Is there such a thing as a dry bilge? I'm assuming not, but wanted to check other people's experiences as I think I may have too much water coming into mine. I have a 2002 Hunter 356 and not only is there persistent water in the bilge, but the pump has come on 2 times in the past 3 days. Is that excessive? I don't see any specific leaks or sources for this much water. There is a fair amount of condensation on the hull, the shower sump leaks a bit, and I spill water every time I clean out the raw water strainer...still we're talking cups here and the bilge has gallons in it. What are other people's experiences?
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
Adjust the stuffing box.
Barnaby: Check out the stuffing box. If they are using traditional flax in them, they SHOULD leak while you are motoring (engine turning the shaft). This is part of the way that a traditional wax impregnated flax stuffing box works. The other options are to use teflon stuffing. This stuff does not need the water to cool the shaft. The best way (not the cheapest) is to use a dripless system like the PYI dripless system (about $200 + installation). You may have some other sources of leaks like the ice box (if you put a bag of ice in there it may melt and get into the bilge. Your shower, rainwater, washing down the boat etc etc. Many places to look, but start with the stuffing box.
Barnaby: Check out the stuffing box. If they are using traditional flax in them, they SHOULD leak while you are motoring (engine turning the shaft). This is part of the way that a traditional wax impregnated flax stuffing box works. The other options are to use teflon stuffing. This stuff does not need the water to cool the shaft. The best way (not the cheapest) is to use a dripless system like the PYI dripless system (about $200 + installation). You may have some other sources of leaks like the ice box (if you put a bag of ice in there it may melt and get into the bilge. Your shower, rainwater, washing down the boat etc etc. Many places to look, but start with the stuffing box.
M
Melanie McKown
356 - Wet Bilge
We have also had problems with water in the bilge, which were at first blamed on the condensation drain from the AC. With all the recent flooding on our lake, we have lost our shore power and have had the AC off for over a week--and still water in the bilge. So far the causes have been multiple: leaks at the radar arch screws, freshwater pump leak at the sink, and they forgot to hook the drain hose up to the sump pump. (Everything that went in the box just pumped into the bilge) We are also still fighting two hatches in the head which are leaking.
We have also had problems with water in the bilge, which were at first blamed on the condensation drain from the AC. With all the recent flooding on our lake, we have lost our shore power and have had the AC off for over a week--and still water in the bilge. So far the causes have been multiple: leaks at the radar arch screws, freshwater pump leak at the sink, and they forgot to hook the drain hose up to the sump pump. (Everything that went in the box just pumped into the bilge) We are also still fighting two hatches in the head which are leaking.
R
Robert L. Pugh
Dry Bilge
Water in the bilge is a sign of a leak. You must find out where that leak is coming from. It might be a normal "leak" as Steve Dion stated, i.e, the stuffing box is leaking. Or, if the shower sump hose is not securely caulked into the shower sump, you need to recaulk this hose into the appropriate connector on the shower sump box. (This happened to my 380, also.)The refrigerator on my boat drains into the shower sump, not the bilge. Make sure your hose connections are done right. My wife believes that I overdo everything, but every time I have found water in the bilge, there is an ascertainable reason which often requires some minor maintenance or adjustment. One time I found water leaking at the connection of the shower hose behing the liner. The shower hose was just put on loose. I use a small wet/dry vac to suck out the bilge whenever I find water in it. It takes about five (5) minutes.
Water in the bilge is a sign of a leak. You must find out where that leak is coming from. It might be a normal "leak" as Steve Dion stated, i.e, the stuffing box is leaking. Or, if the shower sump hose is not securely caulked into the shower sump, you need to recaulk this hose into the appropriate connector on the shower sump box. (This happened to my 380, also.)The refrigerator on my boat drains into the shower sump, not the bilge. Make sure your hose connections are done right. My wife believes that I overdo everything, but every time I have found water in the bilge, there is an ascertainable reason which often requires some minor maintenance or adjustment. One time I found water leaking at the connection of the shower hose behing the liner. The shower hose was just put on loose. I use a small wet/dry vac to suck out the bilge whenever I find water in it. It takes about five (5) minutes.
