Suspected fresh water leaks

[Ken Perry]

Recently I have noticed that the bilge pump is cycling on and off several times an hour. The cycling continues even if the water pressure pump is turned off. I have replaced the float switch, checked all the thru hulls, all plumbing that I can see, the A/C intake hose and connections, the knotmeter transducer, rudder post, packing gland... I have come to the conclusion that it may be a fresh water leak. My idea is to close all through hulls, put a different color food coloring (not yellow)into each tank as I add water and then see if I get a colored water in the bilge. Is there a better way to track down a fresh water leak and are there any good reasons, other than the possibility of having blue ice for a while, that I shouldn't do this. My boat is a 2001 model with three fresh water tanks. Any help is appreciated. Ken PerryS/V Valjean

 

[CPC]

Drain - not color

Since you will have to drain the tanks latter to get the coloring out why not just drain all the tanks first - pump the bilge dry then see if the problem persists - if so it isn't the tanks. might save a step. just a thought.

 

[Elliott Milstein]

My bilge pump experience

I have a 95 36mkII and had to replace the bilge pump and float switch. The new pump would send the water up the hose but not empty completely as the switch would turn off and whatever was in the hose would rush back down. Soon thereafter the switch would detect the water and repeat the cycle. I ultimately fixed that problem by putting a one-way check valve in the hose. I have also had various problems with water squirting from the hot-water heater, sometimes because the check valve in the hoses broke or came loose and another time because one of the plastic fittings coming out of the heater developed a leak. All of the fresh water leaks I have had have been at the hose junctions around the tank valves and the hot water heater.

 

[Tom]

If you are SURE its not from the lake/ocean

(like if its from your stuffing box....did you check to see if that is dripping excessively).Do you notice that it might be worse after you just filled or "overfilled" your fresh water tanks. If so, then there is a good chance that it is leaking from the inspection ports on the top of the tanks. Overfill your tanks and go check.

 

[Ken Perry]

Great idea

Elliott, great idea with the check valve. I will install one next weekend. As to the other ideas; I know that it is not the stuffing box and short of some minor hull puncture, highly unlikely but always a possibility I guess, the inspection ports will get a close inspection once the check valve is installed. Great to get the wealth of info from other owners who have, as we say in Texas, "plowed that same ground".

 

[tom]

fresh water

I assume you have a gate valve at each tank, if so instead of dye/food colouring, empty all tanks then fill only one at a time. Leave the filled tank over night, check for water in bilge, if non, empty tank fill next tank, leave it over night check for water in bilge, etc.I also like the idea of one of the previous responses who suggested that First thing you do is empty all tanks, leave over night then check to see if there is any water in the bilge. ^You mention that your pump is cycling alot which suggests that there is a substantial volume of water leaking, could you fill all tanks full then after a week check the level in each tank to see if one has dropped? Interesting puzzle

 

[Jerry Corbin]

Fresh water hose from starbord tank.

Ken, I have a 2000 Catalina 36 MkII which had fresh water leaking into the bilge. I discovered the hose leading from the starbord fresh water tank to the water pump had a smallhole in it. The hose is run through a pvc conduit which drains into the bilge near the sink drain thru-hull. Good luck.