Freshwater leakage

Author

Message

Topic Search

Topic Options

CharlesP

Admiral

Joined: 23 September 2010
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1208

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote CharlesP

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: 01 August 2011 at 12:59

Check also the water storage tank and it's inlet and outlet (and inspection hatch if it has one)

Charles

'MERIDIAN LADY'

320 Nr 536 2010

Medway

lobstar

Lieutenant

Joined: 15 May 2008
Location: Netherlands
Status: Offline
Points: 21

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote lobstar

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: 10 August 2011 at 21:11

Hi all,

This weekend I opened all floor parts in my boat to locate the leakage (fresh water, not salty). There was some water under the left and right panels in the salon (so not in the owners, nor under the middle panels). Furthermore there was/is some in the lowest parts of the bilge (which hardly can be reached). All this water will be pumped out at this moment.

This still does not explain the cause of the leakage. Talking to a technician he told me that the fact that the water pump sometimes suddenly and for a short time 'pumps' - without opening a faucet - indicates some leak in the fresh water system since the pump keeps the pressure on 2.8 bar.

Now the quest for the leak continues... All faucets seem not to be leaking, also the water tank in the front seems without leak. So the most probable location is somewhere behind the left panels in the salon. Does anyone have any suggestion? This would be most helpful...

Thnx.

Robert

Windsurfer View Drop Down

Rear Admiral

Joined: 07 April 2010
Status: Offline
Points: 614

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote Windsurfer

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: 10 August 2011 at 22:25

Provided the connections near the faucets as well as around pumps are dry the first thing you should check is the T-connections...on my boat these are pretty hard to reach and even to see...a minor leak is quite possible here...the water heater might also leak for example due to heat expansion...then the water penetrates the holes in the tank compartment when the boat heels and finally ends up in the bilge...these are first guesses...
Good luck...

Hanse 320 #079
White hull, tiller, short keel and rudder, standard North sails, Sparcraft rig

leilani

Lieutenant

Joined: 26 July 2011
Status: Offline
Points: 29

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote leilani

Report Post

Thanks(1)

Quote

Posted: 12 August 2011 at 13:31

Hi Robert,

It sounds like you have a similar problem to what we have been experiencing. We have been getting water in the bilge for over two years and believe that there must be a harline fracture in the plumbing line as the problem occurs every time we spend a few consecutive days on the boat, using the shower/bathroom. Water slowly works it's way into areas and it's not untli we go sailing and the boat heels over that it slowly works it's way into bilge. The water pools in the bilge under the sink area. The water pump kicks in approximately every 15 minutes which suggests that there is a leak in the plumbing somewhere and the water pressure is not being maintained.

There is a previous post on the forum where another Hanse owner had to have new plumbing lines installed.

We have been emailing and notifying our agent for over 2 years now ( the problem has been evident since we took possession of the boat) and we are still waiting for a solution.

Arrangements have been made for a shipwright to check out our boat next week - I will let you know if and when we find a solution.

" Leilani "

cygnet

Sub Lieutenant

Joined: 29 May 2010
Location: Greece
Status: Offline
Points: 15

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote cygnet

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: 21 August 2011 at 10:06

Hello all. We had found a lot of fresh water in the bilges and could hear the pump running in short bursts when the boat was quiet. The deck shower mixer was the problem and putting the mixer handle to OFF after use solved the leak!

Kallisto

Lieutenant

Joined: 07 February 2007
Location: Germany
Status: Offline
Points: 48

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote Kallisto

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: 29 August 2011 at 12:20

Hi all,
had the same the problem with my 370 of 2008 last year (fresh water in the kitchen sink). The faucet of the stern shower was the problem: the thread of the plastic shower head was leaky (many very small holes), resulting in a small but continous flow along the water hose. Installing a new shower head fixed the problem.
Jochen

ThomShap

Sub Lieutenant

Joined: 27 September 2025
Location: Greece
Status: Offline
Points: 1

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote ThomShap

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: 27 September 2025 at 13:42

Hello, I’ve discovered this thread after searching for a leak in my 415, all the same symptoms as others, only it’s not the deck shower. Did anyone find a culprit?

