Domestic water leak

[Rob Howard]

I have a 310 Sundancer (2000) and have a domestic water leak in the cabin, leaking in the seating area under the helm… the water line runs from the pump mounted on the back of the engine room wall up and into the cabin on the starboard side of the boat… the leaking water runs down from the top of the inside of the cubby hole/ small storage area with a rolling shutter door.
It seems virtually impossible to even see where the water line runs… no idea why it would be on the starboard side where there is no water/sink/head?
any help/thoughts greatly appreciated…
Rob

 

[Stee6043]

Perhaps a picture might help?

Do you have an anchor wash down spigot in your anchor locker? This could explain the starboard side water line.

 

[Rob Howard]

Perhaps a picture might help?

Do you have an anchor wash down spigot in your anchor locker? This could explain the starboard side water line.

Thanks for the idea… the boat is new to me… I don’t think so but I’ll check on the anchor wash down.

 

[Rob Howard]

Thanks for the idea… the boat is new to me… I don’t think so but I’ll check on the anchor wash down.

No anchor wash down… pump mounted on the back wall of the bilge shows a blue water line running up and into the cabin… the water (when domestic water pump is on) runs down from the lid of this small storage area… really difficult to even see where the water line runs… if anyone has any experience or knowledge with a similar situation it would be appreciated.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Is your water tank located at the bow? That line could be coming FROM the tank?

 

[Rob Howard]

Is your water tank located at the bow? That line could be coming FROM the tank?

Thanks but no … water tank on Port side bilge…

 

[Lazy Daze]

Thanks but no … water tank on Port side bilge…

Well, that's not helpful

Any possibility you're getting lines confused? Meaning, you think you're following the water line (which could be encased in black sheathing to look like a wire loom) but end up following a wire loom?

Or, have you 100% ID'd the waterline behind/inside that storage area?

 

[bobeast]

Remove the cushions in the aft cabin / seating area. Then remove the center board on which the cushions sat. There will be your water tank in all its glory. That blue line is the pressure side of the pump. The line from the tank comes in through the bulkhead to which the pump is mounted.

 

[Rob Howard]

Well, that's not helpful

Any possibility you're getting lines confused? Meaning, you think you're following the water line (which could be encased in black sheathing to look like a wire loom) but end up following a wire loom?

Or, have you 100% ID'd the waterline behind/inside that storage area?

Yes I’ve I’D the water line in the area but the I lose it in the maze… thanks

Well, that's not helpful

Any possibility you're getting lines confused? Meaning, you think you're following the water line (which could be encased in black sheathing to look like a wire loom) but end up following a wire loom?

Or, have you 100% ID'd the waterline behind/inside that storage area?

for the thoughts… I’ve just had another post with more info on location of water tank… I’ll chase that down

 

[Rob Howard]

Remove the cushions in the aft cabin / seating area. Then remove the center board on which the cushions sat. There will be your water tank in all its glory. That blue line is the pressure side of the pump. The line from the tank comes in through the bulkhead to which the pump is mounted.

Wow… I’ll check this out… many thanks…

 

[Lazy Daze]

Yes I’ve I’D the water line in the area but the I lose it in the maze… thanks


for the thoughts… I’ve just had another post with more info on location of water tank… I’ll chase that down

Rob, I thought you said you already knew the tank was on the port side of the bilge (post #6)?

Yes, it IS a maze!

 

[Rob Howard]

Rob, I thought you said you already knew the tank was on the port side of the bilge (post #6)?

Yes, it IS a maze!

Yup I did… at some point in the purchase and appraisal process someone pointed to a tank and said that’s your water tank… but now I’m going to see if it is under the seating… that would make life easier as I could replace the who line and forget about trying to find the leak… you can tell I’m new to this DIY…

 

[bobeast]

Yup I did… at some point in the purchase and appraisal process someone pointed to a tank and said that’s your water tank… but now I’m going to see if it is under the seating… that would make life easier as I could replace the who line and forget about trying to find the leak… you can tell I’m new to this DIY…

The whitish tank in the port side of your bilge is your gray water tank. Forward of that on the port side is one of your two metal fuel tanks.

 

[Rob Howard]

The whitish tank in the port side of your bilge is your gray water tank. Forward of that on the port side is one of your fuel tanks.

Thanks Bob…

 

[Rob Howard]

Wow… I’ll check this out… many thanks…

Thar she lies … you were right! so this confirms the water is draw from the left side of the pump and pushed out to the Starboard side… so the mystery remains… why to starboard and how is it routed back to the port side where it feeds toilet, sinks and wash downs which are all on the port side???

 

[Lazy Daze]

To be honest, I'm a little stumped, too. I see a lot of boats with my job - I would have thought the line would have went aft and around the bilge to the transom locker washdown (hitting the water heater somwhere along the way) and then forward to the cabin. We may need Bob's help again

Unless... is your water heater somwhere forward instead of in the bilge? Usually, the pump feeds the heater, first. But again, I'm just making some guesses without being there to look at things.

 

[Rob Howard]

To be honest, I'm a little stumped, too. I see a lot of boats with my job - I would have thought the line would have went aft and around the bilge to the transom locker washdown (hitting the water heater somwhere along the way) and then forward to the cabin. We may need Bob's help again

Unless... is your water heater somwhere forward instead of in the bilge? Usually, the pump feeds the heater, first. But again, I'm just making some guesses without being there to look at things.

I really appreciate your thoughts… I have a mechanic coming out on Wednesday who also happens to own a SeaRay… maybe with both of us looking we can figure things out…

 

[bobeast]

@Lazy Daze makes a good point. Mine is a 2002, and my water heater is on the Port side aft (behind the gray water tank). Yours being a 2000, may have it in a different location. Unfortunately I'm not at my boat, but I seem to recall the pump outlet wrapping around and going to the Port side. That picture you posted of it going up into the starboard mystery space seems odd to me as well.

 

[ttmott]

First - does the water pump cycle on and off even when water isn't being intentionally used?
If not then the pressure side of the water system is probably good and not leaking.
If it is cycling then turn the power off to the pump and monitor to see if water is still accumulating. If water is still accumulating then there is another leak and the pump/pressure piping have issues also.
If the pump isn't cycling or water is still accumulating when power to the pump is off then either an extremal leak or the freshwater tank is cracked or there is a leak in the tank fill line/other lines connected to the tank.

It isn't all that unusual for a crack in the water tank to develop due to overfilling. Very prominent in the 400DA's because of the "L" shaped tank. Overfilling the water tank will cause the top to bulge outward and stress the corners causing a crack in the corner.

So, you can put some food coloring in the water tank and fill it then see if the bilge water turns that color.
Drain the tank to see if the issue goes away.

Lastly, do you use dock water connected to the boat's water system? A host of issues can arise when using dock water pressure as the pressure regulators have a history of issues.

Edit - get the Parts Manual for the boat; the water line routing is illustrated with the parts there.

 

[Rob Howard]

Thanks Bob! Checking…