Water in Bilge

[Dive Girl]

We've got a yellowish colored water in the bilge. No scent, not a lot, maybe a gallon. Any ideas what it might be from?

Thanks!

 

[rondds]

Taste it.


I'm not kidding.

Salty, fresh? Significant if you're in salt water. Useless if you're in fresh water.

 

[Quint4]

AC condensate drain?

 

[Dive Girl]

Taste it.


I'm not kidding.

Salty, fresh? Significant if you're in salt water. Useless if you're in fresh water.

Sorry, useless I guess. We're in fresh water.

 

[Dive Girl]

AC condensate drain?

Nope, can't be it. No AC.....

Thanks for the suggestions though. Any other ideas?

 

[mvoellinger]

Nope, can't be it. No AC.....

Thanks for the suggestions though. Any other ideas?

Drain it out, get it dry.

1) Does it come back without the engine running, and on a non rainy day?
2) Does it come back without the enginer running on a rainy day?
3) Does it only come back with the engine running?

 

[Jeff_380]

We had water in our forward bilge, torn membrane in our fresh water pump. It was a slow leak but much more obvious when water was called for. The color could be just dirt picked up from the compartments it flows through. A new pump fixed it, there are also repair kits for most pump models. Maybe the hot watetr tank, they tend to rust out and discolor the water. Don't know much about checking them out..............yet. Good luck.

 

[Xplicitlnck]

Yellowish could be the insalation atound the hot water heater. Jeff could be right . Does your water supply pump kick on and off speraticlay wothout using water?

 

[Xplicitlnck]

Btw that's fiberglass I wouldn't taste that. Lol

 

[rondds]

If you have a fresh water leak you will hear the pump cycle on for a second or two every now and then. If that system is not leaking then you have rain water getting in somehow or maybe leaking dripless.

One reason to keep your bilge dry is to figure out if there are any leaks. I'd suck the thing bone dry with a shop vac and see when the water re-appears. Is it after you run the boat? If NO water in there, check again after a good rain. Do you have a garboard drain? Could be leaking through there.

 

[Xplicitlnck]

What's a garboard drain?

 

[rondds]

Plug. lowest point in the transom. This little thingy

 

[Gofirstclass]

Dive Girl keeps the boat in a boathouse so any of the rain related checks won't work.

My questions--
-how long has it been there? Have you just noticed it, or has it been awhile since you've checked that bilge area?
-could it be leakage from a shower sump?

I'd dry it well then keep an eye on it and see if it comes back. If you do notice it coming back, see if you can tell the direction it's coming from.

BTW we were going to bring the boat to PDX in June but that trip had to get canx'd due to some other stuff that took priority. Dang. I hate it when that happens.

 

[Xplicitlnck]

Ahhh thanks. I always called that the drAin plug. Lol what color soap do u use? Is it yellow?

 

[CliffA]

We've got a yellowish colored water in the bilge. No scent, not a lot, maybe a gallon. Any ideas what it might be from?

Thanks!

i recently had a power steering fluid leak.....i was using the Mercruiser trim and steering fluid in the steering pump reservoir.....i noticed when it was leaking and collecting in the bilge and mixing with a little water in the bilge the color was yellowish.....might be worth a check of your power steering pump reservoir and the trim tab pump reservoir to see if the fluid level is low which would indicate a leak.....

cliff

 

[Dive Girl]

Thanks for all the ideas! Mike is correct, we keep the boat inside a boat house. We've dries it out and will have to wait and see. We won't be on it for a few weekends. (Bummed) The hot water heater was replaced last year, so I doubt that's it. We'll check the power steering fluid.

The shower sump pump is under the salon floor, doubt that's it. Don't use yellow soap anyway.

Keep the ideas coming!

Mike, sorry we'll miss seeing you again this year. The club has made some improvements to "A" dock and remodeled the club house, it's open on weekends too for food service. Come anyway!!

Thanks all!

 

[rondds]

HWH won't be leaking if new but maybe a fittin on it is. Can you see it/get to it? But, again, if you disconnect from dockside water, fill your tank and turn the pump on you'd here it "burp" every now and then if the system has a leak somewhere.

I'd be more suspicious of your dripless shaft seals. That will show up after running the boat more so.

 

[Nehalennia]

Are you sure it's not antifreeze? Is it bright yellow-greenish and clear?

 

[scoflaw]

B3 drives? They leak at the gooseneck and the hinge pin.

 

[Dive Girl]

There's no smell, so I don't think it's ant-freeze. Both engine radiators were full or close to full. The anti frezze looks pink in the overflow tanks....

You guys are awesome!