Wheres water in the bilge coming from??

[wilf]

Hi, any oday 322 owners or anyone answer this question , when i took my boat out last week i motored for 5 hours and when i got back there was about 2" of water in the bilge, i know the packing gland drips so next time out i put a dish under the gland so i could see if that was the cause and again motored for around 5 hours again about 2" of water in bilge when i got back and maybe 1" in the dish,
when it sits at the dock for weeks its totally dry, i know the keel and bolts are good, just had it hauled and bottom paint everything was good underneath so i know its not from that, so im just curious where else water gets there from,
When i take out the front step access i can see some water on the port side just in the front of the engine so assume it runs from the engine area to the bilge, anyone know where its from ?

 

[Mark Maulden]

You're in Long Beach I see..Have you tasted it? Salt or fresh? Usually the first step for a salt water boat...

 

[jssailem]

My guess is that the water is coming from out side the boat and getting in.
One of the 5 key rules of boat ownership.. Keep the water out side of the boat...

 

[Davidasailor26]

If it's not from the stuffing box but only happens when under power, then could it be some other through hull that only gets close to the water when motoring? Maybe a cockpit scupper or bilge pump outlet that exits close to the waterline. Or the rudder post.

 

[wilf]

If it's not from the stuffing box but only happens when under power, then could it be some other through hull that only gets close to the water when motoring? Maybe a cockpit scupper or bilge pump outlet that exits close to the waterline. Or the rudder post.

Thought about the bilge pump outlet but its probably 10" above the waterline

 

[jibes138]

Check all your hoses. Old hoses can crack and split open. Cockpit scupper hoses, raw water hoses, exhaust hose, raw water hose to the head, sink drain hoses.

 

[kmart]

I just went though similar excersize .
My leak turned out to be raw water pump. Only spits water when engine is running. Bearings went. Replacing pump this week. My engine is yanmar 3gm30f

 

[NYSail]

you have to check while its under power. When the engine is on, the stuffing box doesn't drip.... it sprays from the shaft spinning so minimal will fall directly in your plate.

 

[SG]

Is it salt water or fresh? You know how to check ;^)))

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

Same problem with raw water pump. Check with engine running.

 

[wilf]

I did check it while running, didnt see any spray from stuffing box, no leaks from hoses that i could see unless its from a hose thats not easily seen, will be down at the boat this week so will check everything that you guys mentioned

 

[jeepbluetj]

I had 2 leaks it took me awhile to find.

1. Raw water pump - leaky seal. It leaked only while the engine was on.
2. Rudder post. Under power, the stern squatted enough to drop the rudder post stuffing close to the waterline, add the prop wash and it would come out the top.

I only found them by having somebody else man the helm while I crawled around the boat looking for the source.

 

[StargazerP303]

Wilf ! 1st. I would drain the boats water system to make sure no fresh water is leaking in boat from pressurized hot/cold water "Drain Completely". 2. Check from the seacock to the raw water pump on engine for any signs of leaks and also make sure all hoses are GOOD and clamps are on tight and proper and in position properly. 3. inspect and close all seacocks not needed for testing. 4, inspect and all thru haul electrical sensors "water-speed, temp,..etc for proper position and locked in properly. 5. tie a colored rag around mast to see if water coming down mast. This should help I hope! Now run a quick trip and see what you find. It would be better to have someone drive while you look for leaks on the go.. Stargazer II

 

[Richard19068]

Hi, any oday 322 owners or anyone answer this question , when i took my boat out last week i motored for 5 hours and when i got back there was about 2" of water in the bilge, i know the packing gland drips so next time out i put a dish under the gland so i could see if that was the cause and again motored for around 5 hours again about 2" of water in bilge when i got back and maybe 1" in the dish,
when it sits at the dock for weeks its totally dry, i know the keel and bolts are good, just had it hauled and bottom paint everything was good underneath so i know its not from that, so im just curious where else water gets there from,
When i take out the front step access i can see some water on the port side just in the front of the engine so assume it runs from the engine area to the bilge, anyone know where its from ?

Had similar circumstances on my O'Day31. The engine exhaust on the 31 exits out the transom in an area normally above the water line. When fast motoring though the transom squats and the exhaust is sometimes partially submerged. My exhaust fitting had separated a bit from the transom and it would leak only when it was submerged when motoring (or when washed by a following sea) .You couldn't really see from the outside that it had separated but I found that it was leaking by looking at it from the inside of the engine compartment while motoring. I'm not sure of the configuration of the 322 but that may be something to look at. Relatively easy fix with some sealant and new bolts if that's your problem.

 

[wilf]

Is it salt water or fresh? You know how to check ;^)))

Its fresh water

 

[wilf]

Well i checked all the hoses and stopcocks theres no leaks there, no leaks from the water tanks, its freshwater thats in the bilge , well it doesnt taste salty? So i still have no idea where its coming from, theres been no rain so its not coming down the mast

 

[SG]

Hosing down the boat (e.g. hose-downs) can let water in.

Better than salt water.