Bilgewater-quantity after travelling a few hours?

[SoulFireMage]

We emptied a good 6 to eight inches of bilgewater out a few weeks ago now. However this morning after a few weeks sitting and a trip from Portishead to Bristol and back, it's all back again.
It emptied out quickly enough, but this amount in one trip, is that sounding right?

She's 46foot LWL and twin screw.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Clive_Rigden]

Stern glands. Check your engine mountings which if loose, will put a strain on the shaft and glands.

 

[Norman_E]

Excessive in my view, unless it was only in a sump. My 45 foot yacht has a deep sump with the automatic bilge pump draining it. It is rare for the pump to run. Usually the cause is me taking the log impeller out to clean it. If you are getting a substantial water inflow then something is amiss. Check your propeller shaft gland(s), rudder bearings and all sea cocks and associated pipes. You could have a small split in a pipe, which could overwhelm your pumps if it develops. A split or detached pipe on say a 38mm heads outlet sea cock can let in a heck of a lot of water very fast.

 

[Aja]

Fresh or salt water?

Donald

 

[26ft_bathtub]

On that note, does anybody know of an easy way to detect saltiness in bilge water that doesn't involve tasting it?

 

[Mukes]

Ask SHMBO to tatse it.

 

[thalassa]

Dissolve SWMBO's favourite silver necklace in nitric acid in a test tube (normal gear on a proper yacht) , then add the water to be tested. White cloud = silver chloride = salt.

Seriously, I struggled for two years with the stuffing box I had at the time, to stop the excessive amount of bilge water. After having the boat in a shed in winter, and still having a fair amount of bilge water, I started to look further. A small leak in the flexible water tank (seam) was the culprit.

 

[SoulFireMage]

Saltwater I think. Reluctant to taste as it's pretty 'orrible looking! Fair bit of oil in there

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
Dissolve SWMBO's favourite silver necklace in nitric acid in a test tube

[/ QUOTE ] But do it outside as there will be lots of fumes of nitrogen oxides

 

[Powersalt]

i have had the same problem and found it to be the stern glands, and I got so fed up i fitted dripless seals. Boat as dry as a bone since.

 

[SoulFireMage]

My next question is, does anyone have a good internet guide on stern glands? All I know is some types are meant to drip a little and that they allow the props through the hull and for them to spin . I need to check them and know what I'm actually looking at/for.

Thanks in advance for any help thus proffered.

 

[colvic987]

I had the same sort of problem, over a long passage or a couple of weeks on the mooring, i would have some water in the bilge, checked the stern gland, even repacked it, but it still came in during a couple of weeks away or a long sail/motor,
ended up resealing the cockpit sole, and found out it was dripping in when raining or water from the transom drains when motoring, backing up over the cockpit sole cover and leaking in....

get someone to spray or chuck some water over any covers you have over the engine bay, and check they are not leaking and check your stern glands they could be due for a repack...(only do this when boat is out of water)..