Ron,
Is your boat the one with the electric water heater, a C270LE? If so were you on shore power at the time (well first time out the PO could have done what it takes to get the failure going.) ? When the plumbing to the LE's electric water heater boat is stock there is a white plastic barbless check valve inserted in the cold water inlet line. This prevents hot water from circulating back into the cold water side of the system. It also puts cold water (water ready to expand as heated) into a closed vessel. You get an inch worm kind of effect every time the water is heated from cold without any hot water being drawing the one of these attached hoses inches down the plastic body. Do it a few times (I think we had Wing Tip about 6 weeks of Sat/Sun use before I saw it the first time). My first fix was to reinstall as provided from Catalina and it lasted about the same time. My second fix was to replace the two single SS hose clamps with a dual SS hose clamp from Napa Auto parts. The dual hose clamp has an additional piece of spot welded SS strap bridging between the clamps preventing them from inching apart. Until then you can simply make a hot water facet drip, relieving the pressure build up, as the water heats. I also purchased a high tech low pressure relief valve but I see it's still adorning corner of my bench in the box. Phil Agur <http://www.catalina27.org/public_pages/profile270.htm> s/v Wing Tip C270 LE #184 MMSI 366901790 From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ron Ginter Sent: Monday, June 28, 2010 5:19 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [IC27A] water pressure leak Another new experience: On Saturday afternoon we went down to the boat with my niece, who came to visit and sail for the weekend. We got everything opened up and turned on. It was rainy but supposed to improve so we decided to kill some time by perusing the goodies at the local marine supplies store. We came back about half an hour later, new cockpit umbrella in hand (!), and as we approached the slip, I could hear the bilge pump running and see water being ejected. When the bilge pump stopped, the water pressure pump was still running and wouldn't stop. We had no water at the taps either in the head or galley. A quick look at the bilge showed a fairly good flow, which gradually subsided once I turned the water pump off. Next day I filled the water tank just in case, and had the same experience when I turned on the water pressure pump. This time I got a trickle of water at the galley sink taps. So I'm thinking that a water line must have split or a connection came loose, and the water pump is just unable to build up enough pressure to turn itself off. Meanwhile the leakage is ending up in the bilge. Sound reasonable? If there are any known weak spots in the water lines, or any suggestions on where to start trying to find it, or even how to access the lines, please feel free to offer them up to this newbie. We also pumped out the holding tank for the first time, and had problems getting the flow to go. The guy running the suction opined that my vent is probably clogged. I found the vent on the hull just below the rail near the waste cap on the deck. How do I go about unclogging it? Just shove a wire down it? ...Ron C270 #329 "Oculus"
