Pesky Bilge

jcwads

jcwads

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Hello All

Still being a relative newbie I was hoping for some advice.

The Monterey 275 is out the water for winter, and I spent a good half day in November cleaning out, scrubbing and drying my engine bilge until it was squeaky clean and shining and bone dry.

I was down at the boat this morning and did a quick engine bay inspection. There is a good 2 / 3 inches of water in the bilge!!

I've stored her with the tonneau cover tightly on, so I have zero idea how water has ingressed or collected in there unless a magical bilge fairy has been playing tricks on me.

Any suggestions?

Jonathan
 
Pipe or /and a tank leaking ?

1-If its not come in from rain ---- then its leaked out of something .
2-Or it's been in another space and is seeping into the ER bilge --- are you sure it ALL -every space ,was dry ?
3- condensation -a UK phenomenon -- no ventilation and damp air on cold surface ,like a tonneau --
They use this method in the dessert to collect water at night as the air cools .
 
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Pretty sure it was all dry when I left in in November. Not sure if anything is leaking because fresh water tank was drained and grey water tank also.
 
jcwads said:
Pretty sure it was all dry when I left in in November. Not sure if anything is leaking because fresh water tank was drained and grey water tank also.
Click to expand...
That only leaves the black tank. Time for the famous motorboat forum taste test
 
Sounds lovely. I had meant in my previous post that the black water tank is drained, so no urine tasting on the cards....
 
Tonneau is cockpit to stern. Bow is exposed. I believe the anchor locker has its own drain hole off the bow. I'm hoping it's perhaps massive condensation... no dehumidifier device or heater in engine bay.
 
I haven't seen an american day boat/weekender that didn't leak rainwater somewhere, often around engine intakes or deck fittings or rubbing strake mounting rivets. Look for water marks running down the hull in the engine bay and behind lockers.
 
I had a long term leak that was finding its way into the boat and after months I tracked it down to the horn. It was one of this U.S. Type compact horns that had an external grill on the side of the topside. Problem was when it poured a stream of water ran right over it and the membrane on the horn cover was dodgy - turning it into a hosing into the cabin space.

So look at every fitting that's exposed and remember everything (should) flow to the bilge so the entry point could be anywhere.

You can also get the hose out and check for leaks that way - but that takes time and patience to track it down.
 
I,m with you on squeaky clean and dry, squirt some talcum powder around to find where the ingress of water is running

into engine bay, could also be as its on the hard water is draining into the lowest part of the boat from concealed parts of

bilge .
 
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My guess is that the storage angle on the hard does not match the waterline - ie its natural angle. It may be a bit stern high and rainwater is getting in some how. I had this issue with my boat until the yard changed the cradle angle and after a pump out I never had the issue again
 
spannerman said:
I haven't seen an american day boat/weekender that didn't leak rainwater somewhere, often around engine intakes or deck fittings or rubbing strake mounting rivets. Look for water marks running down the hull in the engine bay and behind lockers.
Click to expand...

I had a 1999 Four Winns Sundowner 225; always a bone dry bilge.

The two Four Winns boats I subsequently had very wet ( rainwater) filled bilges

I always ensure the angle in storage means water can drain out ( drain plug removed)
 
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