Water in the bilge..340 Sundancer

[Beer Hunter]

Trying to determine how much water is normal in the bilge...I can clean the bilge water our completely, and after a couple of hours of boat operation have about an inch or so of water. I can dry it out and then come back overnight after just leaving boat in the slip - and have a about an inch or so. I live in NW USA (DC area) and worry how this will affect the pumps in winter....if that water seeps in and freezes. Any ideas from anyone??

 

[Knot It]

I have an '01 340and my bilge is bone dry at all times. Sounds to me that you have a leak somewhere. Likely places are shaft or rudder seals, or strainers. Id look closely at those areas.

 

[dpmulvey]

I have an '01 340and my bilge is bone dry at all times. Sounds to me that you have a leak somewhere. Likely places are shaft or rudder seals, or strainers. Id look closely at those areas.

HUGE +1.

My leak was traced to a Dripless Shaft Seal that a shop failed to tighten the clamps holding the assembly to the boat.

 

[Beer Hunter]

Thanks to you for your feedback and assistance. I've managed to find the problem. After using a shop vac to clean out all the water, I ran the boat at low speed with the engine cover up - and watched to see if I could find any source of water getting into the bilge. I found it...it was a broken hose. In fact it was the small hose that feeds the water injection valve on the propeller drive shaft. Someone had even tried to repair this hose before me (I brought the boat second hand)...using electrical tape...a solution that was destined to fail. Anyway, although it isn't fixed yet, knowing the problem is a good way towards fixing it.

 

[sdleo26]

That hose cools your drip less, make sure the crossover hose from other motor is there as well. No water to the dripless is a MAJOR problem.... as in your boat sinks