnated I think, you can tighten the stuffing box until no drip and it won't run hot. That is how I did my Cal 33-2. Leslie On Tuesday, December 12, 2017, matthew ma… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] < Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > > Bruce, > You are supposed to have a drip from the stuffing box, but not a trickle. > You should google repacking a stuffing box and familiarize yourself with > every aspect of it, especially incase of emergency's which will happen one > day. Do not get dripless stuffing. That drop of water cools and lubricates > the shaft while it spins in the packing which is sealing it. > Matthew, > 86 Cal 33.2 Warmwinds > > On Tuesday, December 12, 2017, 3:14:56 PM CST, Bruce Boyles > br… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > > > > Thanks to all for their input. While reading it occurred to me that the > water from the prop shaft actually goes underneath the fiberglass on which > the engine is mounted. I've always had a drip there, even at rest. I got > some food coloring and made a bottle of red water and poured it in the > place where the water from the prop shaft collects. Sure enough, when I > went back to the bilge, the water dripping down the bilge wall was red. It > appears that my little drip has become a trickle. > > Would repacking the stuffing box fix this? (Is there a YouTube video that > shows how to repack a stuffing box?) > Is there a hull seal that the prop shaft is mounted in where it enters the > hull? > > Thanks again to all, > > Bruce > > >

In addition to Caliente, our 36, we also own Ex Indigo, a Cal 2-27 but when we hauled out and did the bottom job a year ago we found the underwater configuration of rudder post, keel to hull relationship and prop shaft to be similar, just smaller. Edward mentioned the 36 only because we didn't have any 2-27 issues. Helen Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android On Tue, Dec 12, 2017 at 12:05 PM, c_… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats]<Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: I don't own a 2-27 but since another 2-27 owner hasn't answered here goes: How much water is getting in? Is water trickling just under power or stationary too? If it just drips under power maybe a packing gland needs tending? Again I don't know 2-27's but a delamination at the base of the rudder might be possible? Good luck & hoping she doesn't need a haul to fix it.

When I was prepping my bottom on my 2-27 before barrier coating it I found a rather large void just underneath the shaft log. It was only covered by gel coat it seemed, and not completely. As I picked it got large quickly and opened up inside just under the shaft log out of site.Not trusting anything from PO I am really trying to check everything. But it should be easy to stop the stuffing box leak to see if the leak stops. Also my backing plate for the strut was very soft. When I replaced it the sealant for the bolts was liquefied. The packing replacement can be done while in the water. But as you can guess, anything else will probably require a haul out.If so check everything. My thru-hulls just fell out. Not to mention the npt ball valve and washers on the straight threads covered by a hornets nest looking mess of some type of caulking. Gotta laugh sometimes at the dreaded PO. He said it was ready to sail. I think it would have sunk. Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone On Monday, December 11, 2017, 11:09 AM, Bruce Boyles br… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: I've got a steady trickle of water that enters the bilge from the stern. There is no water visible under the cockpit covers and no water under the engine. It appears to be under the fiberglass on which the engine is attached. If you reach toward the stern at the top of the bilge, you can feel the trickle coming a gap between the hull (I guess) and the fiberglass floor on which the engine is mounted. Has anyone experienced this sort of leak and give me an idea from where it could be coming? Would a leak in a rudder post seal cause something like this? I will probably have the boat hauled soon to inspect the bottom but it would be nice if I could correct this without hauling. Thanks for any help, Bruce

Replacing the packing is quite easy. I used a couple of small 'dental' picks to pull out the old packing (you might need to pick out one ring in order to get the right size), cut your three rings of packing in advance (I do it on the prop shaft with a sharp razor blade very carefully). Have a couple rags or towels to stem the flood when loosening the packing nut. Insert the packing with the seams 120 degrees offset, remove the rags and work quickly to tighten the packing nut. Having replaced packing on the hard, and in the water, I'd choose in the water - easier to get the drip rate right. On the hard, you must be there when your lovely boat is launched. Harold BeerCal 2-27 Hull #189Arcturus On Tuesday, December 12, 2017, 4:14:57 PM EST, Bruce Boyles br… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Thanks to all for their input. While reading it occurred to me that the water from the prop shaft actually goes underneath the fiberglass on which the engine is mounted. I've always had a drip there, even at rest. I got some food coloring and made a bottle of red water and poured it in the place where the water from the prop shaft collects. Sure enough, when I went back to the bilge, the water dripping down the bilge wall was red. It appears that my little drip has become a trickle. Would repacking the stuffing box fix this? (Is there a YouTube video that shows how to repack a stuffing box?)Is there a hull seal that the prop shaft is mounted in where it enters the hull? Thanks again to all, Bruce

