my Columbia 23 seems to take on water in the keel hold....It rarely comes above the floor...I can't find a leak. Is this common? Where might it be coming from.
water leaking
- Thread starter Bill24001
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fresh or salt water in the bilge
I had a similar problem. My boat is in salt water, but the bilge filled with fresh water. Turned out that the scuppers had a very small leak that allowed lots of fresh water in whenever it rained. Took me forever to figure that one out.
I had a similar problem. My boat is in salt water, but the bilge filled with fresh water. Turned out that the scuppers had a very small leak that allowed lots of fresh water in whenever it rained. Took me forever to figure that one out.
Lotsa water
My boat is in fresh water, and I do have a few "bolt leaks" during rain, but the water that I experienced recently was a bright sunny day where the boat started out dry. There was a fresh breeze of about 20-25 mph causing 1 1/2 - 2 foot waves and a good heel. I don't know how many degrees, but from the cockpit, I could look through the starboard window and see nothing but water. It was occasionally splashing vigorously up on the window and lapping over the gunwales. There was no water in the cabin as a result, but the bilge was so full it floated my tool containers that I store items in to keep them out of the bilge water. There was probably about 6-7 inches of water down there. I'm not concerned about sinking, but that water belongs out in the lake and not in my belongings. Is this something that I'm just going to have to live with and pump out? I'd really like to keep it completely dry.
My boat is in fresh water, and I do have a few "bolt leaks" during rain, but the water that I experienced recently was a bright sunny day where the boat started out dry. There was a fresh breeze of about 20-25 mph causing 1 1/2 - 2 foot waves and a good heel. I don't know how many degrees, but from the cockpit, I could look through the starboard window and see nothing but water. It was occasionally splashing vigorously up on the window and lapping over the gunwales. There was no water in the cabin as a result, but the bilge was so full it floated my tool containers that I store items in to keep them out of the bilge water. There was probably about 6-7 inches of water down there. I'm not concerned about sinking, but that water belongs out in the lake and not in my belongings. Is this something that I'm just going to have to live with and pump out? I'd really like to keep it completely dry.
Keep the water out of the boat
It is definately not normal to have a lot of water gathering in the bilge of a boat - some water - yes - lots - no. You should be able to leave your boat for several weeks with only a small amount of water in the bilge. If you have an inboard check the packing nut on your prop shaft. Take a close look at where the rudder post enters the hull - most boats have a packing nut there as well. Determine if it is rain water or sea water. Determine if it happens at the dock or when you are sailing or both. If you have checked all through hulls and all the above, what about the keel joint? I would get all the water out, get the bilge dry, and watch at all my thru hulls, and keel bolts for a while - like live and in person - for an hour or so. A couple of drips an hour can really add up.
It is definately not normal to have a lot of water gathering in the bilge of a boat - some water - yes - lots - no. You should be able to leave your boat for several weeks with only a small amount of water in the bilge. If you have an inboard check the packing nut on your prop shaft. Take a close look at where the rudder post enters the hull - most boats have a packing nut there as well. Determine if it is rain water or sea water. Determine if it happens at the dock or when you are sailing or both. If you have checked all through hulls and all the above, what about the keel joint? I would get all the water out, get the bilge dry, and watch at all my thru hulls, and keel bolts for a while - like live and in person - for an hour or so. A couple of drips an hour can really add up.
- Jan 22, 2008
- 519
The usual suspects...
After 2 boats I'm getting more sophisticated about figuring out where the water is coming in. If you're getting fresh water look around your deck and coamings for holes where snaps have come off or missing screws, etc. Just a few holes can let in a lot of rainwater over a week. If your locker lids don't have weatherstripping you may get a fair flow from a poor seal there. If you have an inboard engine read some of the recent threads about what gear to leave your engine in when on the mooring. My bilge was filling when left in neutral and now remains dry in Reverse. The packing gland is due for replacement but I can't do that until this year's haulout.
After 2 boats I'm getting more sophisticated about figuring out where the water is coming in. If you're getting fresh water look around your deck and coamings for holes where snaps have come off or missing screws, etc. Just a few holes can let in a lot of rainwater over a week. If your locker lids don't have weatherstripping you may get a fair flow from a poor seal there. If you have an inboard engine read some of the recent threads about what gear to leave your engine in when on the mooring. My bilge was filling when left in neutral and now remains dry in Reverse. The packing gland is due for replacement but I can't do that until this year's haulout.
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