Dry bilges

Dave_Knowles · 9 Dec 2003

Before I go completely mad chasing leaks (I am already waking at night think as to where the water might be coming in) does anyone have dry bilges all year round or am I just chasing a dream?

<hr width=100% size=1>Take care.

Dave

Dave Knowles
Southampton - UK

http://www.MyCleopatra.co.uk

BarryH · 9 Dec 2003

No and yes I think you are. How much water do you get in there. Little, lots, loads. Is it fresh or salty?

<hr width=100% size=1>

TwoStroke · 9 Dec 2003

Nope, but with the new pump going in - hope to be able to keep it dryish for a lot longer now.

<hr width=100% size=1>

apollo · 9 Dec 2003

A little water whilst on the move (which is vital to stop the shafts burning away), then the stern glands stop dripping when the boat is stationary.

Luckily I have a small ridged area around the glands that holds the intake and its therefore easy to get rid of.

I am a firm believer in clean bilges, then its a doddle to see if a new problem arises and where it came from. (A "diagnostic tool" I was told on my Diesel engine course!!)

If you always have a slop in there, a little more is un-noticable.

I don't know about anyone else, but if I am looking around a boat for sale, a filthy bilge tells me quite a lot about the previous owner's attention to maintenance!

<hr width=100% size=1>

tcm · 9 Dec 2003

yes, you can have dry bilges depending on the drive type. If you have outdrives you could have dry bilges. If you have shafts with more modern sternglands (the bit where the shaft goes out) then they can be dry too.

With normal-style sternglands, water drips through the sterngland to lubricate it so the bilges won't ever be dry and shouldn't be.

I have the modern type of sterngland which doesn't leak but had wet bilges cos:

1. the aircon condensate drain pump failed, and i didn't find the thing till after 15 months, then fixed it but it bust again, recently fixed a second time i think but after we needed to use the aircon (in oct) so i think it is fixed but not 100% sure.

2. the rudder post things leaked and lettin a load of water, so they fixed it, then 8 months later I fixed properly so really lets in zero water, or i think i have, but haven't moved the boat since the fix.

3 the shower trays all leaked too, so i fixed them as well, but again, i haven't used the shower a great big lot since the fixes, so we shall see, but i' am definitely sort on top of it, or even ahead of the leaks, sort-of, maybe.

so i might at last have dry bilges, now. perhaps.

<hr width=100% size=1>

hlb · 9 Dec 2003

If you have shaft drives, I find it imposible to have a dry bilge. Sur you can tighten the stern glands, but they will be dripping again inside a week. The pump does not work till there is a couple of inches of water down there and a teaspoon full of diesel or oil will make it look like you have a massive oil leak. So resign your self to it. Just try to get it clean and dry for the hour or so, when you come to sell it!!

<hr width=100% size=1> No one can force me to come here. I'm a volunteer!!.

Haydn

chriscallender · 9 Dec 2003

I usually end up with a litre or two after 2 or 3 weeks away from the boat - looks like quite a lot because the bilge is very deep and narrow but pumping it into a bucket shows how little there is. However I have a sternshaft with a traditional stuffing box and I put the rest down to condensation. Anyway its not going to sink the boat anytime soon, although I wouldn't like to leave it unchecked for many months.

Whenever I've done something wrong (once changing a deck filler and temporarily put tape across the bolt holes which came loose and let gallons of rain in, and once the stuffing box wasn't properly adjusted) I've ended up with much, much more water in the bilges, so the difference is immediately obvious.

So yes, my experience is that complete dryness is an impossible dream, but there shouldn't be much water at all in there, even after the boat hasn't been visited for a while.

I usually leave the bilge pump off, rather than on auto when I leave the boat so I can see how much has come in since last time - I know some people might say to leave the pump on, but my reasoning is that a trivial leak won't sink the boat and a bad leak will run the battery flat and sink the boat whether I've left the pump on or not... s'pose there is a middle ground where having the pump on would help though.

Chris

<hr width=100% size=1>

Alistairr · 9 Dec 2003

My little Fletcher last year, never had waterr in the Bilge.

But my NEW Rinker this year is always wet, The auto pumps the water out, but you need to manually pump the dreggs.

Not sure where the water comes from, I hope its just the canopy..

<hr width=100% size=1>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://arweb.co.uk/argallery/album13> My Pictures, Please take a look.</A>

Questor · 9 Dec 2003

My Targa 34 has always been totally dry, since the day I bought it, and I'm sure I'm not alone.

