Leak into bilge

[Deadline]

For weeks I've been trying to trace a leak into the bilge of my H320.

Trial and error have deduced the following.
It's fresh water, not from the keel.
It's not rainwater, goes directly to bilge.
Seems to come from the fresh water tank.
But the fittings at the tank are dry.
It's not the water heater, completely disassembled.
It's not the water pump, no drips.
It's not the AC pump, no drips.
It's not from any raw water inlets.

I think it's in the blue PVC pipe from the tank to the pump, a distance of no more than 10 feet. But it's maddenly burried within the bowels of the hull and inaccessible. I'm thinking of running a parrallel line but can't figure how to fish it through. Any help would be greatly appreciated... before I take up golf. Thanks

 

[TomN]

I feel your pain. I've had similar problems with my red and blue water lines throughout my boat. It's probably leaking at a fitting and if you can reach it you would simply need to shove the line back to where the blue line is snug to the o ring. They are called quick connects and I'm surprised that more people don't have leaks as they are quite easy to take apart and put together. I've been lucky enough to have one leak by my water heater and another back by the swim platform shower head. Both of which I able to reach. If you could find a way to get to it I'm sure it would not be a big deal to fix. Good luck and I hope you're able to come up with a solution.

 

[Deadline]

Frustrating

Thanks. The fittings are good, albeit brittle. It's quite true you have to shove the PVC pipe in hard to get snug, but that doesn't seem to be the problem. What's inexplicable is that the pipe would suffer a tear or break since it isn't even exposed to anything. Any plumbers out there who can advise?

 

[seadaddler]

Try

Try snaking an all new plastic line along side of it or disconnect the ssuspected leaking line and tape together new to old maybe with a dowel in between connecting the 2 lines togetther aaaannd than pulling old line as the new line is pulled in it's place or run a new line some other route.
Anout a year ago I ran plastic pipe from the middle of my boat where my salt water wash pump to the anchor locker and also to the rear stern so I can wash off the anchor and rear stern and it was not easy but I did it all with those push connect like hunter uses.
nick

 

[Deadline]

Thanks, Seadadler

If I put a wooden plug in each end and staple it to the new pipe, it should snake through easily without jamming. If nothing else, I'll be able to rule out that line.

 

[Benny17441]

Refrigerator or cooler? Does not matter both would have a drain hose leading to the bilge. Have no idea about the magnitude of your leak but this woulod be one possibility especially if you have recently placed ice on the cooler or defrosted and cleaned the refrigerator.

 

[Tally Ho]

...it should snake through easily without jamming..

Good luck with that! I decided to change out the bilge pump on my H280 a few weeks ago....had the new pump and float, tools, supplies, etc. spent 6 hours trying to track down where the DC wires were spliced....pulled out the sole(did not help as the wires were routed through a stringer). Cable ties every few inches meant it was not easy to remove the old wiring where you could not access them.

Finally got it done, but it took a whole lot longer than I thought it would. Made me think "I never want to try to pull new water pipes, sewer lines, vent lines or anything else!

Like I said, Good luck. Nothing nags me more than an unknown leak like that.

Greg