LEAK OF SS WATER TANK. ADVISE NEEDED !!

[eastmed]

after founding some fresh water in the bilge i checked all the fresh water pipes but found no leaks.
after pumping the bilge the fresh water shown again so i suspect the water comes from the ss tank that seats in the keel above the ballast .
i opened the cleaning cover but did not found by eye some kind of hole etc.i can not see from the opening the fore part of the tank so maybe the leak comes from that part .
how can i find that leak ? any advise will be most welcomed.

 

[Mudplugger]

A sprinkling of talcum powder around the tank ( if you can get to it) will give you an idea where the f/water is coming from. Is it Rain Water?

 

[sjohn_gibson]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you did ask. Had similar problem myself when I filled the tanks after a 3 year refit project. Corrosion along the welded seams and were weeping. Unplanned mega expenditure for new tanks - got plastic ones from TEK Tank.

 

[Avocet]

If you can block the breather off and put a very small pressure into the tank with a bicycle pump or something similar, you might accelerate the leak and make it a bit more obvious so that it's easier to find. Is the tank relatively easy to get out? If so, just heave it out and get it re-welded. If not, I can heartily recommend Tek Tanks - they did me a really nice water tank from my own drawings.

 

[tcm]

put a harmeless dye in the freshwater tank - such that you could shower in it put can still see it in the bilge, perhaps, like red or green cake colouring. Engines often spout expansion tanks into the bilge and twd be a shame to replace otherwise good tanks.

 

[eastmed]

THANKS TO ALL !!

THE WATER IN THE BILGE IS NOT FROM RAIN/WASH ETC.
I WILL TRY TO PUT SOME PRESSURE IN IT AND SEE.
THE TANK IS SECURED BY SOME RESINE TO THE HULL SO TO REMOVE IT WILL BE A BIG JOB.

 

[eastmed]

THANK YOU
I PLANNED TO PUT SOME EDIBLE COLOR TO BE SURE THE WATER COMES FROM THE TANK.