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Ever since I've had my '03 SAN I've noticed that the bilge pump runs a lot when I've got the ballast filled. I've done a cursory look for leaks in hoses, pumps, etc. and found nothing. I figured, since it only happens with the tanks filled, no big deal, I rarely do that and then, I never leave it like that at the dock.
Well, I was addressing an annoying issue yesterday that I thought was unrelated: when I open the rear engine hatch, one of the struts likes to pop off its socket mount on the bottom. Then the other strut isn't quite enough to hold the hatch up on its own, and it falls on my head. The vertical aluminum U-shaped support is rotating as it's pushed by the strut, and it rotates, thus pushing the strut out of its socket. Why is it rotating? It looks like it's only held in by a single fastener top and bottom.
But then I noticed on the starboard side, it's got an aluminum bracket partway up, that looks like it's in trouble. At least it's there, and the problem is on the port side, so maybe... huh. The port side doesn't have a bracket there, and in fact, there's a HOLE in the ballast tank where the bracket used to be attached.
1. I guess this explains the leak - there's a 1/4" diameter hole near the top of the tank.
2. WHY would someone use a ballast tank for a structural support bracket? This cannot be factory... right? Has anyone seen this before? If you still have hard tanks, do you have these brackets?
I am uninterested in replacing the missing bracket; rather, I noticed that at the top of the aluminum support, there was a bracket with an unused hole. So I drilled through and bolted that bracket in a second spot, which should keep it from rotating. If I can reach it, I may do something similar at the bottom - if possible. And I'm going to fill that hole in the ballast tank! On the side WITH the bracket, I guess I'll tighten it up if possible. If not, it's going out too.
Maybe, just maybe this will solve two problems simultaneously!
I also put in quick drains in place of the plugs on the v-drive. One needed to be thread tapped and the plug replaced anyway, so...
Well, I was addressing an annoying issue yesterday that I thought was unrelated: when I open the rear engine hatch, one of the struts likes to pop off its socket mount on the bottom. Then the other strut isn't quite enough to hold the hatch up on its own, and it falls on my head. The vertical aluminum U-shaped support is rotating as it's pushed by the strut, and it rotates, thus pushing the strut out of its socket. Why is it rotating? It looks like it's only held in by a single fastener top and bottom.
But then I noticed on the starboard side, it's got an aluminum bracket partway up, that looks like it's in trouble. At least it's there, and the problem is on the port side, so maybe... huh. The port side doesn't have a bracket there, and in fact, there's a HOLE in the ballast tank where the bracket used to be attached.
1. I guess this explains the leak - there's a 1/4" diameter hole near the top of the tank.
2. WHY would someone use a ballast tank for a structural support bracket? This cannot be factory... right? Has anyone seen this before? If you still have hard tanks, do you have these brackets?
I am uninterested in replacing the missing bracket; rather, I noticed that at the top of the aluminum support, there was a bracket with an unused hole. So I drilled through and bolted that bracket in a second spot, which should keep it from rotating. If I can reach it, I may do something similar at the bottom - if possible. And I'm going to fill that hole in the ballast tank! On the side WITH the bracket, I guess I'll tighten it up if possible. If not, it's going out too.
Maybe, just maybe this will solve two problems simultaneously!
I also put in quick drains in place of the plugs on the v-drive. One needed to be thread tapped and the plug replaced anyway, so...
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