340 SUNDANCER THREAD

[Al-300]

Re: Losing Water from the Fresh Water Tank

Thanks Cliff, I tightened all of them. I found a post about "rebedding" the porthole. I think that is the next thing to do.

http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/45694-Porthole-leak-How-to-fix

 

[AZ AquaHolic]

Re: Losing Water from the Fresh Water Tank

If there is no evidence of water in the cabin bilge or the engine room bilge the leaking water from the fresh water system is either being pumped overboard by a bilge pump or is draining directly overboard.....a leak in the cockpit galley plumbing for the sink or ice maker would drain directly overboard....a leaking transom shower would also drain directly overboard....a leaking bow sprayer (if equipped) would drain directly overboard.....may be worth checking out....the thing that is a little confusing is why you are not hearing the fresh water pump cycling on and off due to a leak in the system.....you do have the fresh water pump energized don't you?....

good luck....

cliff

Hi Len, can you give a few more specifics about your boat, i.e. Systems monitor on the dash, ice maker or fridge option in the cockpit, where have you looked for water, how are you determining your water loss... Sorry if these sound like insulting questions but since we can't actually see the boat we have to go through all possible troubleshooting. The reason I ask is the following:
systems monitor, if you have one you should see the red LED light if your bilge pumps run which may narrow it down to a leak in the tank and why you can't find the water.
where have you looked? 30-40 gallons is pretty hard to miss however have you looked under the cabin floor into the two compartments between the galley and dinette where the shower/AC drain sump is or in the aft cabin floor hatch?
Water loss, are you using the gauge on the main panel above the fridge and if so have you troubleshot to ensure its working correctly?
Cockpit freezer, is this working but the ice size setting turned up too high and just running water over and not being noticed cause it's draining into the self bailing cockpit runners?
finally, if all this doesn't help and you're loosing water without hearing the pump running I would check the lines between the tank and the pump (located on the stbd side of the engine firewall) because the leak would either have to be there or on the tank itself.

 

[Len949]

Re: Losing Water from the Fresh Water Tank

Hi Len, can you give a few more specifics about your boat, i.e. Systems monitor on the dash, ice maker or fridge option in the cockpit, where have you looked for water, how are you determining your water loss... Sorry if these sound like insulting questions but since we can't actually see the boat we have to go through all possible troubleshooting. The reason I ask is the following:
systems monitor, if you have one you should see the red LED light if your bilge pumps run which may narrow it down to a leak in the tank and why you can't find the water.
where have you looked? 30-40 gallons is pretty hard to miss however have you looked under the cabin floor into the two compartments between the galley and dinette where the shower/AC drain sump is or in the aft cabin floor hatch?
Water loss, are you using the gauge on the main panel above the fridge and if so have you troubleshot to ensure its working correctly?
Cockpit freezer, is this working but the ice size setting turned up too high and just running water over and not being noticed cause it's draining into the self bailing cockpit runners?
finally, if all this doesn't help and you're loosing water without hearing the pump running I would check the lines between the tank and the pump (located on the stbd side of the engine firewall) because the leak would either have to be there or on the tank itself.

Hi AquaHolic,

They don’t sound like insulting questions at all. The only system monitor I have on the dash is the panel system monitor. I have not paid close attention to the system monitor to see if the red LED light turns on, but I will check this weekend when I’m on the boat. I do have an icemaker in the cockpit, it was working when I purchased the boat in July, however, since I don’t use it very often, I turned it off. I do have a refrigerator in the galley, which was replaced by the seller when I purchased the boat.

I have looked under the cabin floor in the two compartments between the galley and dinette where the shower/AC drain sump and in the aft cabin floor hatch. I have also looked at the water tank and the connector on the top. I have also checked the lines between the water tank and the pump. This weekend I also plan on checking the transom storage area and water pleasure regulator.

I am using the gauge on the main panel above the fridge; however, although it appears it is working properly, I have not done any troubleshooting.

Thank you,
Len

 

[AZ AquaHolic]

Re: Losing Water from the Fresh Water Tank

Hi AquaHolic,

They don’t sound like insulting questions at all. The only system monitor I have on the dash is the panel system monitor. I have not paid close attention to the system monitor to see if the red LED light turns on, but I will check this weekend when I’m on the boat. I do have an icemaker in the cockpit, it was working when I purchased the boat in July, however, since I don’t use it very often, I turned it off. I do have a refrigerator in the galley, which was replaced by the seller when I purchased the boat.

