BILDGE PUMP ISSUE

kiltsup · Post by **kiltsup** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 10:57 pm

Seems my f-32 has taken on some water in the last week and the bildge pump has failed. So I am getting a new pump of course, my question is: how much water is normal for a boat to take on due to normalities?

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 6:40 am

Its normal to leak some at the shaft packing (slow drip ) more so under way , and of course rain water it can all add up but beyond that you should not have anymore sources on water ,

Danny Bailey · Post by **Danny Bailey** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 8:43 am

It appears your boat is in a covered slip?? All I get is rain water. If it doesn't rain, I don't have to check the boat.

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:10 pm

I agree with the first two posts - a little is normal but more than a little means you need to find the source of the water leak and get if fixed. A lot of what I call cosmetic leaks, leaks around the windows, or around the hatches, may never end up in the bilge so if you are seeing abnormal water levels there, something is amiss.

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 10:45 pm

With 'typically' adjusted stuffing boxes dripping perhaps 10x per minute (I know, everyone's number is different) it would take quite a long time for that to result in any noticeable accumulation.

If you are under cover you can pretty much rule out rain (unless the roof leaks really badly like my 'indoor' winter storage site!). Other possible culprits are leaks in the plumbing, either from dockside water source or your own fresh water tank/plumbing/water heater, or sweating from the A/C.

turtlem1969 · Post by **turtlem1969** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 2:26 am

could also be one of the 400,000 thru hull fittings on these boats,

kiltsup · Post by **kiltsup** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 6:09 pm

Went to West Marine and got a new 1800 GPM bildge pump. Seems there was water in both the front as well as the back. Now that the water is cleared out I will go 1 device at a time and try to investigate what is leaking, my guess is that a water intake or outlet is leaking directly into the boat.

gettaway · Post by **gettaway** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 6:45 pm

I have the same issue and had attributed the water to cleaning the bilge ans washing the boat, as there has been about 2 " of water where the forward pump is at. This past weekend I changed all of the holding tank hoses and throughly cleaned the bilge afterward, a nasty job after 30 years of engine goo running forward (stupid location) to the pump. ( I just bought the boat)
I went to the boat yesterday and once again there was about a 1/2" of clear water in the forward bilge, I put my little finger in the water and gave it a taste, it was salt water,I dried it and then took my flashlight and closley inspected the thu-hulls. sure enough, I had a leak in the starboard holding tank thru hull at the backing plate. tiny as in about one drop every few minutes, but it is still a leak. I soaked the jam nuts on all three thu hulls with penetrating oil, tested the pump switch and left boat.
I went back today and there was about 1/2 of water in the forward bilge. I took two pipe wrenches and tried to loosen the jam nut, and to my pleasant surprise it broke loose with ease. I tried to tighten to stop the leak but no luck and I do not want to break off the mushroom head while in the water, so I am going to have to remove and reseal the thru hull.

boating is fun!

jimbo36 · Post by **jimbo36** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 9:06 pm

Let's not forget the rudder posts run through a packing gland as well.

jimbo36