Water filling bilge when engine running

[Herbieville]

When the starboard engine is running, water is quickly filling the bilge and the pump is coming on about every 20 seconds. It is a pretty significant flow, I would guess around a gallon a minute. This doesn't appear to be happening when just the port engine is running. When both engines are off, there is no flow, thankfully.

Poking around with a flashlight, the water seems to be originating somewhere in the back corner of the bilge on the starboard side, behind the hot water heater. There is some tubing back there but it is hard to reach and locate any leaks.

Could it be the hot water heater? That would seem unlikely in that it only happens when the engines are running. Is the water heater in any way connected to the engine cooling system?

Is it more likely a cracked tube back there somewhere?

How the heck do mechanics move around in there? I have some new found respect for them!

Thanks!

-G

 

[go-hokies]

When the starboard engine is running, water is quickly filling the bilge and the pump is coming on about every 20 seconds. It is a pretty significant flow, I would guess around a gallon a minute. This doesn't appear to be happening when just the port engine is running. When both engines are off, there is no flow, thankfully.

Poking around with a flashlight, the water seems to be originating somewhere in the back corner of the bilge on the starboard side, behind the hot water heater. There is some tubing back there but it is hard to reach and locate any leaks.

Could it be the hot water heater? That would seem unlikely in that it only happens when the engines are running. Is the water heater in any way connected to the engine cooling system?

Is it more likely a cracked tube back there somewhere?

How the heck do mechanics move around in there? I have some new found respect for them!

Thanks!

-G

Yes... the hot water heater is hooked to the hot water heater. Mine is a supply and return hose that are hooked into the circulation pump on the starboard engine. Many people will take the H20 heater "out of the loop" due to the issue you describe. The heated water from the engine is used to heat the hot water while underway, at the dock this is done off the shore power.

Mike

 

[randerson]

On many boats engine cooling water diverts through the water heater (the cooling water is diverted from one engine only). This gives you hot water when you're underway. One of those hoses could be leaking or may have pulled loose from the connection. This may explain why you only notice it when one engine is running.

 

[Herbieville]

Thanks for the great info. Recalling looking at the box around the heater, all of the connections seemed secure and none of them seemed to be leaking. It actually looked like water was coming out the bottom of the box. Is it possible something inside has cracked and is leaking?

Also, I saw four screws fastening a wooden top to the box and they are not easily removed. Is that the only access to inside?

Thanks!

-G

 

[gerryb]

Herbie, I would bypass the water into the heater and empty her out to see if it was the heater or the engine water tubing that was leaking. My bet is the water heater.

Take out the red and blue tubes from the water heater and connect them to each other to bypass water into the heater. Then connect a small run of hose to the drain and let her run down into the bilge to empty. Of course you'll have no hot water like this. I bypassed mine pretty much for the entire season last year.