Bilge water

Oct 30, 2011
542
klidescope 30t norfolk
Can't spell

Leak. Usually comes from upper hull rain water. Dry bilge with rag sponge. Then check all thru hulls stuffing box if no leak check windows hatch for any water staining or sit in boat on rainy day
 
Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
My bilge water accumulation was from the fresh water hoses to the sinks leaking plus heavy condensation on bulkheads.
You might feel of the hoses for water running down them. Check your keel bolts too while your playing in the bilge. Mine were loose!

Chief
 

Tom J

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Sep 30, 2008
2,325
Catalina 310 Quincy, MA
Do you have an inboard engine? If you do, the stuffing box is usually the primary source of water in the bilge, but that is normal. The stuffing box should drip a little when the engine is running.
 
May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
I vote for Ralph as the winner!

It can be one of a number of things. You may get to a point where it is just there, nothing more you can say about it.

The best tip is to keep the area as clean as possible so the water doesn't get nasty. A dry bilge is nice, but there are millions of ways to get water in there so there isn't a whole lot you can do about it unless you take extreme measures. It is a boat, it is in water, water will get in it. I say make sure the bilge pump works and keep on sailing!
 
Jan 19, 2010
12,938
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Check your chain plates and ports for leaks. Have someone hose down your boat while you are inside and you can look for leaks.... if that is not the problem then I'd guess that because you are down in humid Texas.... condensation is a big part of your problem. I get condensation in my boat and I'm in Virginia -- it is not nearly as humid here as it is in the Houston area. Open up a lazarette hatch below the water line and see if the sides of the hull are moist. If that is the case, you might be able to help things out by adding some vents into the stowage compartments... (see pic)... and/or a solar vent topside to push air into the boat and keep things moving. The other solution would be to insulate the walls of your boat (pain in the arse)

 

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