Fresh water in bilge, is this a big issue for keel bolts etc?

[davethedog]

Afternoon all,

Following on from my thread a few days ago and after doing a lot of head scratching I am still thinking the small (1 litre per 24hrs) fresh water leak is coming from the port fresh water tank and, or if not in an area that is VERY awkward to get to and will require the removal of the calorifier and a few other bits. I have filled the port tank up, isolated it, and marked the one side of the tank I can get limited access and going to see if the level goes down (will take a while as it is a 200L tank).

I know it is always better to not have ANY water (fresh and definitely sea) but as this is a HUGE amount of work to possibly alleviate a small fresh water leak am I worrying too much? I can not see any wood damage at all as it seems to be lower than any of the galley cabinets etc, and I can hear a very faint dripping noise every 4 or 5 seconds in the area of the port tank (of course, as it is a boat, in an awkward spot!).

Will fresh water damage the keel bolts?

Am thinking of fitting a low profile bilge pump system to get any water out anyway, as currently have to manually remove it as the current electric bilge pump only works when there is about 4 litres of water in the bilge.

DTD

 

[[70521]]

You know it needs doing, you won't rest until it is done.

 

[davethedog]

I know.... I bloody know!

 

[vyv_cox]

I agree that it will keep annoying you but to answer your question, fresh water will not bother stainless steel studs or nuts. It may attack the washers, which are often carbon steel, but paint should solve that. Fresh water will corrode carbon steel bolts very slowly and again, paint will help.

 

[davethedog]

Thanks vyv and plan to have a look at it properky when lockdown here in the canaries allows me to get any spares required as we are livi g abourd the boat here and can't be without the hot water (the wife anyway!).

Any paint recommendation?

 

[lw395]

It may also cause osmosis around the keel bolts...

 

[davethedog]

Yes thought that so will have a look properly when the shops here are open.

 

[vyv_cox]

Thanks vyv and plan to have a look at it properky when lockdown here in the canaries allows me to get any spares required as we are livi g abourd the boat here and can't be without the hot water (the wife anyway!).

Any paint recommendation?

Nothing all that special. Rustoleum does a good job but it may depend what you can source out there.

 

[Iliade]

Throw in some rock salt ;0)

[For some reason beyond me the quoted post about osmosis has fallen off]