What size packing thread did you use? Bruce Boyles From: Harold Beer ha… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2017 6:19 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Leak in my 2-27 Replacing the packing is quite easy. I used a couple of small 'dental' picks to pull out the old packing (you might need to pick out one ring in order to get the right size), cut your three rings of packing in advance (I do it on the prop shaft with a sharp razor blade very carefully). Have a couple rags or towels to stem the flood when loosening the packing nut. Insert the packing with the seams 120 degrees offset, remove the rags and work quickly to tighten the packing nut. Having replaced packing on the hard, and in the water, I'd choose in the water - easier to get the drip rate right. On the hard, you must be there when your lovely boat is launched. Harold Beer Cal 2-27 Hull #189 Arcturus On Tuesday, December 12, 2017, 4:14:57 PM EST, Bruce Boyles br… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Thanks to all for their input. While reading it occurred to me that the water from the prop shaft actually goes underneath the fiberglass on which the engine is mounted. I've always had a drip there, even at rest. I got some food coloring and made a bottle of red water and poured it in the place where the water from the prop shaft collects. Sure enough, when I went back to the bilge, the water dripping down the bilge wall was red. It appears that my little drip has become a trickle. Would repacking the stuffing box fix this? (Is there a YouTube video that shows how to repack a stuffing box?) Is there a hull seal that the prop shaft is mounted in where it enters the hull? Thanks again to all, Bruce

I've got a 1" shaft, and I'm not certain - it seems like it was 3/16" but it could have been 1/4" - I'm pretty sure I have the container, but it's on the boat. Not a big deal, but in Michigan, we've got winter happening, and it might be another couple of weeks until I get to the yard. (I'm pretty sure I ordered both and returned the one that I couldn't use. - I actually bought ptfe packing from mcmaster.com - so I got 5 feet for $10 or $15 dollars.) If you can wait a couple of weeks I can make certain on the size. Harold On Tuesday, January 9, 2018, 8:20:19 PM EST, br… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: What size packing thread did you use? Bruce Boyles From: Harold Beer ha… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2017 6:19 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Leak in my 2-27 Replacing the packing is quite easy. I used a couple of small 'dental' picks to pull out the old packing (you might need to pick out one ring in order to get the right size), cut your three rings of packing in advance (I do it on the prop shaft with a sharp razor blade very carefully). Have a couple rags or towels to stem the flood when loosening the packing nut. Insert the packing with the seams 120 degrees offset, remove the rags and work quickly to tighten the packing nut. Having replaced packing on the hard, and in the water, I'd choose in the water - easier to get the drip rate right. On the hard, you must be there when your lovely boat is launched. Harold Beer Cal 2-27 Hull #189 Arcturus On Tuesday, December 12, 2017, 4:14:57 PM EST, Bruce Boyles br… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Thanks to all for their input. While reading it occurred to me that the water from the prop shaft actually goes underneath the fiberglass on which the engine is mounted. I've always had a drip there, even at rest. I got some food coloring and made a bottle of red water and poured it in the place where the water from the prop shaft collects. Sure enough, when I went back to the bilge, the water dripping down the bilge wall was red. It appears that my little drip has become a trickle. Would repacking the stuffing box fix this? (Is there a YouTube video that shows how to repack a stuffing box?) Is there a hull seal that the prop shaft is mounted in where it enters the hull? Thanks again to all, Bruce

Well, the flu has come and gone (finally!) and my visit to my Cal 2-27 revealed the packing was 3/16" - Harold On Friday, January 12, 2018, 8:08:39 PM EST, Harold Beer ha… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: I've got a 1" shaft, and I'm not certain - it seems like it was 3/16" but it could have been 1/4" - I'm pretty sure I have the container, but it's on the boat. Not a big deal, but in Michigan, we've got winter happening, and it might be another couple of weeks until I get to the yard. (I'm pretty sure I ordered both and returned the one that I couldn't use. - I actually bought ptfe packing from mcmaster.com - so I got 5 feet for $10 or $15 dollars.) If you can wait a couple of weeks I can make certain on the size. Harold On Tuesday, January 9, 2018, 8:20:19 PM EST, br… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: What size packing thread did you use? Bruce Boyles From: Harold Beer ha… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2017 6:19 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Leak in my 2-27 Replacing the packing is quite easy. I used a couple of small 'dental' picks to pull out the old packing (you might need to pick out one ring in order to get the right size), cut your three rings of packing in advance (I do it on the prop shaft with a sharp razor blade very carefully). Have a couple rags or towels to stem the flood when loosening the packing nut. Insert the packing with the seams 120 degrees offset, remove the rags and work quickly to tighten the packing nut. Having replaced packing on the hard, and in the water, I'd choose in the water - easier to get the drip rate right. On the hard, you must be there when your lovely boat is launched. Harold Beer Cal 2-27 Hull #189 Arcturus On Tuesday, December 12, 2017, 4:14:57 PM EST, Bruce Boyles br… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Thanks to all for their input. While reading it occurred to me that the water from the prop shaft actually goes underneath the fiberglass on which the engine is mounted. I've always had a drip there, even at rest. I got some food coloring and made a bottle of red water and poured it in the place where the water from the prop shaft collects. Sure enough, when I went back to the bilge, the water dripping down the bilge wall was red. It appears that my little drip has become a trickle. Would repacking the stuffing box fix this? (Is there a YouTube video that shows how to repack a stuffing box?) Is there a hull seal that the prop shaft is mounted in where it enters the hull? Thanks again to all, Bruce