MF805 bilge water flowing forward and appearing under cabin floor boards

[Manxy123]

Does anyone else have this problem. Any small leak from the stern gland area makes its way through the bilge hole under shaft into a bilge tunnel running the length of the boat. As the boat lies down by the head, it collects forward and appears through two holes at the top of the bilge tunnel. One under the steps down to the sleeping cabin and one under the boards in the sleeping cabin.
not having a dry boat is really p***ing me off. Any help out there?

 

[simonfraser]

how come it lies down by the head, tip it the other way ?

 

[jamie langstone]

Does anyone else have this problem. Any small leak from the stern gland area makes its way through the bilge hole under shaft into a bilge tunnel running the length of the boat. As the boat lies down by the head, it collects forward and appears through two holes at the top of the bilge tunnel. One under the steps down to the sleeping cabin and one under the boards in the sleeping cabin.
not having a dry boat is really p***ing me off. Any help out there?

I have the same problem in my 805 . I have found that my hot water tanks vents off in to the bilge so I have rooted it in to a separate collection tank. Where the front bulkhead is underneath the front hatch to the bow thruster is I have drilled a hole so that I can get a tube down to the bottom of the boat to collect the water . 18 litres I have had out before.

 

[Plum]

Does anyone else have this problem. Any small leak from the stern gland area makes its way through the bilge hole under shaft into a bilge tunnel running the length of the boat. As the boat lies down by the head, it collects forward and appears through two holes at the top of the bilge tunnel. One under the steps down to the sleeping cabin and one under the boards in the sleeping cabin.
not having a dry boat is really p***ing me off. Any help out there?

So is your stern gland leaking? What type is it?

 

[Manxy123]

how come it lies down by the head, tip it the other way ?

It seems to be the way it’s designed. Unless other MF805 owners tell me different. Even without anchor chain and me on the end of the swim platform (110kg) she‘s just about even keel It would take a lot of sand bag ballast to get her to sit right for the bilge arrangement.

 

[Manxy123]

So is your stern gland leaking? What type is it?

Just fitted new Volvo stern gland. After burping the water stops. But there is a slight drip from the hull around the front end of the gland. Presumably the stern tube itself. It’s manageable if it collected in the lazarette bilge under the shaft and did not disappear and collect forward. I’m thinking of plugging the bilge hole under the shaft. Has anyone other ideas?

 

[Plum]

Just fitted new Volvo stern gland. After burping the water stops. But there is a slight drip from the hull around the front end of the gland. Presumably the stern tube itself. It’s manageable if it collected in the lazarette bilge under the shaft and did not disappear and collect forward. I’m thinking of plugging the bilge hole under the shaft. Has anyone other ideas?

Hopefully you can find the source of and fix that slight drip. Was the drip there before you fitted the new gland? Is it from where the VP gland clamps to the stern tube? When tightening the clamp there is a tendency for the rubber to get nipped in the closing part of the clamp and allow a tiny channel for water to leak in. Did you fit the supplied little plastic sheet under the clamp to prevent this? Also, do you have a water feed hose going to the stern tube to lubricate the bearings? Is that dripping where it connects to the stern tube?

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Manxy123]

Hopefully you can find the source of and fix that slight drip. Was the drip there before you fitted the new gland? Is it from where the VP gland clamps to the stern tube? When tightening the clamp there is a tendency for the rubber to get nipped in the closing part of the clamp and allow a tiny channel for water to leak in. Did you fit the supplied little plastic sheet under the clamp to prevent this? Also, do you have a water feed hose going to the stern tube to lubricate the bearings? Is that dripping where it connects to the stern tube?

