bilge trickle!!!??

[pbrowkblak]

I've notices a trickle in my bilge. Just aft of the lowest level of
the bilge centered an inch or two on the rising surface there is a
trickle of water in an area that appears to have once been
repaired/gunked over? Does anyone have any idea of what is in that
area that might leak? It is a most improbable spot. I have niether
hit nor grounded on anything since owning Procrastinator. Could this
be the location of a bolt holding keel ballast?
Paul

 

[dobermanct_dave]

Not certain where you are describing. But it sounds like the area I'm
repairing on my Vega.

V2917 is being rebuilt, and I noticed rainwater weeping just a little
bit on the stbd after side of the keel. In my case it turns out that
the after part of the keel is filled with foam. Under the engine pan
the foam was melted/formed to carry water coming from the stern tube
down to the bilge, but they got sloppy and left a channel leading down
to a gap between the foam and the laminate. So, water ran down into a
cavity instead of the bilge. Over time it seems to have penetrated the
laminate in several weepy areas. So if rainwater can weep out, seawater
could weep in.

A similar thing might be happening with your boat.

Dave V2917

 

[wxt8981]

Hi;

that's most likely the bilge drain hole. There should be a
bolt, but from what you say it may have been closed with
some fiberglass putty.
I strongly recommend you open that hole again at the next
haul-out and put a bolt back. It's important you have a
drain hole if you live in cold climate. Water during Winter
could freeze and brake the keel!

Wilhelm, V-257

 

[wxt8981]

I forgot to say: for the time being, clean the area around
where it trickles and put some fiberglass putty around to
stop the trickle (for now)
Wilhelm, V-257

 

[pbrowkblak]

Now I'm embarassed! I meant to locate my trickle an
inch up the sloping surface FORWARD from the flat
surface that is the lowest point of the bilge. It is
centered and appears to be in a place that once was
glassed over, hard to tell because of the angle, but
the question remains, what is there to leak? I can't
see anything in the manuals to cause this.
1. It is not the plug, checked. Taped and caulked at
put in.
2. No visible damage on the hull when sanded and
painted at put-in in May.
3. Since it is forward, I'm sorry to waste the time
of those thinking it might be associated with an
engine issue (Yanmar 8hp.), not original equipment, or
area.
Thanks to all of you who have replied so far.
Purchased some 5200 today to stop the leak, but am
still perplexed and would like to know the cause...
while it may require further investigation during the
annual haul out, I appreciate the groups consideration
now. For Procrastinator, Paul

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