Possible sources of water in the bilge
Hi Wayne, I own an '86 272. Occasionally I get water in the bilge from various areas. On another site we 272 owners had quite a discussion about whether or not water can move from the engine bilge to the keel bilge. I concluded that on my boat, it could, and indeed does get from the engine bilge to the bilge area at the keel SOMEHOW. Other owners swear that there is no way that this could happen, but I have found diesel fuel in the keel bilge occasionally and that comes only from the engine when I change filters and lose some fuel. That having been said, water leaking into the engine bilge from a hose such as the raw water inlet is a possibility. Also, from the stuffing box which will trickle into the engine bilge and from there (on my boat) find its way to the keel bilge. In addition, the drain line from the cockpit scupper to the thru-hull can leak if the clamps aren't tight or the hose is bad. You might also check the fittings to port and starboard such as stanchions or the genoa track. All of those fittings are thru-bolted and can be a source. Do you see any stains on the liner in the cabin? Or is it damp anywhere on the liner? Sometimes that water will flow into the storage areas under the port and starboard settees or on the port side you could have a bad water tank or a leaky hose to the vanity or the galley sink. When you say that the level stops at one or two inches, does that mean that the bilge pump pumps all the water out except one or two inches. If so, the leak may be much more steady than you think, and the bilge pump is doing its job to maintain a one or two inch depth in the bilge. My last major leak came from the loose keel bolts, but if you say they are tight, you may want to check the caulk joint between the keel and hull to make sure that accidental contact hasn't compromised the caulk joint. Good Hunting!! Tom
