Water leak somewhere

[Miker]

I have had my yacht in the marina all winter, but have used it very little apart from turning the engine over. In March I motored 3 miles to my YC for the boat to be taken out and antifouled etc. In the engine space was about a teacup of water which I wiped up.
On returning to the marine a month later the same amount of water leaked in.
I suspect the engine hoses but what I am wondering is whether it is likely that water would come in through the Volvo stern gland while motoring, if there is no ingress while moored in the marina.

 

[ianat182]

Perhaps the Volvo stern gland needs'burping' as it has been out of the water for a while ?

 

[webcraft]

[ QUOTE ]
what I am wondering is whether it is likely that water would come in through the Volvo stern gland while motoring

[/ QUOTE ] It could if the shaft was out of alignment - I've seen it.

Sorry if I am asking a stupid question, but wouldn't the easiest way to check be to watch it while you are motoring?

- W

 

[Ceejay]

Is it sea water or fresh water? I get fresh water in the bilge below the engine, but I reckon it comes from the fresh water supply system and only when the pump is switched on. I can't for the life of me find the leak though.
CJ

 

[Miker]

I checked the fresh water system but no water loss. I ran the engine in gear while tied up back at the marina. The prop shaft looked OK and no water appeared to come in from anywhere.
Yes, the next task is to watch for leaks while on a longer run, both under power and sail. I'm thinking of putting a small plastic tray under the shaft seal to see if there are any drips.

 

[johnalison]

As well as the above, water can leak from the water pump, overflow if fresh water/coolant gets hot, and from a syphon-break Y-tube in the water intake.

 

[Miker]

Thanks. The hose system on the outlet side of the heat exchanger is the favourite, then the shaft seal, because where the water was accumulated. There was no water under the engine and there is a raised section immediately behind the engine. Although I accept that water can move around, as in trying to find water ingress on a leaky roof!

 

[Richard10002]

Is it salty or fresh?

 

[Anonymous]

As others have asked, salt or fresh? But generally there are salt crystals around in a bilge so even if you poured a teacup of fresh water into the bilge it would probably taste salty.

Chances are that it is condensation, not a leak, anyway. A teacup a month is pretty small - though does depend on the size of the teacup, I suppose /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Reminds me of years ago when I had an abdominal pain and went to see my old (as in very old) Dr and told him that I got this pain whenever the cat sat on my abdomen...."is that normal?", I asked. "Depends on the size of the cat", he said.

But to be sure, get some absorbent paper (blue is ideal) and put pads around near to hoses and seacocks and you'll soon see where it's coming from if a leak. Otherwise if you look carefully with a torch, you might see signs of ingress -- if from a seacock it might have a blueish tinge.

 

[wp1234]

Had a water leak on my boat last year ,large amount ended up in the bilges. After thinking it was an engine hose or the like I discovered a small hole on the top of a fresh water tank which could only be seen when the tank contents were being moved about at sea or being pressed up with fresh water.

 

[Stemar]

Shake some powder around suspect areas. Even a few drops will leave tracks in it. Nick some talc from a convenient female or use foot powder, cornstarch - whatever's handy.

 

[Miker]

It is not the fresh water tank because it it empty and in another compartment. There was too much water for condensation, especially as I had wiped up all the water before the latest 3 mile trip.
I went to the boat again today and ran the engine for a while, but no leak. Checked the hose clips but all tight. I am a bit suspicious of the silencer box as the rim at the back looks rather rusty and on the first occurence the water was a brown colour and slightly oily(?). I am wondering whether the latter was antifreeze that I had pumped through the raw water system after lifting out. Last time on the way back, the water was clear.
Talc sounds a good idea for the next trip.

 

[rivonia]

Re putting paper around it will usually get wet as most of them condensate. I had the same problem and after much worry found out it was water expansion from the fresh water cooling.Good luck hope you find as it was a worry for me and probably is for you

 

[Miker]

Went for a sail for 3 hours today. I placed a paper towel under the prop shaft seal which remained dry so that is one worry less. No leak at all so I am still puzzled. It can't be from the fresh water system as the expansion tube comes out in a different place and water couldn't have travelled from there. I still suspect the exhaust system and will have to keep a watchful eye on the problem. As you say, quite worrying as it could suddenly get worse.