Question 1: After a vigorous 6 hour shakedown sail in 30 knots of wind our newly acquired E 38 has developed a hard to track leak that adds an inch an hour of salt water to the bilge level even when the boat is in the slip with engine off and the seacocks closed. The stuffing box and thru hulls in the cabin and head are dry. The speedo impellor thru-hull is dry. I will soon check the seacocks for the cockpit drains. My only other thought is that there could be seepage at the keel bolts. The vessel was surveyed a month ago and the bolts were fine then. Any ideas, friends? Am I missing a likely source of leakage? Given salt taste of the water I don't think that the leak is ships water but we'll check that too.
Question 2: To test the keel bolts I am assuming I pump out and blot dry the area around the bolts and look for leaks. Can the bolts be tightened sufficiently with the vessel in the water?
Question 3. On our vessel the automatic bilge pump is placed just a few inches below the cabin sole [almost at the base of the cabin ladder]. Any idea why Ericson did not place this pump in the deeper forward sumps? At present, the automatic pump only is triggered when the bilge is almost completely full.
Thanks for your thoughts
Bob Baron
Beyond Reason
E 38 Ventura
Question 2: To test the keel bolts I am assuming I pump out and blot dry the area around the bolts and look for leaks. Can the bolts be tightened sufficiently with the vessel in the water?
Question 3. On our vessel the automatic bilge pump is placed just a few inches below the cabin sole [almost at the base of the cabin ladder]. Any idea why Ericson did not place this pump in the deeper forward sumps? At present, the automatic pump only is triggered when the bilge is almost completely full.
Thanks for your thoughts
Bob Baron
Beyond Reason
E 38 Ventura