D
Dan
Water leak?
Barnaby, You might also take a good look at the fresh water system. Our 356 also was taking on water when first delivered. It actually got pretty deep at one point, as the commissioning crew had turned the bilge pump to off from auto (not sure I like that feature). Doing a little sluething, I found a fresh water drip coming from where the water line hooks into the shut-off valve right by the fresh water tank. We have since dried out the bilge and still get a little water in it over time. It may be coming from the packing gland (Hunter uses conventional packing, I believe) and/or it might be coming from condensation off the refrigeration for the refrigerator. It seems like pretty clear water. The shower and refrigerator should drain into the shower sump. I think the wet locker and the head sink area floor drain are direct to the bilge. Don't know why they did not hook those into the shower sump also, and I may. One way to check the fresh water possibility is to turn it off at the tank and see if the problem goes away. If so, it is somewhere in that system. I think the likehood that the tank itself is leaking is pretty low. The only other possibility I can think of is a leak in a hatch or around some other opening, if you wash down or have had rain. In any event, you should not be taking on so much water that your bilge pump runs several times per day. Also, remember to always leave that switch on auto. Good luck! Dan Jonas
Barnaby, You might also take a good look at the fresh water system. Our 356 also was taking on water when first delivered. It actually got pretty deep at one point, as the commissioning crew had turned the bilge pump to off from auto (not sure I like that feature). Doing a little sluething, I found a fresh water drip coming from where the water line hooks into the shut-off valve right by the fresh water tank. We have since dried out the bilge and still get a little water in it over time. It may be coming from the packing gland (Hunter uses conventional packing, I believe) and/or it might be coming from condensation off the refrigeration for the refrigerator. It seems like pretty clear water. The shower and refrigerator should drain into the shower sump. I think the wet locker and the head sink area floor drain are direct to the bilge. Don't know why they did not hook those into the shower sump also, and I may. One way to check the fresh water possibility is to turn it off at the tank and see if the problem goes away. If so, it is somewhere in that system. I think the likehood that the tank itself is leaking is pretty low. The only other possibility I can think of is a leak in a hatch or around some other opening, if you wash down or have had rain. In any event, you should not be taking on so much water that your bilge pump runs several times per day. Also, remember to always leave that switch on auto. Good luck! Dan Jonas
C
Claude Labrecque
Yes dry bilge do exist
The previous posts adress most of the possibles causes for you problem, however , for what it is worth, I just want to mention that a dry bilge does exist. We have a 1991 35.5 in the water from early May to late October every year and the only time we had water in the past 3 years, is when a visitor used the head and forgot to put the pump buttom on the dry side. The toilet (clean fresh water) overfolwed in the shower sump and then to the bilge. The rest of the time, you cold use the bilge for storing upacked paper toilet rools...it is very dry. Best of luck
The previous posts adress most of the possibles causes for you problem, however , for what it is worth, I just want to mention that a dry bilge does exist. We have a 1991 35.5 in the water from early May to late October every year and the only time we had water in the past 3 years, is when a visitor used the head and forgot to put the pump buttom on the dry side. The toilet (clean fresh water) overfolwed in the shower sump and then to the bilge. The rest of the time, you cold use the bilge for storing upacked paper toilet rools...it is very dry. Best of luck
C
Chuck Wayne
356 bilge water
we've got leaks, too-both head hatches, the aft cabin hatch, an amidships deck leak, and what appears to be seepage around the keelbolts-you just need to be a detective and run them down-with your dealer's help, since it's a new boat! I keep a wetvac aboard while I'm tracking the leaks, so I can follow the water back
we've got leaks, too-both head hatches, the aft cabin hatch, an amidships deck leak, and what appears to be seepage around the keelbolts-you just need to be a detective and run them down-with your dealer's help, since it's a new boat! I keep a wetvac aboard while I'm tracking the leaks, so I can follow the water back
R
Ralph Johnstone
We Store the Toilet Paper in our Bilge ........