R

<hr width=100% size=1>

barryjl · 9 Dec 2003

Yep - My Sunfury is always dry too.

<hr width=100% size=1>There's no problems..just opportunities

duncan · 9 Dec 2003

Invest in a bulk pack of sponges.

<hr width=100% size=1>

Deleted User YDKXO · 9 Dec 2003

As a start, you need to find what kind of water is accumulating in the bilges and when it is accumulating. Personally, I taste a little to see if its fresh or salt water although I would'nt necessarily reccomend this, particularly if you have a holding tank
If its fresh water and it is accumulating even during dry periods, suspect engine freshwater coolant, domestic water tank/pipe/pump or shower water sump. If it accumulates after rain, then its likely to be a leaking deck fitting or hull deck joint
If its salt water, suspect a skin fitting or raw water coolant system or with outdrives, the transom shield or with shaftdrives, the sternglands or the toilet flush pipework. Obviously, a salt water leak is potentially disastrous so it needs to be investigated

<hr width=100% size=1>

Dave_Knowles · 9 Dec 2003

I don't think that I would like to taste the water as even though I have cleaned and cleaned the bilges they still are not too wonderful. Years of neglect I think.

<hr width=100% size=1>Take care.

Dave

Dave Knowles
Southampton - UK

http://www.MyCleopatra.co.uk

Deleted User YDKXO · 9 Dec 2003

Maybe get some litmus paper and do an alkilinity test then?

<hr width=100% size=1>

duncan · 9 Dec 2003

just do it - it's only going to be salt water, fresh water, diesel or austrian wine............/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>

itsonlymoney · 9 Dec 2003

My Bayliner Bow rider used to fill the bilge like nobodys business. Think it came through the canopy. My 1952 classic cuddy however was as dry as a bone from day one. My new 2655 seems ok but a bit early to tell. My opinion therefore is it may be normal to have a dry bilge and then again it may not. As long as it doesnt sink I wouldnt worry too much.

Ian

<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !

martynwhiteley · 9 Dec 2003

Yes Alistair,

As Deleted User suggests, I think most water in outdrive boat bilges comes from rainwater.

In both my last boat, and this one before the new engine, the raw water system leaked slightly, and would add a small amount during each trip.

However both would show a significant collection following lengthy periods of rain. The Princess 25 tended to leak mainly through cabin roof fittings, but went unnoticed due to the soft vinyl headlining, and water ran down the inside of the fibreglass into the bilge without detection.

I think the Birchwood leaked slightly through the anchor locker, and the radar arch, although since adding a bit of silicone the bilge remains commendably dry.

<hr width=100% size=1> <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mboat.org>http://www.mboat.org</A>

Alistairr · 9 Dec 2003

Yes , i quite agree, most of the wateri think gets in through the joins in the canopy.

But i also think the water runs down the bow into the anchor locker, which drain to 2 places, outside through small outlet and also into the hull and down into the bilge,

I've been adviced to seal that hole up, and just leave the one that drains out side, Whats the views on that?

Cheers Martyn,

Alistair..

<hr width=100% size=1>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://arweb.co.uk/argallery/album13> My Pictures, Please take a look.</A>

Dave_Knowles · 9 Dec 2003

I think that some of the water on my boat is coming in trough the hole where the chain goes down into the chain locker. The problem with the chain locker is I think that this needs coating on the inside with something waterproof. The front is the hull but the back is marine ply. I need to check about the drain from the locker (that does not seep throught the ply and the join with the hull) but I think it goes into the bilges. Maybe I should stop up this and drain it out through the hull. What do you think?

<hr width=100% size=1>Take care.

Dave

Dave Knowles
Southampton - UK

http://www.MyCleopatra.co.uk

barryjl · 9 Dec 2003

Three Bayliners?! Are you a memeber of the owners club? I actually like Bayliners too - have never owned one, but been tempted with a 2855 and 3055 - still am when I see one.

<hr width=100% size=1>There's no problems..just opportunities

Dry bilges

New member

Active member

New member

...

...

RIP

Active member

Active member

Active member

New member

Active member

Deleted User YDKXO

Guest

New member

Deleted User YDKXO

Guest

Active member

New member

Active member

Active member

New member

New member

Other threads that may be of interest

Share this page