8.6 Meter Water tank leaking

[vickyb]

Hello All

I need some help as I am having an issue with water leaking in my 87 Trojan 8.6 Meter when filling my water tank. Water is coming up through the floor and also slowly filling my forward bilge compartment and I am not quite sure where the leak is.

I have tried troubleshooting by having someone watch the water tank fill up while I was top side with a water hose. We couldn't see much out of the ordinary, other than a bit of water building up behind the tank towards the stern. No hoses were visibly leaking and the leak appears to be coming from under the floor.

Due to the design, the filling hose comes down the starboard side, through the berth closet, under the floor and up to the top side of the water tank which is under the front bed. The hose is a U shape so water is trapped... I am thinking it could have frozen and burst the pipe at some point. About 4 feet of the hose where the leak is happening is under the flooring which I haven't been able to get up. This leak could also be from a water pipe in the same area heading to the pump... I am not quite sure as I haven't been able to rip up the plywood floor and didn't want to force it too hard.

Here are 3 images of the tank and leaking area behind the front bed.

http://postimg.org/gallery/79bb1nak/

I tried taking out the screws in the flooring and prying it... should I just try harder?

Any thoughts about next steps? Thx

[RWS]

An armchair diagnosis on this is difficult.

perhaps replacing the inlet hose would be a good start.

Perhaps there is a problem with the fresh water hose/connection to the pump?

Split/worn hose?

Broken clamp?

My assistance is limited on this item, as my own arrangement is different with the 10 meter.

RWS

[capngeo]

I just bought a 8.6 M last week and I'm having a similar issue.
History: Fresh water system was working fine but water was stale. Emptied the tank through the faucets. Refilled the tank and gave it a try. No water was pumping (pump was running) and what was dripping still had the same stale smell. I'm thinking the leak is somewhere in the fill line and all the water I added went to the bilge. I'm pulling up plywood under the bed this evening and will keep you advised of results.

[vickyb]

Though I removed the screws of the floorboard, I cannot seem to remove the floor boards. they seem stuck.. any ideas?

[todd brinkerhoff]

If your pump works and you are only getting a trickle of water, you probably have a leak somewhere in the line. Also, if your pump doesn't shut off on its own isca sign of a leak. If your water stinks, that smell permeates into the vinyl hoses, and no matter how many times you flush the system with bleach or cheap vodka, that smell will always come back. I am in the process of replacing all my plumbing with PEX 1/2 hosing as I had the same issue.

[RWS]

I just bought a 8.6 M last week and I'm having a similar issue.
History: Fresh water system was working fine but water was stale. Emptied the tank through the faucets. Refilled the tank and gave it a try. No water was pumping (pump was running) and what was dripping still had the same stale smell. I'm thinking the leak is somewhere in the fill line and all the water I added went to the bilge. I'm pulling up plywood under the bed this evening and will keep you advised of results.

===========================================================================================

my bet is the pump lost it's prime.

RWS