Do i have a leak in my water Ballast?

[skip@morselakesailing.com]

I have water that is coming from a crack that is near the floor, under the sink in the galley. I can put my head in the door under the galley sink and directly below the left side of the door on the side of the wall nearest the floor there is a crack in the fiberglass. From that hole there is a leak that is slow. I want to dremmel the crack open a bit and see what is on the other side but i don't want to put a hole in the tank. I was looking at some pictures a guy posted and saw the ballast tank being installed at the factory. I noticed that the tank had a lower section that was separated from the bilge area by a trough. Since i just put the boat in the water i am wondering if, when i missed the hole with a hose, filling the tank if i inadvertantly spilled water into this area and filled it with water. If this is the case it maybe that that water is trying to find a way out of that area and found the crack in the fiberglass (liner?).

Also, Please let me know if the galley and floor is a liner that is installed on top of the ballast tank

Here is a link to the picture of the water ballast being installed at the factory.

http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=viewimage&img_id=6863&Itemid=222

 

[Bob 04 H260]

From your description it sounds like you were filling the ballast tank with a water hose.I have never seen anyone do that. Doing it this way you could have put water in that cavity around the tank.

To investigate it further I would pressurize the ballast tank a bit using say the exhaust from a shop vac or leaf blower and look at the crack to see if water or air is escaping. As far as I know the ballast tank is a separate piece from the rest of the vessel. Alternatively you could add some red food dye to the tank and see if any comes out through the crack.

I am sure Crazy Dave will be able to answer all your questions once he sees this thread, he is the expert on these boats.

good luck, Bob

ps if you do have a leak in the tank at this crack, dry the tank, reverse the shop vac and use it to suck epoxy into the crack from under the galley cabinet to seal the leak

 

[skip@morselakesailing.com]

thanks so much for the response. I will wait to see what Dave comes up with before i do any carving. The blowing sounds like a plan that i can do and i have experience with that before. I just need to know that i would not do damage to the tank. I can also use my vacuum bag with gauges but that may do damage as well.

 

[Kermit]

Why are you filling the tank with a hose?

 

[skip@morselakesailing.com]

The owner before me said he filled it with fresh water to keep any thing from growing in the tank

 

[Kermit]

The owner before me said he filled it with fresh water to keep any thing from growing in the tank

Interesting. I'm an inland lake kinda guy and keep mine on its trailer. I'm pretty sure I'd have lots of interesting science experiments growing if I left the ballast tank full of lake water. How long does it take to put 450 gallons in with a hose?

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Skip, I was up in the mountains with no cell phone coverage nor computer which is a good thing hiking and visiting with my new grandson. I need you to contact me via
davecondon@mindspring.com with a phone number as there are some questions I need to ask first. Your phone number will not be given out as I cherish privacy most heartedly.

You can fill your boat with the water around you. I am not sure where you sail has zebra musssles but if you will add a couple of clorine tablets or some chorlox to you tank via the air vent, that will pretty much kill anyting that grows in your tank. I will call you as I can call on my phone plan which is unlimited.

crazy dave condon