Mystery Water in Bilge

RMeigel · Post by **RMeigel** » Dec 16th, '07, 00:47

Hi folks - I checked on my CD 27 today. On the hard for 2-3 weeks now, WITH a cover on it. The cover just covers the rub rail, but it is a full cover, nevertheless.

There was no water in the bilge when I covered it.
The water tank is empty
The &!*#! yard rebedded my stantions with 5200 earlier this year (I couldn't believe it - email me off line and I'll tell you which yard)

When I checked on the boat today I hand pumped 2-3 gallons out of the bilge. I can't imagine that there was so much rain, and even so, that such a large amount would collect when the cover is on the boat.

Ideas?

Warren Kaplan · Post by **Warren Kaplan** » Dec 16th, '07, 08:57

Robin,

I used to get that in strong windy rainy days when rain, blowing on an angle, would enter my engine cowl vents. But you say the boat is covered. No chance that the edge of the cover is lifting in stronger winds allowing rain to blow in?? Of course the waterproof integrity of the cover is beyond question??? Still, water leaking onto the deck should not find its way into the bilge under any circumstances.

RMeigel · Post by **RMeigel** » Dec 16th, '07, 09:14

Hi Warren,

the cover is not water tight - water gets in around under the edges - but I would not expect as high as to flow into the engine cowl vent - I could be wrong; the hole on the dorade box is capped.

2-3 inches is one thing, 2-3 gallons was a big surprise.

The cover was commercially made, I've used it 2-3 seasons now.

Something to watch. The boat was not blocked level - it is noticeably pitched forward so as to facilitate cockpit drainage. And it also tilts oh so slightly to port. Which means water is settling around bases of the port shrouds (Also -I thought - rebedded this winter - the topsides were repainted and everything was taken off)

Robin

jerryaxler · Post by **jerryaxler** » Dec 16th, '07, 09:32

If the boat is pitched forward, is it possible for water to drain into the hawse pipe on the fore deck?

RWilker · Post by **RWilker** » Dec 16th, '07, 16:58

It is possible to get significant condensation under the cover and inside the boat, especially if ventilation is limited.

M. R. Bober · Post by **M. R. Bober** » Dec 16th, '07, 19:58

Just curious.

Mitchell Bober
Sunny Lancaster (this week) VA

RMeigel · Post by **RMeigel** » Dec 16th, '07, 20:39

There was no smell to the water. But I didn't go so far as to taste it!

The wind is blowing quite strongly now. I hope the cover is still there when I check it again (just kidding.)

RMeigel · Post by **RMeigel** » Dec 16th, '07, 20:49

This is my favorite theory (easy to correct by adjusting the cover) but I'm not optimistic because the forward pitch is NOT so great as to cause the water to gather that far forward. It is pooling amid-ships.

Recall that all of the hardward was off this winter when the topsides were repainted. my worst nightmare is that the rebedding job was inadequate . We're talking 2-3 gallons over 3-4 weeks. Another possibility is that the yard did not bed the rings that the engine cowls fit into.

When the weather is warmer should I commandeer a friend to pour buckets on the topsides while I poke around with a flash light? That said, there was no visible streaking inside the interior.

I have my work cut out for me this winter/spring. I'm not used to having to worry about a wet bilge. Pacem's bilge has been dry as the Sahara desert the whole time I've owned her, except one spell when the stuffing box needed to be re-stuffed - that diagnosis was easy!

Neil Gordon · Post by **Neil Gordon** » Dec 17th, '07, 07:43

How about pooled water seeping under the toe rails? Lots of screw holes there. If water is pooling on deck, ALL of it will work its way below given the opportunity.

Dean Abramson · Post by **Dean Abramson** » Dec 17th, '07, 10:03

Robin,

Could it be that you have a failed check-valve in one of your bilge pump outlet hoses? Then the water could be just draining down from the hose. Or even without a check valve: maybe some water had been held in the hose just by suction, but (maybe related to temperature change in the pump) the water has now gradually drained back.

The last time I mentioned tasting bilge water on this board, you guys were about to send the men in white coats here to pick me up. But I would be very interested to know if this bilge water is salty. If it is, then it has been residing in the boat all along. Unless your boat is stored in proximity to huge breaking waves.

Bon apetit!

Dean

s-dupuis · Post by **s-dupuis** » Dec 17th, '07, 12:56

The FIRST thing I would do is determine if the water is salt or fresh. Tasting the water, to me, is the most obvious thing to do. Not swallowing the water is the second most obvious.

Steve

Carter Brey · Post by **Carter Brey** » Dec 17th, '07, 13:23

Robin,

You can test suspicious areas for possible water intrusion by dusting them with talcum powder. Any water running down such a surface with leave a clear mark leading to its immediate source.

Best wishes,
Carter Brey
Sabre 28 Mk II #532 "Delphine"
City Island, NY

Oswego John · Post by **Oswego John** » Dec 17th, '07, 16:59

In the past, I have used various colored food dyes to detect water intrusion.

O J

s-dupuis · Post by **s-dupuis** » Dec 18th, '07, 08:52

"Recall that all of the hardward was off this winter when the topsides were repainted. my worst nightmare is that the rebedding job was inadequate . We're talking 2-3 gallons over 3-4 weeks."

After re-reading this post and considering that the "&!*#! yard" worked on your boat, Could it be that in between being worked on and uncovered, with the hardware removed, the workers left the boat temporarily uncovered during a rain storm, thus allowing water to enter? They may even have entered the boat to access the hardware from inside and left the companionway open during the storm as well. If this is the case I hope any removed hardware did not expose the wood core to the water!

Steve

The Cape Dory Board