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

Thanks. The drip seems to from around the gland. There is no feed pipe. In the photo you can see the gland and the discoloured area where I think it’s dripping from. Also in the other photo you see the bilge well and bilge hole going forward

 

[Plum]

Thanks. The drip seems to from around the gland. There is no feed pipe. In the photo you can see the gland and the discoloured area where I think it’s dripping from. Also in the other photo you see the bilge well and bilge hole going forward

I don't have the same boat so can't be specific. Looking at that discoloured area of GRP it look more like the water is from between the hull moulding and the inner moulding and not necessarily from the stern tube. I had the same problem on my Antares 760 with water collecting at rest under the sole of the fore cabin. Very difficult to find the source as once underway and the bow rises any water finds its way to the back of the boat travelling through the myriad of cavities and channels between the hull and interior mouldings. Mine has the same large hole you have above your stern tube just half visible at the top of your picture that is looking aft and I had water visible in that hole. Turned out that I had two sources. One was the pressure relief valve on the calorifier up forward that had a short hose that just went into the void between the mouldings (it now feeds into a half litre pot that i empty occasionally). The other was the seal at the top of the rudder stock that although above the waterline so no leakage at rest, leaked in rough water (new seal fitted).

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Tranona]

That drip could be from the bond breaking between the stern tube and the hull. Difficult to be precise without knowing what is bonded to what and where the water is likely to be coming from. Not sure why you have an earthing wire attached to the stern tube as even if it is metal it does not need bonding to an anode.

 

[SimonD]

IMHO the Volvo supplied clamp is a poor design. Once the faces of the clamp come together, it cannot be tightened further. (Doubtless they claim it's a design feature.) Looks like that's what's happened to yours. Fine if it's got a good grip on the stern tube but useless if not. Could you replace it with a couple of jubilee clips while in the water?

 

[Manxy123]

I don't have the same boat so can't be specific. Looking at that discoloured area of GRP it look more like the water is from between the hull moulding and the inner moulding and not necessarily from the stern tube. I had the same problem on my Antares 760 with water collecting at rest under the sole of the fore cabin. Very difficult to find the source as once underway and the bow rises any water finds its way to the back of the boat travelling through the myriad of cavities and channels between the hull and interior mouldings. Mine has the same large hole you have above your stern tube just half visible at the top of your picture that is looking aft and I had water visible in that hole. Turned out that I had two sources. One was the pressure relief valve on the calorifier up forward that had a short hose that just went into the void between the mouldings (it now feeds into a half litre pot that i empty occasionally). The other was the seal at the top of the rudder stock that although above the waterline so no leakage at rest, leaked in rough water (new seal fitted).

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

Thanks for the response. The water that collects is dock water so I’m not worried about the calorifier and we just changed the rudder stock gland ( which took some doing!) at the same time as the stern gland.

 

[Manxy123]

IMHO the Volvo supplied clamp is a poor design. Once the faces of the clamp come together, it cannot be tightened further. (Doubtless they claim it's a design feature.) Looks like that's what's happened to yours. Fine if it's got a good grip on the stern tube but useless if not. Could you replace it with a couple of jubilee clips while in the water?

That’s a very good point and it is difficult to actually see the water coming in. It could be where the gland clamps on the stern tube. Regardless though it’s the water tracking forward that’s the issue and driving me nuts . It should be able to cope with some ingress. I just want a Dry boat in the accommodation.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Bit of a design flaw on the 805. There are also some large holes in the hull liner beneath the engine, too much engine washing and the water gets under the liner, might be possible to suck it out from there with a roaming pump.

When i had my 805 i cut a hole (about 6" if i recall) in the aft end of the lazarette locker and fitted an inspection hatch. Open the hatch and mop the water out with a sponge while the boat is underway, on the plane.

 

[Manxy123]

Bit of a design flaw on the 805. There are also some large holes in the hull liner beneath the engine, too much engine washing and the water gets under the liner, might be possible to suck it out from there with a roaming pump.

When i had my 805 i cut a hole (about 6" if i recall) in the aft end of the lazarette locker and fitted an inspection hatch. Open the hatch and mop the water out with a sponge while the boat is underway, on the plane.

Thanks. Did you mean forward end of lazarette locker between lazarette and engine bay?

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thanks. Did you mean forward end of lazarette locker between lazarette and engine bay?

No, right at the aft end. With the boat on the plane all of the water runs back there.

 

[QBhoy]

Possibly just the picture angles…but jeez…sure looks like there is a fair bit of an offset angle to that shaft entering the gland.

 

[rich]

I’m on a mud drying mooring,the boat sits bow down, every time it rains I have to go and vacuum it out, with my battery power vacuum, it’s not deep enough for a pump.