...... just to give you an idea how nuts we are about keeping the bilge dry in our 1999 H310. Other than the obvious sources of leakage mentioned by others, two tough to trace down problems we had on delivery were: 1) both chain plate leaked rainwater as there was no 5200 in the joints and 2) the water heater relief valve discharged every time the engine heated a tankful of cold water. The volume of water expanded, the pressure increased and "POP" it discharged about half a cup of water with each cycle. We cured that by installing a capacity tank which allowed for expansion without much increase in pressure. One other thing is to taste the water (and hope it's not sewage related) to see if it's salt or fresh. Is the leak above or below the water line ? Hope this contains the answer to your leak. Regards, s/v Island Hunter
...... just to give you an idea how nuts we are about keeping the bilge dry in our 1999 H310. Other than the obvious sources of leakage mentioned by others, two tough to trace down problems we had on delivery were: 1) both chain plate leaked rainwater as there was no 5200 in the joints and 2) the water heater relief valve discharged every time the engine heated a tankful of cold water. The volume of water expanded, the pressure increased and "POP" it discharged about half a cup of water with each cycle. We cured that by installing a capacity tank which allowed for expansion without much increase in pressure. One other thing is to taste the water (and hope it's not sewage related) to see if it's salt or fresh. Is the leak above or below the water line ? Hope this contains the answer to your leak. Regards, s/v Island Hunter
S
Sam Bocchicchio
386 Dry Bilge
Barnaby: I just purchased a Hunter 386 and discovered that my bilge was always wet. I found that the AC condensation line drains right into the bilge causing the water to build up. I researched the AC manual which states that this condensation line is not to flow into the bilge. The shower/refrigerator drain sump has a closed off nipple to accept the AC drain hose. Put an elbow on the Ac hose and run it back through the chase provided by Hunter to this nipple. You will have to buy an adaptor to clamp this small hose to the larger nipple at the shower sump. This will allievate your wet bilge.
Barnaby: I just purchased a Hunter 386 and discovered that my bilge was always wet. I found that the AC condensation line drains right into the bilge causing the water to build up. I researched the AC manual which states that this condensation line is not to flow into the bilge. The shower/refrigerator drain sump has a closed off nipple to accept the AC drain hose. Put an elbow on the Ac hose and run it back through the chase provided by Hunter to this nipple. You will have to buy an adaptor to clamp this small hose to the larger nipple at the shower sump. This will allievate your wet bilge.
M
Marty
2001 380
The bilge in my 2001 380 is always wet, but that's because the bilge pump doesn't pump it dry. I thought that was normal. I've never soaked up the excess water to see how long it stays dry. Normally I just pour a couple gallons of tap water in the bilge before I leave the boat for the week in order to prevent stagnant seawater odor. Are the 380's supposed to have dry bilges? The dealer didn't act as if the wet bilge was abnormal when we took delivery and did our inspection. Marty
The bilge in my 2001 380 is always wet, but that's because the bilge pump doesn't pump it dry. I thought that was normal. I've never soaked up the excess water to see how long it stays dry. Normally I just pour a couple gallons of tap water in the bilge before I leave the boat for the week in order to prevent stagnant seawater odor. Are the 380's supposed to have dry bilges? The dealer didn't act as if the wet bilge was abnormal when we took delivery and did our inspection. Marty
C
Chic
356
Looked at a 356 on sat and traced the drain for the frig and it deposits in the shower sump. With this said there should be no water in teh bildge other than a/c condensation. Water in the bildge is a SURE sign of a leak somewher.
Looked at a 356 on sat and traced the drain for the frig and it deposits in the shower sump. With this said there should be no water in teh bildge other than a/c condensation. Water in the bildge is a SURE sign of a leak somewher.
M
Miguel Gonzalez-del-Rey
leak in the bilge
I have a 356 also and two weeks ago I spent sunday tracing all the water coming into the bilge and found a small line of salt water coming from one of the keel bolts aprox 1 gal/hr. The dealer is going to take a look next Tuesday.
I have a 356 also and two weeks ago I spent sunday tracing all the water coming into the bilge and found a small line of salt water coming from one of the keel bolts aprox 1 gal/hr. The dealer is going to take a look next Tuesday.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.