Water in the Bilge

Status
Not open for further replies.
L

Laurie Lockert

I just purchased a 30' Catalina(1985)one month ago. It has a dripless shaft. I have noticed that the bilge always has an inch or two of water in it. It was 2 weeks before I got back to the boat this time and there was about 2 inches in it. I leave the sump pump on even when I'm not there. So this weekend I pumped all the water out, with a scant bit remaining. Six hours later I check and there is another inch or so back in it! So, is this normal?
 
R

RonD

No

Laurie You evidently have a leak somewhere & should track it down as soon as possible before it gets really serious. Check the bilge to see if it's fresh or salt water. If fresh (assuming your boat is in salt water), then look to your potable water plumbing for leakage. I once had a water line come off my water heater and it leaked (emptied my forward water tank!). If it is salt water, look at each one of the hull openings (e.g., through-hull fittings, prop shaft, rudder post) for any obvious signs of leakage. You might have a loose hose on one of the seawater lines. Work backward on each hose from each through-hull. Closing all the through-hulls, pumping the bilge dry, and waiting a day or two to see if it is still collecting water might be a way of checking. A prop shaft with ordinary packing shouldn't be dripping unless the engine is turning it, and then only about 1 to 2 drips/minute. Look closely to your engine raw water cooling system at both the intake end and at the exhaust end. If it's a rudder post leaking, you have some serious problems that a boatyard should address. --Ron
 
Status
Not open for further replies.