Where's the leak

[Bill O'Donovan]

It irked me that I kept getting a cupful or more of water in the bilge from no apparent source. So I took four water samples and had them tested in a lab to see if there was a pattern. The test was for sodium, or salt. 1. Water that seeped in overnight, perhaps while washing the boat off. Showed 9220 parts per million. 2. Water that seeped in after a day's sail. Presumably it came in through the wash of the Chesapeake Bay and York River over the gunwales and through the stanchion posts. Showed 7590 ppm.3. Water taken from Sara Creek, leading to the York and presumed equally brackish. Showed 6600 ppm.4. Tap water from the boat as benchmark for pure water. Showed 18 ppm.What's odd is that Sample 1 contains more sodium than the creek itself, perhaps because it's washing down a greater concentrate of salt. Sample 2 poses the same situation.This is hardly academic. The purpose of the test was to see if water is coming through the bottom, perhaps at the keel. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks

 

[Steven de Filippis]

what kind of boat?

i have owned 2 h23's and i constantly had water in my bildge, i have tried every trick ion the book, resealing the windows etc. the person i sold my first h23 to also tried and failed to prevent the leaks, by frequesting this forum i have heard a lot of other people complaining about it too. i think maybe some water gets through the companionway hatch. not sure.

 

[D Berube]

Comes with the turf!

I think that water in the bilge and sailing automatically go together, don't they? I have never been on a sailboat that didn't have some water in the bilge area! It is normal to the sport! Certainly in the cockpit too!

 

[ED]

THE MISSING LEAK

WE HAD A WATER PROBLEM ON AN ABBOTT 22, WE WOULD FIND SMALL TRACES OF WATER IN AND AROUND THE ENGINE (HONDA VOLVO PENTA INBOARD) THEN IT WOULD STAY TILL ENOUGH WATER BACKED UP AND IT WOULD RUN INTO THE BILDGE.AFTER CHECKING THE BOAT FOR LEAKS EVERYWHARE TWICE OVER I WAS STANDING ON THE DOCK LOOKING BACK AND THERE WAS THE CULPRIT THE 2 BLOWER VENTS FOR THE ENGINE 1 FOWARD 1 BACK. EACH CATCHING IT'S OWN WATER FROM RAIN AND SAILINGMAKING TEAK PLUGS FOR THEM NOW TO PUT AN END TO THIS LEAK.

 

[Allan Frey]

May be fresh water

Fresh water in the bilge from refrig condensate, water system leak, etc is likely to test as salty. If you ever had sea water in the bilge, it would leave a salt deposit when it evaporated. Later, if fresh water got in the bilge, it would disolve some of the salt and test as though sea water. I would not rule out a fresh water leak.Allan

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

In response

This is a 1995 Hunter 29.5.I'm an old hand at leaks, but this one appears to be coming through the bottom of the boat instead of down the insides. That's why I had the samples tested.