on my 27 ft. hunter i have a slow but steady leak from forward ground wire hole in bilge. it has been leaking now for 4 days since i went into water for season. it is near fresh water tank , but tank was emptied last year and i poured antifreeze into tank to see if antifreeze was visable in leak but it was not. could this be snow melt water but water does have salty taste. all visable compartments are dry and not coming from shaft etc. thanks
slow but steady leak into bilge
- Thread starter peter frontera
- Start date
I might have someone run the hose over the boat and see if you can see more water leaking in from somewhere.
How about your stuffing box by the propshaft? Saltwater through-hull to the head?
One trick is to close everything up, seal your companionway slats with tape, and run a leafblower vented down below. Spray the boat with water and see where any bubbles are exiting.
How about your stuffing box by the propshaft? Saltwater through-hull to the head?
One trick is to close everything up, seal your companionway slats with tape, and run a leafblower vented down below. Spray the boat with water and see where any bubbles are exiting.
You have multiple chambers under the sole formed by the stringers and they create pools of water that ideally would drain into the bilge collection area. Some of the water gets trapped (gallons) and might only get released slowly when the boat is under motion. As far as the salt taste there are likely salt deposits there from previous years so the taste test would be inconclusive to whether the leak is fresh or salt water. It is likely that the motion when placing the boat in the water dislodged some of this pooled water and it is making its way into the bilge. Make sure your bow pulpit and all other attachments on deck are tight and sealed. Check to see if you have water pooled under the V-Berth as it may narrow the search area for you. You may also check to see if there is any leakage through the keel bolts just to rule out a perhaps dangerous condition and check all the thru-hulls for leakage.
I too have a Hunter 27 (1990) with a slow leak in bilge. This started after being out of the water for a bottom job. Traced it down to the traducer. I was told that with time it should swell and stop leaking. Not sure about that or if you have the same problem. I wish I could have fixed it on the yard.
thanks ben for the reply
there was some water under v berth,cleaned that and still leak. dont think its keel bolts only because bolts are visible in bilge and water coming from hole in front of bolts. and leak does not vary from being underway or at dock. i am hoping for snow and rain water over winter which should stop soon. bilge pump goes off every 2 minutes and discharges 12 0z. approximitly, cant see that going on much longer if thats the case.
there was some water under v berth,cleaned that and still leak. dont think its keel bolts only because bolts are visible in bilge and water coming from hole in front of bolts. and leak does not vary from being underway or at dock. i am hoping for snow and rain water over winter which should stop soon. bilge pump goes off every 2 minutes and discharges 12 0z. approximitly, cant see that going on much longer if thats the case.