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Bilge Water
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Author:  mcraigchr [ Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:11 am ]
Post subject:  Bilge Water
Howdy folks,

I've touched on this subject in other posts, but the issue is becoming clearer day by day. I purchased my 248 recently and have managed to fix all of the "issues" thus far, with exception to this one.

First off, this boat is in a wet slip. I am taking on water from somewhere. I dried out the bilge last weekend. And I mean DRY. I have not run the A/C, engine or anything else.

I pulled the hatch and examined the bilge last night. I have an accumulation of water underneath the engine. Not much ... about 1 quart.

I assume that the bellows are leaking. Question is, which bellow? Exhaust or U-joint? How can I tell? What else could it be?

Thanks,
Craig C.
2003 Vista 248, 5.0 GXi-C, Volvo Penta DP DuoProp DP-SM 1.95
Author:  Cap'n Morgan [ Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bilge Water
1 quart = Rainwater. Either bellows would leak more than that, and your bilge pump would be running regularly.
Author:  mcraigchr [ Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bilge Water
Cap'n Morgan wrote:
1 quart = Rainwater. Either bellows would leak more than that, and your bilge pump would be running regularly.


I'm under cover. Plus ... there hasn't been any rain this week. Any other ideas?

Craig C.
Author:  jsimon [ Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bilge Water
My drive bellows had a crack in it last year. I couldn't figure out where the water was coming in at, until the gimbal bearing started getting noisy, thin i knew. I would get more than a quart though over a weekend, but it didn't come in to the point the bilge pump ran alot either.
Author:  mcraigchr [ Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bilge Water
jsimon wrote:
My drive bellows had a crack in it last year. I couldn't figure out where the water was coming in at, until the gimbal bearing started getting noisy, thin i knew. I would get more than a quart though over a weekend, but it didn't come in to the point the bilge pump ran alot either.


And what "noise" would I notice from the gimbal? Since this boat is rather new to me, I am not in tune with the mechanical music it makes.

I have noticed that steering tends to be a little sticky (not smooth turning ... more of a perforated feel). Would that be related?

Craig C.
Author:  JAK [ Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Bilge Water
Fresh water plumbing to the water heater or transom shower have a slow leak? Doesn't take much of a drip over a weeks time to accumulate a quart.
Author:  jsimon [ Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Bilge Water
JAK wrote:
Fresh water plumbing to the water heater or transom shower have a slow leak? Doesn't take much of a drip over a weeks time to accumulate a quart.


That is a great point!! For that little water I would check that first. The gimbal bearing noise is something I cant really describe except to say that, if you are going straight and not trimmed up much it the noise is non existent, but the harder you turn left or right or the more you trim the drive up, the louder it gets.

OK Ill try to describe its kinda a knocking rusty bearing you know something is wrong noise. :mrgreen:
Author:  AlexJ [ Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Bilge Water
I had water that I could not find where it was coming from until one night on board I heard it dripping in the engine compartment. I found that my exhaust elbow was leaking at the strap. Tightened it then I found a pin hole in the port side exhaust pipe. Enough of a drip that it collected water in the bilge over time. Fixed that with some gorilla tape.
Author:  mcraigchr [ Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bilge Water
AlexJ wrote:
I had water that I could not find where it was coming from until one night on board I heard it dripping in the engine compartment. I found that my exhaust elbow was leaking at the strap. Tightened it then I found a pin hole in the port side exhaust pipe. Enough of a drip that it collected water in the bilge over time. Fixed that with some gorilla tape.


Thanks for the information.

Last night I went back to the slip and pull both hatches and the back seat off so that I could get as far back in the bilge as possible.

Again, 1 qt of water underneath the engine. Dry as a bone all around it, no trails of water or drips that I could see. I vacuumed up the water and dried up the damp leftovers. I put a bunch of paper towels in the bilge hoping that if I waited a couple of hours, part of the paper towels would be wet and I would, at the very least, know from what direction the water is coming from.

2 hours later, dry as a bone. I did check the exhaust elbows and all around the transom where the engine mates to the outdrive. Not only dry ... dusty.

I'm no closer to figuring this out unfortunately. Keep the good ideas coming ...

Craig C.
Author:  Graham R [ Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bilge Water
The water you're finding isn't necessarily originating in the engine compartment; could it be coming from the bilge somewhere further forward and running down into the engine bilge? (certainly on my Sundowner, the engine compartment bilge is connected to the bilge under the fuel tank and quite possibly further forwards as well. At rest, the engine bilge seems to be the lowest point and any water getting in elsewhere always ends up there)

Graham
Author:  mcraigchr [ Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bilge Water
Graham R wrote:
The water you're finding isn't necessarily originating in the engine compartment; could it be coming from the bilge somewhere further forward and running down into the engine bilge? (certainly on my Sundowner, the engine compartment bilge is connected to the bilge under the fuel tank and quite possibly further forwards as well. At rest, the engine bilge seems to be the lowest point and any water getting in elsewhere always ends up there)

Graham


Good question. I can't imagine where that much water is coming from unless the fresh toilet water holding tank has a leak? I'm certain it isn't the black water tank (for obvious reasons). We don't run the sinks, shower or toilets. I'm stumped.

I will check the connections on the fresh water tank in the mid-cabin.

What I need to do is find some of that paper that turns colors when it gets wet. Strategically place it at the fore, aft and both sides of the bilge under the engine to see if I can get an idea of what direction the water is trickling in from.

Craig C.
Author:  mad.deroeven [ Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bilge Water
my water accumulation was due to the seawater pumps leaking past the seal, standing no leak, running no real leak, soon as she is shut down head pressure on the pump from the hose, it leaks past seal, on both engines, stealer is replacing both pumps, but I believe a seal kit can be had for these
Author:  mcraigchr [ Mon Jul 20, 2009 7:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bilge Water
UPDATE!

Found the leak (I think). After spending an hour in the bilge last Thursday evening, I was sitting on the starboard shelf taking a rest with my arm resting atop the fresh water tank. Pulled my arm back ... my shirt was soaked. I got to looking and water was oozing out of the top of the fresh water tank where, what I assume to be, the tank level sensor is.

I dried the top, drained a couple of gallons off of the tank and and the bilge has been bone dry since. I even took it out on the lake Saturday ... popped the hatch when I got back. No water.

Frustration aside, I found this discovery to be great news since I had originally thought it was the bellows.

Craig C.
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