Ratbasher

Vice Admiral

Joined: 31 May 2017
Location: Cyprus
Status: Offline
Points: 818

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote Ratbasher

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: 27 September 2025 at 17:40

Thomas - there's a variety of causes, most(!) of which are discussed on this forum.

As you're getting the same symptoms, I presume you're hearing the FW pump running when there's nothing open. At least then you know that it's coming from that system and not other common causes such as pressure-relief from the calorifier, rain ingress and sink pipes. It's unlikely (though not impossible) that a hose has been holed so it's a reasonable assumption the leak is on a join or connection and as far as I'm aware, all these are visible with perhaps some spinal contortion. It's surprising how hard it can be to spot water trickling down a surface sometimes but going over every fitting with tissue paper will show it up.

My boat's latest attempt at humour was a slow but steady leak from the connection with the service pipe at the pump itself. I'd checked the area previously with a flashlight and all seemed OK, but going over it with a tissue gave the evidence. Initially, I just changed the gasket but after a week the leak had returned. I removed the pump to have a closer look and found nothing wrong, but as the pump was 18 years old anyway I replaced it. Six months later with lots of use I've had no more leaks. I can only assume that the edges of the socket had worn.

Suggest you follow all pipework back from the water tank, wiping with tissue paper. Of course, water may move around the holes in the bilges, appearing some way away from the leak site.

Good luck

Iain

H400 (2008) 'Wight Leopard' Gosport, UK

gjspwr

Lieutenant Commander

Joined: 13 July 2018
Location: Huntington NY
Status: Offline
Points: 77

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote gjspwr

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: 23 October 2025 at 19:42

I had a leak from the strainer on the pump. Cleaned it out and did not get the cover back on tight enough. Both the water pressure pump and the shower sump pump on my 400 is located in the head cabinet.

GJS

Hanse 400 Exhale



Welcome to myHanse.com the forum for Hanse Yachts owners throughout the world.

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
CharlesP Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 23 September 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1208	Post Options Post Reply Quote CharlesP Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 August 2011 at 12:59
	Check also the water storage tank and it's inlet and outlet (and inspection hatch if it has one) Charles
	'MERIDIAN LADY' 320 Nr 536 2010 Medway

lobstar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Lieutenant Joined: 15 May 2008 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 21	Post Options Post Reply Quote lobstar Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 August 2011 at 21:11
	Hi all, This weekend I opened all floor parts in my boat to locate the leakage (fresh water, not salty). There was some water under the left and right panels in the salon (so not in the owners, nor under the middle panels). Furthermore there was/is some in the lowest parts of the bilge (which hardly can be reached). All this water will be pumped out at this moment. This still does not explain the cause of the leakage. Talking to a technician he told me that the fact that the water pump sometimes suddenly and for a short time 'pumps' - without opening a faucet - indicates some leak in the fresh water system since the pump keeps the pressure on 2.8 bar. Now the quest for the leak continues... All faucets seem not to be leaking, also the water tank in the front seems without leak. So the most probable location is somewhere behind the left panels in the salon. Does anyone have any suggestion? This would be most helpful... Thnx. Robert

