Where did the water go?!

[ThrilloPads]

I had a bit of a plumbing nightmare this morning, when I realized the grey water pipe from the shower had come loose. As such, at least 2x showers' lot of water was spilling into the bilge. All fixed now.... but the real mystery was where the water actually went!

This particular part of the bilge is less familiar to me... and what struck me as odd was, despite the considerable amount of water, I couldn't find where it had traveled to. It disappeared under the the internal part of the propeller shaft, which makes it hard to track the water flow, however, I'm unable to work out where it goes next...

I checked the bilge in the engine room, to see if it was draining into there, but there was no evidence this was happening at all. I have a fear it might be going into the keel or similar, which is a terrible thought.

• Has anyone got any suggestions on how I can work this out?
• And also, if it has got into a tight space somewhere, what the best way to remove the water? My wet hoover would likely be too large, but I was trying to think if I could attach a piece of flexible thin pipe somehow...

I have a steel boat, so the thought of water sitting out of reach is slightly terrifying!

Thanks so much.

 

[TQA]

Automatic bilge pump ?

 

[longjohnsilver]

A Pela vacuum pump with a long pipe should get where your Hoover can't.

Are you sure that an auto bilge pump hasn't already got rid of the overflow?

 

[ThrilloPads]

Sorry, I should have mentioned. I did check the bilge pump that I could see... but when I put my hand around it, it was completely dry. It was like the water was disappearing off before it was getting to it. :ambivalence:

The vacuum pump idea is a good one. I will see if I can get a longer pipe for mine...

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Sorry, I should have mentioned. I did check the bilge pump that I could see... but when I put my hand around it, it was completely dry. It was like the water was disappearing off before it was getting to it. :ambivalence:

The vacuum pump idea is a good one. I will see if I can get a longer pipe for mine...

I needed to extend the hose on my Pela recently and I found that semi-rigid small-bore irrigation delivery pipe was perfect (don't know where you are, but this stuff is widely available in France, for example). You need a reasonably rigid pipe so it doesn't collapse on itself under suction.

 

[ThrilloPads]

I needed to extend the hose on my Pela recently and I found that semi-rigid small-bore irrigation delivery pipe was perfect (don't know where you are, but this stuff is widely available in France, for example). You need a reasonably rigid pipe so it doesn't collapse on itself under suction.

Thank you, I wasn't familiar with those pipes, but I've just googled them and think I've found a relatively well priced supplier. I'll take this into consideration - this looks like good option

 

[RichardS]

Sorry, I should have mentioned. I did check the bilge pump that I could see... but when I put my hand around it, it was completely dry. It was like the water was disappearing off before it was getting to it. :ambivalence:

The vacuum pump idea is a good one. I will see if I can get a longer pipe for mine...

Are you sure that you don't have more than one auto bilge pump? I have 4 auto pumps and 2 manuals in my hulls.

Richard

 

[ThrilloPads]

Just an update on this. I managed to use plastic piping and a water hoover to remove the water - worked quite well in the end. Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not sure it got everything, but it seemed to get the majority.

I'm now fairly certain it is going into the keel. With all the condensation this winter, I'm a little concerned it's constantly wet in the keel. I've wondered whether I can seal up the hole into the keel somehow, but read online that this might not be a good idea.

I was looking to see if there are any other reasonable solutions. I saw someone suggest that you can fill keels up with water soluble oils, and I wondered if this could be a good solution to inhibit any rusting? Is there anything else anyone might suggest?

Thanks very much!

 

[ShinyShoe]

Is there anything else anyone might suggest?

A bilge pump in the keel

 

[ThrilloPads]

A bilge pump in the keel

This isn't an option unfortunately. The propeller shaft I mentioned above means that the only access to below is via a 3cm gap either side of it. Essentially that's part of the problem , the access to the keel is very limited.

This is why I ended up having to use a tube for the water hoover in my original challenge, because it was the only way I could fit something in and get water out of it.

Hope that provides a little more context.

 

[pvb]

This isn't an option unfortunately. The propeller shaft I mentioned above means that the only access to below is via a 3cm gap either side of it. Essentially that's part of the problem , the access to the keel is very limited.

You could always put a pipe down into the keel, with a Gulper-type pump to suck the water out.

 

[ShinyShoe]

Small pump like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1000L-H-...sid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10&var=521710342795 might just squeeze in there and would cope with condensation. Wont cope with a flooding - but thats what your main bilge pump is for and then this tidies up the dregs.

Small auto switch cable tied alongside it.

All attached to a strip of metal which then has a L bend at the top to fasten...

(Or this one claims to be able to suck from 2m below it: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Priming-...765406&hash=item4678ea1539:g:cY4AAOSwU1RZfuQm -

So would just need to secure a pipe in the space and if you want an auto system a sensor...

 

[{151760}]

Is filling the keel space with some sort of closed-cell foam a good idea?