I have looked under the cabin floor in the two compartments between the galley and dinette where the shower/AC drain sump and in the aft cabin floor hatch. I have also looked at the water tank and the connector on the top. I have also checked the lines between the water tank and the pump. This weekend I also plan on checking the transom storage area and water pleasure regulator.

I am using the gauge on the main panel above the fridge; however, although it appears it is working properly, I have not done any troubleshooting.

Thank you,
Len

Hi Len,

Sounds like you've gone through everything pretty well. In your first post you mentioned a 16 mile trip, do you recall how long that took you? In another post you said an hour and a half trip and an empty tank. That would mean on that specific trip you lost almost a half gallon of water per minute. The pump (assuming it's the original) has a flow of 2.8 GPM so it would have turned on about every 6 minutes to compensate for the later loss. Being that you didn't loose any water while in the slip means there's probably not a leak in the bottom of the tank. Since you are losing almost a full tank while underway would almost eliminate a leak in the top because there's no way all that water would magically flow to the top to leak out. According to my diagram (I haven't verified on my boat which is the same as yours) but the dockside inlet is separate from the pump system so most likely isn't leaking from there because your pump is the only outlet from the tank. I'm still thinking the tank monitor. Maybe someone else could weigh in (not sure if it would be ok) but an option may be putting a little food dye into the tank so you could better identify a leak. If you're good at electrical you could figure out a way to hook a light up to the pump to see when it's running. One last question, if you take a ride (sounds like a great way to get a boat ride and have the water pump off do you still loose water?

 

[Len949]

Re: Losing Water from the Fresh Water Tank

Hi Len,

Sounds like you've gone through everything pretty well. In your first post you mentioned a 16 mile trip, do you recall how long that took you? In another post you said an hour and a half trip and an empty tank. That would mean on that specific trip you lost almost a half gallon of water per minute. The pump (assuming it's the original) has a flow of 2.8 GPM so it would have turned on about every 6 minutes to compensate for the later loss. Being that you didn't loose any water while in the slip means there's probably not a leak in the bottom of the tank. Since you are losing almost a full tank while underway would almost eliminate a leak in the top because there's no way all that water would magically flow to the top to leak out. According to my diagram (I haven't verified on my boat which is the same as yours) but the dockside inlet is separate from the pump system so most likely isn't leaking from there because your pump is the only outlet from the tank. I'm still thinking the tank monitor. Maybe someone else could weigh in (not sure if it would be ok) but an option may be putting a little food dye into the tank so you could better identify a leak. If you're good at electrical you could figure out a way to hook a light up to the pump to see when it's running. One last question, if you take a ride (sounds like a great way to get a boat ride and have the water pump off do you still loose water?

Anyone can weigh in. On my 16 mile trip it took me approx. one hour. I don’t know if the pump is the original. The food dye is a great idea, I will also try that. I’m not good at electrical, so probably won’t be able to hook up a light to the pump. I have not taken the boat out while the water pump is off, I will do that this weekend (yeahhh boat ride).


Thanks again
Len

 

[Len949]

Re: Losing Water from the Fresh Water Tank

I filled up the water tank and took the boat out for about two hours. I left the water pump off, while under way I never saw the bilge red light come on the system monitor. When I returned to the slip, the water tank was full. It also appears the water tank panel indicator also seems to be working properly. It appears I only loose water when the water pump is on and I'm under way.

Len

 

[mquiet]

If he is not losing water at the slip is the pump off and are you using shore side water? I would think that whether in draw or stationary if losing water when pump is on it a leak in the system and now you just need to trace it down.


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[Len949]

If he is not losing water at the slip is the pump off and are you using shore side water? I would think that whether in draw or stationary if losing water when pump is on it a leak in the system and now you just need to trace it down.


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The pump was off and I was not using shore side water. I am only loosing water when the pump is on and I'm underway.

Thanks,

Len

 

[CliffA]

The pump was off and I was not using shore side water. I am only loosing water when the pump is on and I'm underway.

Thanks,

Len

this does seem to be a mystery....logically thinking being underway should not have anything to do with a leak in the fresh water system.....

the only thing I can come up with is maybe the wiring to the fresh water pump is loose and/or corroded....when the boat is underway and bouncing through the water the loose wiring is energizing the water pump on and off.....when the pump is energized it is causing the water to be forced out of the system somewhere....when the boat is stopped or at a very slow speed the wiring does not energize the pump and no water is lost......

just a wild guess but it may be possible...

cliff

 

[mquiet]

Len, please don't get upset with me, just trying to help. 1) underway with pump ON = water loss. Underway pump OFF = no loss. 2) at dock pump ON = no water loss. At dock pump OFF = no water loss. Is this correct. This will help me narrow it way down. Thanks.


