Leaking hose, what is it?

[Sea Ray Marty]

I have a 1994 Sea Ray Sundancer. I've had it for over 20 years. I just started getting water in the bilge and trying to identify the source. I have had it services since I discovered it and have had a new seal replaced for the engine and the stern drive along with shift cables, bellows etc. I ran the bilge pump then used a hand pump and towel dried the bilge. There is a factory hose that comes out of the port side lower bulkhead in the engine cavity. The hose is only about 10 inches long and is fastened to the bulkhead with a factory zip tie. The end is cut off at an angle and I have noticed it is dripping a small amount which in a few days is about 2" deep. I cannot figure out what this hose goes to. The water tank is on a surface above it but all the water lines from it seem easily identifiable. Can anybody tell me about this hose. Thanks a serious bunch for any help!!

See short video at this link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/1hGW3tdz62zcPTYh9

 

[Golfman25]

AC condensation? Water heater expansion drain?

 

[Sea Ray Marty]

AC condensation? Water heater expansion drain?

No AC on-board or water heater....

 

[Sea Ray Marty]

Thanks for your input. I have boats for over 30 years, this one baffles me. Also, we have no electric fridge but we do have an ice box fridge which requires no power.

 

[PlayDate]

What is in the deck seating area? Do you have a sink, baitwell, compartment or refrigerator?

 

[Sea Ray Marty]

We have a sink, an Ice box (not electric refrigerator) in the cabin area. Platform Deck shower only (not leaking). Just a commode that is self-contained does not leak. no baitwell. In the rear seating area is just 2 benches with the deck area that drains thru above water hull connection. Any help would be very much appreciated.

 

[PlayDate]

It has to be a factory drain for a compartment or your water tank.


As to the frequency......does it leak water only when it rains or all the time?

 

[Sea Ray Marty]

Leaks as we have experienced appear to be all the time. We live in AZ--The boat is under a covered slip in the water. Several weeks ago, the bilge pump hose popped off the connection and we had as much as 4 inches of water in the bilge, but I reconnected the hose, replaced the float and dried out the area, and now bilge pump only discharges water every several (2-3) days.

 

[PlayDate]

Leaks as we have experienced appear to be all the time. We live in AZ--The boat is under a covered slip in the water. Several weeks ago, the bilge pump hose popped off the connection and we had as much as 4 inches of water in the bilge, but I reconnected the hose, replaced the float and dried out the area, and now bilge pump only discharges water every several (2-3) days.

Can you put a cup or jar under the hose so we can figure out what kind of water it is?


There are only six sources of water: 1) rain 2) water tank 3) holding tank 4) sea water 5) hot water tank 6) air conditioner. You don't have 5 & 6 so it has to be one of the other four.

Generally if it leaks out that hose all the time.....it is usually a water tank issue or sea water is getting in the space that hose is coming from. Rain water leaks cycle closely with the weather.

Are there any fishing rod holders above that area?

 

[Sea Ray Marty]

There are no fishing rod holders above that area. We will go to the lake next week and take a jar or cup to put under the hose like you mention. We were also thinking of adding food coloring to our water tank to see if that comes out of the hose. We are also going to check some other things like the ice box hose. You have been very helpful and if you think of anything else in the meantime, please let us know. Also, we will let you know what we find after this next troubleshooting session when we get back. Again, we appreciate and thank you. P.S. If we do need a new water tank, we might be looking for ideas on where to get it for a 1994 Sundancer 230. Thanks again

 

[Lazy Daze]

Blow air up through the hose... where do you hear the air exiting? Tape another piece of hose onto that one if you need to lengthen it.

Water tanks don't have drains. Besides, you'd see that.

That's a long way to run an ice box drain, but... can you clarify... is it powered and are you using it? It's just a glorified Igllo cooler then it won't have a drain. If it is powered then it would have a condensate drain... if you DON'T have an area under the cabin floor for this, then this *might* be the culprit (if, of course, you are using it).

 

[Sea Ray Marty]

Yes, we will blow air up the hose first--great idea! Our ice box is not powered and uses dry ice or regular ice and has a drain tray that you put the ice on and when it melts it goes down a drain hose connection and we believe this hose connects to the sink drain hole connection. Maximum is 2-7lb. bags but most of the time, we put only 1 bag. It has been several years since I replaced the ice box but we think that is all unrelated to the water leak but want to prove that out. Thank you and we appreciate the ideas and suggestions very much

 

[Lazy Daze]

Is this drain hose only on the port side?

 

[Sea Ray Marty]

Yes

 

[Lazy Daze]

The only other possibility I can think of is that it's a drain for the blower vent box. But you should be able to see that (if you have a box, of course)

 

[PlayDate]

The only other possibility I can think of is that it's a drain for the blower vent box. But you should be able to see that (if you have a box, of course)

The problem is allegedly it is leaking water all the time....... that puts a lot of limits around the possibilities.

I like your idea of putting air into it but I probably would have opted for a smoke machine like we use on automobile exhaust and HVAC systems to find leaks. That would find out where it coming from in seconds. I'm guessing it might be a bit alarming for his slip mates and the marina though......

 

[Lazy Daze]

The problem is allegedly it is leaking water all the time....... that puts a lot of limits around the possibilities.

I like your idea of putting air into it but I probably would have opted for a smoke machine like we use on automobile exhaust and HVAC systems to find leaks. That would find out where it coming from in seconds. I'm guessing it might be a bit alarming for his slip mates and the marina though......

I agree - the "all the time" thing is a bit of a conundrum. It's possible a blower vent box is clogged with debris so it's draining slowly. It's a relatively small bilge so it wouldn't take too much to fill the back end of it to 2" - but it does sound like "too much" to come from the vent box (unless it continually rains and keeps filling up). I dunno - just kinda spitballin' ideas.

Yup - smoke is very good - other than the "Hey buddy, your boat's on fire" scenario If he's a smoker, he could do it by mouth!

 

[Sea Ray Marty]

The only other possibility I can think of is that it's a drain for the blower vent box. But you should be able to see that (if you have a box, of course)

I don't have a blower box. It's just a 4" blower mounted on the bulkhead blowing thru the bilge and out the vents.

 

[Sea Ray Marty]

I agree - the "all the time" thing is a bit of a conundrum. It's possible a blower vent box is clogged with debris so it's draining slowly. It's a relatively small bilge so it wouldn't take too much to fill the back end of it to 2" - but it does sound like "too much" to come from the vent box (unless it continually rains and keeps filling up). I dunno - just kinda spitballin' ideas.

Yup - smoke is very good - other than the "Hey buddy, your boat's on fire" scenario If he's a smoker, he could do it by mouth!

We don't get too much rain here in the desert, and it is under a large cover at the marina. I like the idea of smoke to maybe figure it out but if the tube is full of water the smoke will not be able to penetrate it. We will be headed there tomorrow, bringing a small clear container to capture the water and see if it truly is lake water. I also have a few corks to plug it and see if that is the only source of the water. If I can somehow blow thru it maybe it will clear the line and show smoke. I am trying everything I can. Thanks for the tips. Update on Thursday.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I don't have a blower box. It's just a 4" blower mounted on the bulkhead blowing thru the bilge and out the vents.

The blower should be connected with a hose to one of the vents, though, right? I still think it's a long shot, though.