Hi everybody,

I have about 15 lts of water at the end of the season within the main transversal stringer at the kitchen block. Water heater compartment, engine compartment and everything up front is bone dry like Salt Lake City. Does anybody have a clue where the water could come from?  Condensation ??

Thx for any hints

Danke Plattgatt,

leider 0 Treffer:

- Warmwasser Boiler Überdruchventil geht via Schlauch in einen Kanister in der Backskiste, Volumen nach einer Saison ist eher in Tassengrösse

- Calorifier has a hose connected to the pressure valve, Volume is after 1 season measured in 2-3 cuos

- Heckdusche könnte eine Möglichkeit sein. Dagegen spricht, dass im Achterschiff sowohl BB, als auch SB alles knochentrocken ist

- Stern shower could be a possibility. However SB and Port floors astern are bone dry 

Any other ideas, I am a taker :)

2 questions -

Is the water fresh or salt?

Over what period has it collected?

The answer to these might help us make some suggestions regarding the source.

thanks for your help. The boat is moored on a fresh water lake, so I do not have the possibility to check if it comes from below. I have checked all through hulls, no sign of any water ingress.

 

The amount was collected over 3 months.

We emptied the stringer early July when our grey water collector had an overflow due to the pump not working.

Understand re fresh water. Three months to collect 15L indicates a significant leak somewhere - way beyond condensation IMO.

Presumably you have ruled out the obvious like the (hot) water pressure relief valve - I collect about a litre over a weekend in a plastic bottle to avoid it collecting under the engine. 

I also presume you have no 'ticking' from the fresh water pump to indicate a leak on the pressurized side of the system.

Apart from the grey water have you had any other water leak recently? The stringers are connected together by limber holes so any water in the bottom of the boat could have drained through from either end and collected in the lowest point. The original source could then have dried out leaving the rest of the boat 'like Salt lake City'.

How about any prolonged period of sailing while healing significantly?

Have you checked around all through-hull fittings and attached pipes?

How about around the exhaust tube and water trap, all the way to the skin fitting? 

Have you tried using a hose to run water around all through-deck fittings (stanchions, filler pipes etc.) while someone checks below deck for signs of water ingress?

After you drained the 15L is water continuing to collect or was it a 'one-off' incident?

Water leaks like this, especially if you can't tell if it is salt or fresh, are notoriously difficult to track down.

Good luck with tracking it down.

There have been some water line fittings that have leaked but as Roger mentioned you would hear the fresh water pump starting from time to time.

I've had the air vents in the cabin top leak. I've had leaks through the screws that hold down the cabin top line covers. There's been leaks where cam cleats and other hardware attach to the deck....

I spent significant time about 4 years ago chasing down a lot of these and have stopped most. I still have to take a wet and dry vac and attach it to the holes in the stringers about once a year to remove water trapped there.

Steve

Thanks Steve and Jesper,

boat is now out of the water on the hard. I have not thought about the shower and will check in spring.

Have a nice and hopefully short winter break