Bilge Water

[Stingo]

Background: The bilge pump is just one of the things that doesn't work on my wreck and being broke means that I don't have the moolah to replace it (and a few other essential basics).

Using a measuring cup, today I scooped well over 200 litres of water out my bilge. It was salty. And this only happens when it rains!

Any ideas?

 

[Mister E]

Seems odd salt water when it rains, could you have a leak below and one above the water line?

 

[Metalicmike]

Do you chuck salt over your shoulder for good luck before casting off.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

I have had bilge water that was fresh and then salty (different filling events) It messed with my head.

Anyway eventually traced it to a common point, a foot bock on the deck. When it rained heavily, like this summer, fresh water accumulated, when I sailed in a chop, salt water on the decks went through the leak point.

Once fixed, dry bilges. Maybe worth thinking along those lines.

Edit: lock changed to block

 

[KevinV]

Background: The bilge pump is just one of the things that doesn't work on my wreck and being broke means that I don't have the moolah to replace it (and a few other essential basics).

Using a measuring cup, today I scooped well over 200 litres of water out my bilge. It was salty. And this only happens when it rains!

Any ideas?

Anchor locker that drains into the bilge?

 

[Stingo]

Anchor locker that drains into the bilge?

Good observation. Will check tomorrow.

Thank you

 

[MontyMariner]

200 ltrs seems a lot , over what period?

 

[Stingo]

Am pleased to report that there has been no change in the bilge water level overnight. So am still clueless as to where yesterday's water came from. Oh well, never mind. It's a boat after all.

I did re-anchor the other day, so perhaps @KevinV has a valid suggestion.

 

[winch2]

Obviously a mixture of the two. U have to be methodical. On a dry day without rain pouring down check the stern gland with engine running and go from there.

 

[simonfraser]

toilet leaking into he bilge would make it salty too

 

[Metalicmike]

Wouldn't like to taste that

 

[RunAgroundHard]

If you have a cutless bearing sealed with a stuffing box, when it wears, water can come in, especially in reverse. The greaser usually stops it.

 

[greeny]

Do you wash your decks and cockpit with buckets of seawater? Could be salt left behind then rain washes it into the bilges through cockpit/deck leaks. But I think the anchor locker probably favourite at the moment. 200 ltrs is a lot to be an intermittent leak only when raining.

 

[Stingo]

I suspect the cutlass bearing theory, especially as I re-anchored a few days ago and put the engine into reverse for about 10 minutes.

Now to try find it....

If you have a cutless bearing sealed with a stuffing box, when it wears, water can come in, especially in reverse. The greaser usually stops it.

 

[justanothersailboat]

I had some mysterious salty-bilgewater-after-rain problems. Even salty bilgewater from a leaking freshwater line to the heads sink. I found some very hidden parts of my boat had old salt crusts from old leaks drying out, big flakes and chunks of the stuff (it must have been pretty bad at one time!) and that was getting washed in by the fresh. All cured now and extra access added. All part of learning the rule "NO UNINSPECTED SPACES" the hard way.

 

[greeny]

Ah! The pleasures of a new boat (wreck).

 

[Thresher]

Seems odd salt water when it rains, could you have a leak below and one above the water line?

Yes, that's my thinking. A reservoir of sea water building up somewhere slowly suddenly being displaced by a fresh water flood when it rains.

 

[Dellquay13]

I had a fresh and saltwater leak. Turned out to be the chain locker had a crack in the bottom by the fore bulkhead. Rain water from above and saltwater every time the bow plunged and sea came up through the anchor drain. Bluetack stuffed behind the clam cover of the anchor drain was a temporary fix to the saltwater problem until the anchor locker was flow coated.

 

[Boathook]

@Stingo Did you sort out where the water was coming in ? Just asking on behalf of the forum ....

 

[Stingo]

Of course not. I'm far too lazy. But I suspect the reversing after re-anchoring is the correct answer.

Btw, prompted by your post, I've just checked and the bilge has almost no water in it, so even more evidence that reversing after re-anchoring could sink my wreck.

Edit: thank you to @RunAgroundHard for his suggestion in #12