Water under the bilge?

[Ed Kill]

I have water coming up through a hole in the forward bilge.I am the second owner of this 1993 35.5. I have water coming up through a hole from a screw the previous owner had installed the rule pump on. This hole is about four inches forward of the second keel bolt.I recently had a haul out for bottom paint and since just after that this water has been in the previously 100% dry bilge. It has been raining a lot here and I think I have developed a leak or it might be something with the water tank. I have dismantled the boat a viewed as much od the tank as possible and it doesn't look like that is it but i did have a circumstance that i thought indicated much more water used on a recent two day trip than i had used.So first question - how much water can be under the floor plate?Anyone have an idea how to track a leak?

 

[Steve Dion]

Between the sheets.

Ed: I think that the water is comming in between the hull and the liner. This is the same thing that happened to us on our H'31. Removed one screw and low and behold there is water comming in. My first though was OH SHIT, WHAT THE......... is happening now. Then I realized the merits of the little hole that could.  I guess the way I looked at it that if it is not comming in from the OUTSIDE, that it is better to drain the liner than for it to sit there and stink.

 

[Jim Ewing]

Mystery leak

I had my own mystery leak on my '93 37.5. If the boat just sat at the dock in good weather the bilge would stay dry. If it rained I'd get fresh water in the bilge. If I went sailing with waves over the bow I'd get salt water in the bilge. I traced it to a crack in the anchor locker drain. I fixed it by pumping penetrating epoxy mixed with microfibers into the drain, once it set I just drilled it out and no more leak. I traced it by drying the bilge and then running the hose through the anchor locker for about 45 minutes. It's definitely some place to look.Good luck.Jim"Prospect"

 

[Marc]

water, water ...

Last summer I had water in the bilge, and the pump ran regularly to empty it out. It turned out the stuffing box/ prop shaft was the source of entry. Have it checked.