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[Len949]

Len, please don't get upset with me, just trying to help. 1) underway with pump ON = water loss. Underway pump OFF = no loss. 2) at dock pump ON = no water loss. At dock pump OFF = no water loss. Is this correct. This will help me narrow it way down. Thanks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not upset at all, I do appreciate all the help. You described exactly what has been happening with the water tank.

Thanks,
Len

 

[Len949]

this does seem to be a mystery....logically thinking being underway should not have anything to do with a leak in the fresh water system.....

the only thing I can come up with is maybe the wiring to the fresh water pump is loose and/or corroded....when the boat is underway and bouncing through the water the loose wiring is energizing the water pump on and off.....when the pump is energized it is causing the water to be forced out of the system somewhere....when the boat is stopped or at a very slow speed the wiring does not energize the pump and no water is lost......

just a wild guess but it may be possible...

cliff

Thanks Cliff, it makes sense. However, on one occasion during a 2+ hour harbor cruise, I never went over 3-4 mph and I did loose water.

Len

 

[rcknecht]

Not upset at all, I do appreciate all the help. You described exactly what has been happening with the water tank.

Thanks,
Len

Seems to me, you have hot water heat exchanger leak... When under way, the engine coolant runs through the hot water heater. If you only leak underway, as I recall that is the only difference that relates to you potable water system...

 

[Len949]

Seems to me, you have hot water heat exchanger leak... When under way, the engine coolant runs through the hot water heater. If you only leak underway, as I recall that is the only difference that relates to you potable water system...

I will make sure to check that.

Thank you,
Len

 

[be_prepared]

BATTERY CHARGER QUESTION ????

Hi , I have a 2007 340DA , IN CATAWABA OHIO,
i have the PD 2040 charger. The manual say it charges/ maintains up to three batteries.
sea ray of course put FOUR -4- batteries in the boat so is the charger wired to maintain
all four batteries or is the generator/4th battery on its own ?????

In the 2002 340DA there are 4 batts, 2 in parallel on the starboard engine that also serve as the house battery. There is a third battery for the port engine, and a 4th battery for the generator. I think the battery charger charges the first 3, and assumed that an alternator on the generator was charging the generator starting battery. The two aft batteries are co-located, but they are actually separate electrically, unlike the two in the forward part of the engine compartment, which are cabled together as a house bank, and also as the starting bank for the starboard engine. Not sure if the newer 340's use this configuration.

 

[CliffA]

In the 2002 340DA there are 4 batts, 2 in parallel on the starboard engine that also serve as the house battery. There is a third battery for the port engine, and a 4th battery for the generator. I think the battery charger charges the first 3, and assumed that an alternator on the generator was charging the generator starting battery. The two aft batteries are co-located, but they are actually separate electrically, unlike the two in the forward part of the engine compartment, which are cabled together as a house bank, and also as the starting bank for the starboard engine. Not sure if the newer 340's use this configuration.

on my 2001 model the charger maintains the batteries for the generator, the port engine, and the starboard engine....it is a 3 bank charger.....the two batteries in parallel for the starboard engine and the house battery are treated as one battery by the charger....

cliff

 

[be_prepared]

on my 2001 model the charger maintains the batteries for the generator, the port engine, and the starboard engine....it is a 3 bank charger.....the two batteries in parallel for the starboard engine and the house battery are treated as one battery by the charger....

cliff

Thanks Cliff, I bet that's what's going on with the 2002 also. I wondered if the gen bat was getting a charge when it's on shore power. I wish there was a way to use the battery test switch to check that, but it seems to just look at the port and starboard batts. Thank you.

 

[see ray]

Wanted !!!! Coffee pot that goes with the micro wave coffee maker combo
if you have an extra I would like to buy it .PM me

thanks Jim

 

[estoltz]

Wanted !!!! Coffee pot that goes with the micro wave coffee maker combo
if you have an extra I would like to buy it .PM me

thanks Jim

Good luck with that. They are almost impossible to find.

 

[bobt2000]

I have an '88 340SD. I BLEW UP the port side muffler.....blew the top right off of it ! I accidentally started the engine at 1/2 throttle and the mechanic thinks that fumes must have built up in the muffler and ignited. Sounded like a shotgun blast!
So now I am trying to find a used one in a salvage boat somewhere.
I have sent emails to pretty much any boat salvage place with a website but so far no luck.
Any ideas ??