water in bilge

[alans]

hi, heres a mystery, i have a 1999 hunter 310. boat is out of water on hard. ive winterized all systems andbled all water. i completly dried bilge in all sections. after last weeks rain i had 2 inches in bilge area.. i can not locate entry point. any one with simular experience? this is driving me buggy... thanks alan

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Alan
hard to tell not knowing if covered and with the mast up or down.
If uncovered, it could be from anyplace; if the mast is up and covered, it might be down the mast.

 

[Manny]

My 27 does the same thing in winter. After the temp drops below 60 and it rains I always get water in the bilge. It's bone dry all summer.
I've been chasing leaks for the last couple of years and the amount of water I get has diminished but I still can't find where it is coming from (but i've narrowed it down to the cockpit area).
I'm not too familiar with the 310 but check the archives, there may be some insight on areas prone to leaking for that model. Check the obvious stuff first, for example loose or misaligned hatch boards, a port or hatch not fully closed, maybe a lazarette that wasn't closed properly, etc. A couple of weeks ago I went down to discover a bunch of soaked cushions - all due to a little piece of dirt on the gasket of a port.

Manny

 

[Benny]

Wet cushions and a wet sole are a problem but a little water in the bilge should be of no consequence. That is what the bilge is there for. You indicate you bled the water from the water tank and perhaps the water heater so those two major concerns are eliminated. Water gets trapped below the sole in between the stringers and will slowly seep into the bilge after you dry it. The refrigerator and the shower drain down into the bilge. There is also condensation. Besides that there are small rain leaks which could come from anywhere. Instead of looking for small leaks I take the approach that they will eventually find me and they usually do as I run into them by accident. Don't let small things drive you buggy.

 

[alans]

thanks for suggestions. im thinking water from sole. ive resealed rubrail and all stansions. any sugg. how water enters to reach sole? thanks alan

 

[Nelsonhow]

Check these two things: The floor drain bedding (caulking) may be bad allowing water to seep between the deck and the flange on the drain. When it's cold the metal flange will shrink and my allow water to get through into the bilge. Also check the elbow at that attaches to the drain fitting under the deck, mine had a crack in it after a winter. The water collects in the hose and one year it froze and cracked. (the hose may also have a very small crack that get bigger when the hose shrinks around the elbow tail. I bet it's leaking from the floor drain.

 

[DeanStrong]

How to find fresh water leak

I had fresh water in the bilge, and it drove me crazy. There is only way way to find it. Tape and seal all openings, and put a window fan (seal all around it) in the companionway. Mop he deck, rubrail, heal/deck seal etc. until you find the leak, same way you would in a tire.

You will find lots of openings where air is leaking out you didn't know you had. Keep sealing them. You'll find the leak.

 

[jtm]

if you are on the hard for the off season, it could be that in the outhaul and blocking, you have tilted the attitude of the boat and water between the ribs has eventually made its way to the bilge. But I feel the mast is probably the source.