Puzzling water ingress problem

V

Vega1447

.
Oct 19, 2019
921
Albin Vega 27 Limerick
I've posted about this previously but the problem hasn't gone away. (Do they ever?)

I was motoring back into my marina berth on Saturday after a good sail hard on the wind.

The wind was dead astern and strong so I gave a heavy burst of reverse engineer power to take way off.

A few seconds later as I came alongside my berth the 12V auto bilge pump kicked in and pumped maybe a litre or two of water into cockpit - then drained out cockpit. drain

Obviously the heavy deceleration pushed water forward onto auto bilge pump (which is at forward end of bolge).

The wierd part is that a small amount of water (less than a litre at a guess) came up through the forward bilge cover and wetted the carpet on the sole/floor of the saloon in a patch a foot or so across.

And some water got into the starboard floor level locker far enough to soak some scraps of paper that I had placed at the out board edge of the locker!

Any suggestions as to what is happening?

Thanks
John V1447 Breakaway
 
T

tomfentonvega2977beowulf

.
Aug 29, 2011
103
Manning's summary is a good one. One thing I would add: check the water tank cap. I am not sure if my water tank is original (on my series 2, I think). The lid or top cover is about 5 or 6 inches in diameter (from memory, we are away from the boat for a couple of weeks), and we got a lot of water leaking out of it when we were beating for a day or so across Biscay. In the end we added sealant to it, and that seems to have cured the problem. We also get water in through the fore hatch, and from the bowl of the head if it has not been pumped out sufficiently. I seem to remember Matt Rutherford saying something about a leak at the hull/deck joint. Tom Fenton, Beowulf V2977
 
V

Vega1447

.
Oct 19, 2019
921
Albin Vega 27 Limerick
Thanks Harvey and all who replied.I think I was rattled by the coincidence of the bilge pump activation after heavy reverse before berthing and the wetting of the saloon floor/sole shortly after. I spent the afternoon today poking round as Harvey suggested.The cause of the problem as suggested on this thread was a leak in the drain pipe attached to the cool box aft of the sink.I had placed a 2 litre (half gallon) bag of ice in the cool box and it had melted as the weather was hot.Most of it had drained into the bilge via the drain pipe but some had collected under the sink and found it's way aft to the starboard saloon locker via the connecting tube whose existence I had not previously suspected - mentioned on this thread!I glassed up the drain hole in the bottom of the cool box. I don't want spilt milk and such going into the bilge.Many thanks to all who replied.. This forum is great.John V1447 BreakawayFrom: manningharvey@... [AlbinVega] Sent: Tue, Jun 24, 2014 16:46To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.comSubject: [AlbinVega] Re: Puzzling water ingress problem







John, Good morning from Charleston, SC. I own hull number 3361 "VIKING" she is a third generation Vega but I have a few ideas how water could be getting into your boat. Sea Chest Valves are always a concern for me and you have three in the cabin on the starboard side. Also if your hoses are old that could be a problem. There is a drain valve under the galley sink. If you watch Chuck and Laura's LeaLea videos on youtube. On there first voyage across the pacific. They experienced a great deal of water entering LeaLea threw the sink drain thru hull sea chest. Then just forward of the galley under the bench/pilot berth stbd aft. There is another thru hull sea chest for the foot pump providing sea water to the galley sink. I keep that valve shut at all times. when not in use. On my Vega I do not trust the foot pump it leaks when in use. So I keep that valve shut and plan to replace the valve and the pump. Another valve is Stbd forward in the small shoe locker under the stbd V berth. This valve is for the head water and is easy to neglect. You may want to inspect the valve. And unless you use your head. I would recommend keeping that thru hull sea chest valve shut also. Another area to check is your fresh water tank. It could be cracked or the hose is old and leaking. If you use your fresh water tank it could certainly leak enough water to start your bilge pump as described. And then there are all the water fill, Sewage pump out cap, Anchor chain cap. All of these things are suspect when taking water over the rail on a great sailing day. All I have left to say is Get out the flash light and try to duplicate the problem best you can. You can learn allot about your Vega from watching www.cruiseinglealea.com .
 
V

Vega1447

.
Oct 19, 2019
921
Albin Vega 27 Limerick
Thanks Harvey and all who replied.
I think I was rattled by the coincidence of the bilge pump activation after heavy reverse before berthing and the wetting of the saloon floor/sole shortly after. I spent the afternoon today poking round as Harvey suggested.
The cause of the problem as suggested on this thread was a leak in the drain pipe attached to the cool box aft of the sink.
I had placed a 2 litre (half gallon) bag of ice in the cool box and it had melted as the weather was hot.
Most of it had drained into the bilge via the drain pipe but some had collected under the sink and found it's way aft to the starboard saloon locker via the connecting tube whose existence I had not previously suspected - mentioned on this thread!

