Fresh water leak

[Levin]

Ok, checking the lines...

Hello everyone... Ok first off let me say I wasn't expecting to see any more five paragraph orders now that I'm back stateside... but Bill I have to give you credit for that it still has me laughing... It seems like if I can't isolate the exact source I will try to trace down the area that the leak is comming from (because I'm convinced it's below the floorboards as everywhere else I have checkd is dry as a bone). Looking to the bilge for the source of the leak is also useless as the water comes in at a small hole in the aft bottom portion of the bilge, and I can't see where this hole leads (my assumption is the this is where all the other compartments in the boat lead to before dumping into the bilge). I'm going to try to shut down the water pressure and then the hot water heater and see if I can't track it down from there. Thanks everyone for all the help I'll update this after I've given these things a try.Thanks again...-Levin

 

[BobW]

You have your orders, soldier.....

I'm still laughing, Bill... good one!Levin, thanks for your service to our country. *5I can't help you on the leak, but a couple of items have come up:1. Connecting city water to an unattended boat probably sinks more boats sitting in their slips than any other cause.2. That little hole is the opening to the space between the hull and the inner liner. It is indeed inaccessible on most boats, and your problem probably does lie down there. Have fun!3. Is it possible that your bilge pump isn't working quite right? Or that the distance between the 'on' and 'off' settings on your float switch are set too close? If that's the case, most of the water won't get all the way out of the bilge drain hose and just seep right back into the bilge, giving the impression that a lot of water has drained, when it in fact hasn't.Anyway, that's my 2c...... have a good time!Cheers,Bobs/v X SAIL R 8

 

[Mike]

the tank

Levin:Welcome home soldier. As a vet of the Viet Nam era no one appreciates your service more than I.Here is my idea on your leak. If the leak is downstream of the pump then the pump will come on from time to time as the pressure drop dictates the motor to be turned on. Therefore I suspect that the leak is between the tank and the pump with the tank or tanks being the likely source. Stuff towels around the tank area and see if they come up wet after an hour or two.Good luck in your search and, again, Bless you for your service to us all.MikeS/V Pitterpat

 

[Levin]

I think I found it... now what?

Hello everyone... Ok so I think I found the leak. It seems to be coming from the pressure release valve of the hot water heater, and contrary to what I would have believed the water coming from this line is not hot but is cold (explaining why the water in the bilge was cold). Don't know why my hot water heater is doing this but obviously the pressure is too high in the unit. I have an Atlantic Marine F6E water heater, anyone know how to turn down the pressure, or change the thermostat? There are no dials on the outside I can see. Also might this explain my problem with getting hot water in the cold water line? Or might there be yet another explanation.Again any help would be greatly appreciated.Thanks,-Levin

 

[Ross]

The water pressure should be controlled

by the setting of the sensing switch on the pump. The only control on the water heater should be the thermostat, that will be located behind the plate that covers the electrical connections. You can get a water pressure gauge from and plumbing supply shop.

 

[Chuck]

Cycle the valve

several times then repressure the system. If it still leaks, replace the valve.

 

[Clyde]

Atlantic Marine F Series water heater

The F6E has a fixed limit thermostat with a pressure/temperature safety valve, set at 200° F and 75 PSI. Like Ross suggested you can check your water line pressure to see if it's tripping your safety relief valve. If the pressure is below 75 PSI; then you might have a bad pressure/temperature safety valve that is opening at too low of a pressure. Look for a part number on the pressure/temperature safety valve it should be replaceable.Fair Winds,ClydeAtlantic Marine water heatershttp://www.greenwichtrade.com/atlantic.htm

 

[Stu Jackson]

Still scratching my head #2 from Stu

Interesting...I "borrowed" your earlier reply heading, because it remains unclear whether or not you are hooked up to city water pressure or are just using the 12V fresh water pump from your tanks. Did I miss something?Stu

 

[Levin]

Now I'm really confused

Hello all... As the title says now I'm really confused. So I spend some time, figure out where it's leaking from, and then run the line from the pressure relase valve so it comes out in the bilge instead of going down to the bowls of the boat (before it was running down somewhere between the inner liner and outer hull and I couldn't see the end of the line... hence I didn't know it was leaking). Anyway I turn back on the water heater and now the damn line isn't leaking anymore. The bilge pump isn't running anymore either and no more water is getting into the blige....so the leak is fixed... I think... not that I know how it got fixed, but it's fixed....I'm going to just go and drink a beer and forget about this for now... but thanks everyone for the help

 

[Ross]

Is there any water left in the

supply tank?

 

[Pete]

water leak

It is entire possible that just opening and closing the overflow/pressure value may have been all you needed to do. A mineral deposit may have formed in the system that was preventing the valve from sealing correctly and just opening and closing it you may have cleared it . You might want to replace it(the valve)any way if it happens again and I suggest you give the fresh water system a complete "flushing" out. Since the boat was unused for a long length of time you want to "sanitize" it any way(check archives and instructions from the headmistress Peggy). Sometime things are easier then you think to fix, sounds like you go lucky ! Go drink a beer !

 

[Bill Roosa]

Solved it ya did!!!

I've done the exact same thing on three boats Levin. Saw the safety over pressure valve leaking and took it out to inspect. When I put her back in after finding no apparent problem except a little rust coating, she stopped leaking.I think this falls under "care and feeding of your boat". A little attention now and again is REQUIRED for some parts even if they are not busted.

 

[Andy]

Leakin' Levin I had your leak and know what it is

Levin, we own a 340 also. The leak is coming from your fresh water gauge. Last week we "paritally? filled our tanks. After a sail in strong winds lots of heeling ([and healing from winter]) there was water underneath the forward floorboad (V-berth area). Hmmm where did that come from? Spilled water during a tack? Clean it up, enjoyed the remainder of the weakend.Went back this weekend and refilled the tank. Fill water is running, running, running... (its dark and I don't hear or see any overflow. Down below, that V-berth area is wet again (haven't left the dock this time) and the bilge pump is kicking on intermediately.A bit concerned (at 11pm) I start pulling cushions, floorboard, hathches. I'm concern that I might have a freeze break between the tank and the FW pump. Then I realize the FWtank is to the absolute brim. It seems that the hose filling the tank was pressuring water out the gauge on top and water was running over the tank and into the floor in the V, then to the bilge. The d*&^ gauge doesn't worked, never has worked (bought boat used) and I had pulled it last fall to investigate. I guess I didn't reseal it well. So now my next project is to eiter reseal the faulty guage, replace the gauge, or maybe just put in an inspection plate (that seals well) so I can use a dip stick (an also vacum the tank next winter!)What would you do?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Great, but PLEASE don't forget about it

because, for starters, you oughta make a log note of this, so you'll remember it two years from now when it happens again, and you don't have to write to ask us! Really, it's good to take a few minutes off, but don't forget what you did, and more importantly, why....and maybe consider budgeting for a replacement now, just when you think you don't need one...Pete was right: A mineral deposit may have formed in the system that was preventing the valve from sealing correctly and just opening and closing it you may have cleared it.But make sure that is really the issue.BTW, what about the water connection qustion?

 

[Levin]

Thanks again

Thanks again everyone for the input... I don't know why it stopped leaking but it did. I'll keep this in mind in case the problem ever comes back but for now I'm just glad I'm not hearing my bilge pump kick on every fifteen minutes or so. Anyway thanks for all the good advice on everything... and now on to my new problem with my autopilot (see my other post if you are curious)....oh and Stu... no I was never directly connected to the city water system. I have a 75 gallon fresh water tank and I refill it myself whenever it gets low... so an autorefill system was never a possibility for my leak....anyway thanks again everyone.