Water in the bilge - update

[Graham_Wright]

Following on from the mystery (Water in the bilge), my boat has spent a couple of months under (hard) cover with periodic heat from IR lamps.
Moisture readings showed no decrease.

Eventually realising the boat will live considerably longer than I will irrespective of what I do (barring loss!) we applied two coats of epoxy and five of Coppercoat.

The latter took eight continuous hours for just the two of us.

During the period under cover, I accidentally switched on the engine room bilge pump. Wondering what the noise was, I peered over the transom (where all the pumps exit) to find a considerable jet of water cascading over the "discussion area" where the pontificators put the club and the world in general to right. Fortunately, the chair normally occupied by arguably the least easy going member, had been vacated some time previously.

As the boat had been wet-vacced dry throughout at the time of moving, this was baffling.

We then moved out into open storage ashore.

A week ago, I happened to look in the saloon bilge and found a considerable amount of water. Probably around 3-4 gallons. There had been no rain and, like the other bilges, it had been dry prior to going under cover.

The only conclusion I can guess at is that the infra red lamps had driven the moisture trapped in the lay up to the inside surface.

The dehumidifier continues to supply potable water in reasonable quantities even with the hatch closed.

Take comfort if you have a similar problem.

 

[Stemar]

around 3-4 gallons. ...
The only conclusion I can guess at is that the infra red lamps had driven the moisture trapped in the lay up to the inside surface.

That sounds like a lot of moisture to come out of the layup. Any chance of a leak in the fresh water tank?

 

[sailorbenji]

Are you sure you don't have a leak in your freshwater system? That sounds like a lot of moisture.

Sorry, posted same time as Stemar with same comment.

 

[Boathook]

That sounds like a lot of moisture to come out of the layup. Any chance of a leak in the fresh water tank?

Or a sealed 'compartment' somewhere where the seal has failed. My boat had quite a few but I think that I have managed to find them all over the years.

 

[Graham_Wright]

If you read the original post, you will see that is not the case.
There is no water tank (removed for cleaning) and the boat is inside a shed so no rain water!

 

[Restoration man]

I doubt that water came out of the layup of the hull , people often think the hull takes up massive amounts of water but infact it’s is very little from what I’ve read , I think is more likely come from the wooden cores in the stringers , any water in the bilges gets sucked up into the timber cores of the stringers, I think it’s far more likely that when drying the hull the water has leached back out of the stringers , I think this might be the water you’re finding in the bilge ??

 

[Graham_Wright]

I'm not sure that the volume of the stringers could hold the quantity concerned!

 

[geem]

I'm not sure that the volume of the stringers could hold the quantity concerned!

Is the hull cored? 3or4 gallons is a huge amount of water. Assuming you have a cored hull, how do you expect the moisture is getting out if the core? It's encased in grp. It won't come out easily unless you drill holes through the inner laminate and hot vacuum the moisture out. If it's solid glass layup there is no way the water is coming from the glass.

 

[jordanbasset]

With the boat being moved, it could be some water trapped in one part of the boat moves around to another part of the boat and into the bilges of the lowest part of the boat

 

[Graham_Wright]

Simple layup. Gel coat on the outside, naked on the inside.

The boat has always suffered with considerable condensation.

I silly need to empty the dehumidifier twice a day.

 

[geem]

Simple layup. Gel coat on the outside, naked on the inside.

The boat has always suffered with considerable condensation.

I silly need to empty the dehumidifier twice a day.

There is no way the moisture could be coming from the solid glass hull. It physically couldn't hold that much moisture. What about the deck? Is that cored? Have the got the boat sealed up airtight whilst you are using the dehumidifier? Block any dorades or vents to outside. There really must be some other explanation

 

[sarabande]

Graham

what's the bilge like please ? Deep/shallow ? Does it refill in dry weather afloat ? After rain when ashore ?

 

[roaringgirl]

3 gallons is not water coming out of the layup. It has been trapped somewhere and has run down into the bilge when the boat is moved.

 

[LadyInBed]

On my Colvic Countess CC bilge keel there are three bilges.
Under the engine, under the saloon and fore cabin and a small deeper one at the aft of the saloon, just forward of the saloon entrance steps.
Which bilge is the water collecting in?

 

[LittleSister]

The boat has always suffered with considerable condensation.

There is no way, in my view, that an unoccupied boat (in the UK) would accumulate 3 to 4 gallons of condensation in a couple of months, even if it were outside rather than under cover as yours was.

I silly need to empty the dehumidifier twice a day.

Is the boat sealed from the atmosphere? Otherwise your dehumidifier is trying to dry out the universe! Even so, I wouldn't expect it to need emptying that often.

 

[LadyInBed]

The boat has always suffered with considerable condensation.

That's strange, mine sits on a fore and aft river mooring all year round and is as dry as a bone.
The only area that was subject to any leakage was around the pilot house sliding hatch, I solved that by putting a fabric cover over the hatchway.
Also, when I leave the boat, I have a cockpit cover, as water can dribble in around the engine removal cover in the sole of the cockpit.

 

[Boathook]

Simple layup. Gel coat on the outside, naked on the inside.

The boat has always suffered with considerable condensation.

I silly need to empty the dehumidifier twice a day.

My boat suffered from condensation during the winter so I just increased the ventilation. Now not a problem. Whilst I have electrics available I prefer to leave the boat shutdown when I'm not there.

 

[Graham_Wright]

To recap;-

The boat was under cover and before entry had dry bilges.

Two bilges subsequently gained water. There was evidence of the hull drying (according to the moisture meter readings) but above the water line and only slightly.

It was during the period under cover that the bilges acquired water.

The boat is sealed during humidifier activity.

 

[snowbird30ds]

Dry it out and chuck some chalk dust around to see where it's coming from.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Dry it out and chuck some chalk dust around to see where it's coming from.

Blue paper towel is also useful for leak detection, a tip given to me by a boatyard worker.