aft cabin bilge

[msballin]

Good Morning - Toward the end of last season I noticed sea water accumulating in the aft cabin bilge - not shower sump area but the one aft of that in the horseshoe shaped seating area. A dab of water on the tip of my finger to taste proved salty thereby my assumption it is sea water. Chose not to taste this year as the odor is awful.

Coincidentally at the same time last year my a/c outlet to port presented a murky stain and somewhat interrupted water flow as it didn't appear as strong as usual. My strainer is cleaned on a weekly basis.

This year the flow is still not as strong as it should be and the water is still accumulating in the aft bilge compartment. An inspection of the bilge just forward of the pump (about 3 inches to port) showed a void exposing the fiberglass.

I've been told that the water coming into this area must be from forward of it as the pitch of the hull in the water would have water flowing from bow to stern.

Questions:

First, has anyone w a 340 (late 1990's to early 2000's) experienced this?

Second, since a visible inspection of the hull while she was laid up this past offseason showed no areas which would allow water intrusion, where can this water be coming from?

My guess was the A/C raw water cooling loop as this is the only (to my limited knowledge) area forward to the area in question which has a raw water flow.

Greatly appreciate your input as always.

Thx.

Mike

 

[chumbley]

Check your shower bilge area carefully. Overflow from this area goes back to the aft cabin bilge. Condensate overflow from the AC pan flows to the center bilge, so check the AC carefully to see if seawater is somehow leaking in that area, or in the lines leading up to the AC. I doubt that a leak in the seawater lines would be bad enough to cause a visible change to the flow, and not be spewing large amounts of water into the cabin. Though a partial blockage in the lines somewhere could slow the flow, and increase the potential for a small leak prior to the blockage. I am not sure if there are any fittings in the waterline between the engine bilge and the AC area or not...

 

[msballin]

thx. will check again but upon becoming a contortionist and looking into the bilge area I can see the water coming from a bit forward of this compartment and way aft of the shower pump box. If you can get your head in the right spot I'd be interested if you can see if you have a void in your bilge area. Mine is to port just forward of the incerase in height of the compartment. Thx much for your response and willingness to assist.