Deck leak

[PabloPicasso]

How do you find a deck leak. Coming back to the boat after a couple of weeks to find a couple of inches of water where previously there was none. No obvious signs of leaking above the water line. I presume any below water line leak would have sunk the boat, so...

...how do you locate the leaky deck fitting?

 

[Pye_End]

Put a hose running round all the fittings and try and see it coming through somewhere.

Is it a keel stepped mast or deck stepped? Keel stepped more prone to water coming in.

Other thing to check is the water tank and pipework.

If you are not sure whether it is rain or sea water, then taste test will soon tell you. You need very little on your finger to check.

 

[Neil]

Especially if it's mixed with battery acid...........

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Put some food dye in a bucket of water and pure water on the deck systematically, concentrating on areas where you have deck fittings penetrations. Don't put too much dye or it will mark the headlining.