Windsurfer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 07 April 2010 Status: Offline Points: 614	Post Options Post Reply Quote Windsurfer Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 August 2011 at 22:25
	Provided the connections near the faucets as well as around pumps are dry the first thing you should check is the T-connections...on my boat these are pretty hard to reach and even to see...a minor leak is quite possible here...the water heater might also leak for example due to heat expansion...then the water penetrates the holes in the tank compartment when the boat heels and finally ends up in the bilge...these are first guesses... Good luck...
	Hanse 320 #079 White hull, tiller, short keel and rudder, standard North sails, Sparcraft rig

leilani Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Lieutenant Joined: 26 July 2011 Status: Offline Points: 29	Post Options Post Reply Quote leilani Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 12 August 2011 at 13:31
	Hi Robert, It sounds like you have a similar problem to what we have been experiencing. We have been getting water in the bilge for over two years and believe that there must be a harline fracture in the plumbing line as the problem occurs every time we spend a few consecutive days on the boat, using the shower/bathroom. Water slowly works it's way into areas and it's not untli we go sailing and the boat heels over that it slowly works it's way into bilge. The water pools in the bilge under the sink area. The water pump kicks in approximately every 15 minutes which suggests that there is a leak in the plumbing somewhere and the water pressure is not being maintained. There is a previous post on the forum where another Hanse owner had to have new plumbing lines installed. We have been emailing and notifying our agent for over 2 years now ( the problem has been evident since we took possession of the boat) and we are still waiting for a solution. Arrangements have been made for a shipwright to check out our boat next week - I will let you know if and when we find a solution. " Leilani "

cygnet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 29 May 2010 Location: Greece Status: Offline Points: 15	Post Options Post Reply Quote cygnet Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 August 2011 at 10:06
	Hello all. We had found a lot of fresh water in the bilges and could hear the pump running in short bursts when the boat was quiet. The deck shower mixer was the problem and putting the mixer handle to OFF after use solved the leak!

Kallisto Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Lieutenant Joined: 07 February 2007 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 48	Post Options Post Reply Quote Kallisto Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 August 2011 at 12:20
	Hi all, had the same the problem with my 370 of 2008 last year (fresh water in the kitchen sink). The faucet of the stern shower was the problem: the thread of the plastic shower head was leaky (many very small holes), resulting in a small but continous flow along the water hose. Installing a new shower head fixed the problem. Jochen

ThomShap Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 27 September 2025 Location: Greece Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote ThomShap Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 September 2025 at 13:42
	Hello, I’ve discovered this thread after searching for a leak in my 415, all the same symptoms as others, only it’s not the deck shower. Did anyone find a culprit?

Ratbasher Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Vice Admiral Joined: 31 May 2017 Location: Cyprus Status: Offline Points: 818	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ratbasher Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 September 2025 at 17:40
	Thomas - there's a variety of causes, most(!) of which are discussed on this forum. As you're getting the same symptoms, I presume you're hearing the FW pump running when there's nothing open. At least then you know that it's coming from that system and not other common causes such as pressure-relief from the calorifier, rain ingress and sink pipes. It's unlikely (though not impossible) that a hose has been holed so it's a reasonable assumption the leak is on a join or connection and as far as I'm aware, all these are visible with perhaps some spinal contortion. It's surprising how hard it can be to spot water trickling down a surface sometimes but going over every fitting with tissue paper will show it up. My boat's latest attempt at humour was a slow but steady leak from the connection with the service pipe at the pump itself. I'd checked the area previously with a flashlight and all seemed OK, but going over it with a tissue gave the evidence. Initially, I just changed the gasket but after a week the leak had returned. I removed the pump to have a closer look and found nothing wrong, but as the pump was 18 years old anyway I replaced it. Six months later with lots of use I've had no more leaks. I can only assume that the edges of the socket had worn. Suggest you follow all pipework back from the water tank, wiping with tissue paper. Of course, water may move around the holes in the bilges, appearing some way away from the leak site. Good luck Iain
	H400 (2008) 'Wight Leopard' Gosport, UK

gjspwr Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Lieutenant Commander Joined: 13 July 2018 Location: Huntington NY Status: Offline Points: 77	Post Options Post Reply Quote gjspwr Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 October 2025 at 19:42
	I had a leak from the strainer on the pump. Cleaned it out and did not get the cover back on tight enough. Both the water pressure pump and the shower sump pump on my 400 is located in the head cabinet.
	GJS Hanse 400 Exhale