Swim Ladder + Leaking Anchor Locker

[Brian Fisher]

Hi,

We have a 1997 281.

Our swim ladder is very loose at the two connection points. I cannot figure out where the nuts can be accessed for tightening. Has anyone had this issue and knows how to get to the two nuts? The only way I can think of is through the locker. I've tried lying in the locker to see if I can see the nuts, but no luck.

Also, it looks to me like the anchor locker is leaking. We do get moisture in the v-berth, and if I put a finger in the shelf directly above the v-berth, it is usually wet, with a half inch of water. 

Any idea's and answers very much appreciated.

Regards,

Brian

[Alisdair Sewell]

For the swim ladder - I suspect you'll need to remove the holding tank and possibly disconnect the exhaust hose and engine bay vent hoses before you have enough room to sneak in there to get to the nuts for the ladder - good luck !

For the anchor locker - I had a similar issue when I first bought my boat - I think it was the anchor locker drain was just loose and needs resealing and tightening up - just make sure that, and any inspection ports in the locker, are well sealed.

Al.

---

From: Brian Fisher <bfish...@gmail.com>
To: Beneteau 281 <benete...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, April 9, 2018 8:49 PM
Subject: Swim Ladder + Leaking Anchor Locker

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[Brian Fisher]

Thanks Al.

I haven't looked back there since last season. Will be going down to check on our boat next week, so will see if I can manage that. I might have to enlist someone a bit smaller than me. 

I'll try re-sealing the drain. Do you recall, when you repaired yours, does the anchor drain fitting screw in, or just push in?

Regards,

Brian

[sven finnis]

I think the drain is a screw fitting and the inspection window is pushed in. Both leak ..

[Alisdair Sewell]

Yes, I agree with Sven!

[Brian Fisher]

Thanks so much guys. I did re-seal the inspection window last season. That is ok now. This group is great, I'm so glad I joined. 

I hope re-sealing the drain works as well.

Regards,

Brian

[tim.canary]

Brian,
A few thoughts.  If you remove the waste tank - you'd be in a good spot to replace the waste hoses at the same time.  Not a tough job, but time consuming.  That task made the admiral 100% happier to be on the boat with me.  Having had mine out, i agree that it is the best option to get to the ladder mount.  I had always wondered about making an access hole in the back cabin as an option too. 

On the leak - my V Berth was constantly wet.  Ended up being the seal for the water tank.  Every time the boat would heel, the tank would leak.  you may want to take a look at that too.  I'd also think the culprit may be the stanchion bases needing re-bedding as well as possibly the bow pulpit.  Not sure about your boat but mine had a small block of wood in the anchor locker too which was at the rear of the locker.  That wood was thru bolted and may need re-bedding.  Of course the anchor drains is likely as well. 

Just wanted to mention the leaking tank cover i had.  my solution there was to put a flex tank in and abandon the original tank design. 

Good luck,
Tim

[sven finnis]

X2 on the stanchion bases. Give them all a wiggle, that’s an easy job. Ive never had water on the shelves from the anchor locker, that leak always ended up on top of the water tank lid. I have had water leaking behind the little book shelves in the v berth, the back unscrews and comes out allowing you to access the deck fill and vent line. 

Great idea on the flexible tank! I also resealed the hose connections on that water tank and added a shut off valve. If you have a leak in one of the water hoses, it stops you from having 50 gallons of water in the bilge. 

[Tom Bishop]

Tim, 

What flex tank did you use?

Tom

[GoodOldSailor]

Tom 

Will need to look up when home. 

[Timothy Canary]

Tom,

I'm not 100% positive but think it was this one:  https://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|51|2234299|2234300&id=2555559

Definitely plastimo – I can't find the receipt to verify.  I replaced the water fill hose (took some patience) via the shelf access noted from Sven.  Made a nice change to my water quality – and you can remove it for the winter, etc.

Tim

[Cory Z]

The bow holding tank seems to be leaking.

When filled up, the water ends up in the bilge.

Tank looks fine- no cracks.

Anyone ever have problems with this before?

 

-Cory

[Alisdair Sewell]

Have you checked where the fill hose attaches to the tank, and where the water line comes OUT of the tank - most likely culprits, else it could be any of the joins along the whole pipework?

Remove small access panel in the mid-locker in front of the table and you can see / feel the connections for the fill hose and water line. If it's somewhere along the whole pipework, that'll take some much harder tracking down...I replaced all mine with that pex pipe and that made a huge different overall.

Good luck !

---

From: Cory Z <cor...@shaw.ca>
To: benete...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Monday, July 9, 2018 3:15 PM
Subject: Leaking Water Tank

[sven finnis]

I'd agree with Al. Re-bed/replace the fittings on the tank where those hoses attach (I added a shutoff valve on my tank also).. Check where the hoses clamp to the fittings to make sure the hoses are not cracked.. I also replaced these hoses.

Of course you could also have a pinhole/crack in a water line either between the tank and the pump, or after the pump. If its after the pump, when you turn on your water pump, after it pressurizes the system you will hear it cycle on and off if its leaking..It should never cycle if there is no leak.

-Sven

On Mon, Jul 9, 2018 at 3:38 PM, 'Alisdair Sewell' via Beneteau 281 <benete...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

Have you checked where the fill hose attaches to the tank, and where the water line comes OUT of the tank - most likely culprits, else it could be any of the joins along the whole pipework?

Remove small access panel in the mid-locker in front of the table and you can see / feel the connections for the fill hose and water line. If it's somewhere along the whole pipework, that'll take some much harder tracking down...I replaced all mine with that pex pipe and that made a huge different overall.

Good luck !

---

From: Cory Z <cor...@shaw.ca>
To: benete...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Monday, July 9, 2018 3:15 PM
Subject: Leaking Water Tank

The bow holding tank seems to be leaking.

When filled up, the water ends up in the bilge.

Tank looks fine- no cracks.

Anyone ever have problems with this before?

 

-Cory

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[Persistence (David)]

I have to agree with both Al and Sven,  check the connections throughout.  When they built Persistence it seemed like they had to stretch the line as it only just made it to the tank and there was no room left to install 2 clamps.  We made an additional section and now all is much better both in terms of leakage AND piece of mind...

[tim.canary]

Cory,
A few other items to check based on my (nasty) leak.  My entire cover was leaking.  It is bedded in place with (maybe 4200) that took a long time to remove but was leaking so badly that the cushion was wet.  This leak also got into the bilge.  I found the leak when the tank was near full, healed over and saw water.  I ended up removing the cover and putting a flex tank in place.

Also, replaced supply, vent and fill lines.  the fill line access is tricky but just needs patience to remove.  Just 1 or 2 screws and the cover pops out from the shelf area.

Having said all that, i totally agree w/ the others here but wanted to note the tank lid issue.

Happy sailing,
Tim