While the boat was on the hard pumped all the water out of the pan, and disposed of it properly. It remained dry after that despite weeks of very heavy rain. Boat was put in earlier this week and today I found I had a large volume of water under the engine. I checked the stuffing box and it does not seem to be coming from there. (Engine has not been fired up since the put in so doubted it was an issue). The area behind the pan seems fairly dry so I don't thinking its coming up through the rudder shaft though I can't really see there. Any suggestions on sources or places to look would appreciated. I would note that on the water she sits differently than she did in the stand so water could be coming from the top that I wouldn't have had while she was on the hard. The back of the boat is sitting higher so water on deck particularly near the life lines and toe rail doesn't always drain off and can stand on the deck.
Water in Engine Sump
- Thread starter MLampner
- Start date
- Status
Is the water fresh or salt? Fresh could be rain or a water tank, salt would point in a different direction.
Do you have any openings in the engine sump pan that water could enter from? If so, where do those openings lead?
I'm not at all familiar with your sailboat, these are just general T/S ideas.
Do you have any openings in the engine sump pan that water could enter from? If so, where do those openings lead?
I'm not at all familiar with your sailboat, these are just general T/S ideas.
By the way before I forget to say this again it is a 1977 Hunter 30, but no as far I can see the sump is solid, with no links to the bilge, or for that matter the area where the fresh water tank is.
Complicating the question of fresh or salt is our very rainy spring. Where she is sitting is brackish under normal circumstances but after weeks of rain I think the creek is mostly fresh water. Given the source didn't want to more than brush some of it near my tongue but it seemed fresh.
Any other 30 owners with experience of this?
Complicating the question of fresh or salt is our very rainy spring. Where she is sitting is brackish under normal circumstances but after weeks of rain I think the creek is mostly fresh water. Given the source didn't want to more than brush some of it near my tongue but it seemed fresh.
Any other 30 owners with experience of this?
It is very hard to see water that trickles in slowly. If from the stuffing box it should drip down through a hole under the box and run under the pan into the bilge. Water from the rudder stuffing box should likewise go under the pan and into the bilge. When you found the water was your engine cooling thru-hull open? What about your fresh water plumbing, anything different(leaks from my water heater will run into the engine pan)?
Tape pieces of paper towel in strategic places in the pan to detect from which direction.
Tape pieces of paper towel in strategic places in the pan to detect from which direction.
On my 78 hunter 30 behind the engine sump there are five places water can come into the boat. The cockpit scuppers, stuffing box, rudder post, strut to hull joint, or the muffler. All the water behind the sump is supposed to go under the sump to the main bilge, if that is clogged it can get into the sump. My problem turned out to be the rudder post which would only get into the sump when the boat was heeled 15 to 20 degrees, it would run into the sump instead of going under it. If you remove the bulkhead in the rear of the quater berth you can see the rudder post as well as the strut to hull joint. The ice box drains into the bilge via a hose that goes under the sump. If you haven't run the engine the logical place would be the line from the thru-hull to the cooling pump or the pump itself. As Ed said some paper towels or talc powder might help.
Gentlemen, appreciate the insight, particularly the talc, paper towel idea. I think I can eliminate the water heater and fresh water system, as I haven't pressurized it yet this season and it should still be full of pink stuff. I think the the thru hull should be closed, but will double check.
The towel and the talc though may provide a clue of where its coming through assuming as Steve says the drain under the sump isn't clogged, and I will be checking that too.
Again thanks for the help.
The towel and the talc though may provide a clue of where its coming through assuming as Steve says the drain under the sump isn't clogged, and I will be checking that too.
Again thanks for the help.
I doubt that the boat sat at the same angle that it sat in cradle. Maybe you had some water trapped that drain into the sump areas.
If you muck it all out you will be able to determine if there is any additional water entering the boat for any source.
If you muck it all out you will be able to determine if there is any additional water entering the boat for any source.
On my 79 I sometimes get water in the pan. It drove me crazy for a bit trying to figure out how I'd get a static leak from the engine. Turns out it comes in through the companionway hatch, which of course is directly above the engine & pan, when the rain is blowing just right.
OK got lucky today, found what I think is the source of the leak, thanks to what is beginning to feel like a perpetual rain.
It is leaking from the area under the traveler (mine's the original rig in the companionway) and I will need to take this apart and rebed the whole assembly. Having never done this before not sure what I will find.
The mast was down this winter so there was no stress on the traveler, I assume with the mast back up and the travel fairly tight to keep the boom from swinging it lifts just enough to allow water under. Since the boom is off to starboard and I could see where the water was coming from, right under the most starboard position on the traveler will bet that is the explanation. Does anyone have the measurement of the piece of teak under the traveler. I am considering replacing this piece of teak with some trex, which will reduce the need to refinish it at least for a while as it is a major pain to teak oil the wood in this location.
It is leaking from the area under the traveler (mine's the original rig in the companionway) and I will need to take this apart and rebed the whole assembly. Having never done this before not sure what I will find.
The mast was down this winter so there was no stress on the traveler, I assume with the mast back up and the travel fairly tight to keep the boom from swinging it lifts just enough to allow water under. Since the boom is off to starboard and I could see where the water was coming from, right under the most starboard position on the traveler will bet that is the explanation. Does anyone have the measurement of the piece of teak under the traveler. I am considering replacing this piece of teak with some trex, which will reduce the need to refinish it at least for a while as it is a major pain to teak oil the wood in this location.
- Status