Water in the bilge

[Rene3634]

We recently purchased a 1961 Rhodes Swiftsure 33'. It is currently setting on a trailer in dry store. When we check the bilge, it was full of water - which we pumped out. Thinking that since the boat had just been sitting for 4 years, it was anything to worry about. We went back to check on our boat this weekend and ended up pumping another 20 gallons or so out of the bilge. We have NO idea where the water is coming from. We've checked the hoses, and they all seem to be fine and running where they should be.

Any ideas?

 

[Richard19068]

Has it rained?

 

[thinwater]

Has it rained?

Expanding on that, it is very likely that drains and scuppers around lockers are clogged with leaves or wasp nest.

Get out a garden hose....

 

[CalebD]

Could be that the boat's water tanks decided to start leaking now.

 

[Robert 47]

If the boat is in "store", I am assuming it is inside. If inside, and you pumped out 20 gallons of water, your water tanks are leaking big time. If it is outside storage, then you must have had a "monsoon" rain. 20 gallons of water is an awful lot of water. Check your fresh water tank. I don't believe it is good policy to store your boat with any water in the fresh water tank. :naughty:

 

[Johnb]

Put red food coloring in the starboard tank and green in the port tank (be a devil) and see what you find in the bilge. If the boat is outside and a cockpit drain or scupper is leaking rain water in the collection surface is the large and could result in a lot of water coming in.

 

[Sinterklaas1959]

I own a 1959 Swiftsure. If the boat has been stored somewhere out of the rain the only place it could have come from is the fresh water tanks. The water tanks on the Swiftsure are molded into the keel. On my boat there is a small spigot down below the engine and just forward of it on what could be called the forward bulkhead of the bildge. It's used to drain the water tank into the bildge. It about a arms length down and hard to reach (and see if everything is dirty). Try checking that. I'd be interested in what you determine. Good Luck.