I glassed up the drain hole in the bottom of the cool box. I don't want spilt milk and such going into the bilge.

Many thanks to all who replied.. This forum is great.

John V1447 Breakaway
________________________________________
From: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com [AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: 24 June 2014 16:46
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AlbinVega] Re: Puzzling water ingress problem

John, Good morning from Charleston, SC. I own hull number 3361 "VIKING" she is a third generation Vega but I have a few ideas how water could be getting into your boat. Sea Chest Valves are always a concern for me and you have three in the cabin on the starboard side. Also if your hoses are old that could be a problem. There is a drain valve under the galley sink. If you watch Chuck and Laura's LeaLea videos on youtube. On there first voyage across the pacific. They experienced a great deal of water entering LeaLea threw the sink drain thru hull sea chest. Then just forward of the galley under the bench/pilot berth stbd aft. There is another thru hull sea chest for the foot pump providing sea water to the galley sink. I keep that valve shut at all times. when not in use. On my Vega I do not trust the foot pump it leaks when in use. So I keep that valve shut and plan to replace the valve and the pump. Another valve is Stbd forward in the small shoe locker under the stbd V berth. This valve is for the head water and is easy to neglect. You may want to inspect the valve. And unless you use your head. I would recommend keeping that thru hull sea chest valve shut also. Another area to check is your fresh water tank. It could be cracked or the hose is old and leaking. If you use your fresh water tank it could certainly leak enough water to start your bilge pump as described. And then there are all the water fill, Sewage pump out cap, Anchor chain cap. All of these things are suspect when taking water over the rail on a great sailing day. All I have left to say is Get out the flash light and try to duplicate the problem best you can. You can learn allot about your Vega from watching www.cruiseinglealea.comhttp://www.cruiseinglealea.com .
 
S

s.kingranch

.
Oct 31, 2019
25
Hi all,
It was mentioned that water leaked from the cap on the fresh water tank under the v berth. I am having that problem with it not sealing properly. I tried to replace the very large o ring with no avail here in Barbados so when I fill the tank it leaks excess water. I bought two large diameter o ring and cut them in half to fit and tried to seal them but they still leak. Does anyone know where I can order the correct size o ring and if that will solve the problem. I believe Liza AV 634 is a first generation Vega. The tank is not cracked and is in perfect shape except for the o ring. Now that your problem is fixed John, hope someone can help me, again.Sheila KingSent from the iPad of Sheila King
 
D

dougpol1

.
Feb 13, 2010
528
HI John, During a very heavy rainy perid of time I found my cockp[it
floor was leaking becuse the fiberglass around the screws had
stripped out fro tightening and loosening over time doing
maintenance. IT was leaking water into the pan under the engine. I
didn;t notice untell I topped the boat with revese at a draw bridge.
Son me of that wateter sloshed over the dam in fonet of it and ran
out onto the cabine sole. There was weter in the keel that ran
forward and started the bilge pump pumping. A month or so later I
replaced the bilge pump and it pumped down to maybe two inches of
water. The pump was coming on and off. I found that every time the
pump shut off the water dumping back into the builge cause a wave
the went aft and then slushed forward causing the pump to start
again. On and off on and off. I took the pump back to the store and
they gave me a differnt type pump that solved the problem. I just
thought I'd throw this bit in in case it may be of help to someone
else.
--
Doug Pollard
Albin Vega Sea Legs 2225
KK4YGO



On 06/24/2014 04:05 PM, 'John A.
Kinsella' John.Kinsella@... [AlbinVega] wrote:
 
D

dougpol1

.
Feb 13, 2010
528
IF you have the old "O" Ring you can measure the diameter so you
know that is 1/8 inch or more likely what metric diameter it is then
you nee to know the major diameter lie 4 inches or mybe 41/2 inches
and the people at the below link will make you a new one. I would
buy several because all pieces after the first one will be a lot
cheaper. I have glued them together many times and they seemed to
work on other applications. It might help to put some lard on the o
ring to help it seal. Most "O" rings are oil and fuel reistant so
lard should not hurt it
Custom O-Rings: Standard & Metric Sizes - Rochester, New York

--
Doug Pollard
Albin Vega Sea Legs 2225
KK4YGO


On 06/24/2014 07:30 PM, Sheila King s.kingranch@...
[AlbinVega] wrote:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top Bottom