Water in the bilge??

[Liquid Pleasure II]

:huh:I just checked on my boat Saturday. Lifted the engine hatch and saw a small amount of water in the bilge. There is not enough to activate the bilge pumps automatically or even to pump it out when I turned them on from the helm.

I just got the boat in Sept. and noticed the water then but did not think much of it. I thought it would dissipate over the winter.

I am pulling her in a month for bottom paint and another small repair. I am thinking a thru-hull fitting is leaking???

Any other suggestions?? Seeing the "bilge envy" pics of other boats has me wanting to keep her dry and spotless!!

Thanks

 

[trit21]

From my understanding the rudder shaft seal are NOT a Sureseal type of packing but they ARE a wet packing material. Again, from my understanding they should 'leak' a little, very little especially since they do not really rotate all that much but to keep them working correctly I think the should leak a little.

Some of the others with more knowledge will comments on this but that is what I have been told by others 'in the know' or at least I think they are 'in the know'. Patiently awaiting others responses on this topic as well.

 

[Liquid Pleasure II]

Tom
Do you have a little residual water in your bilge too?

 

[Liquid Pleasure II]

Scott,
Never thought of removing the access caps. I wil head out there when it's a little warmer and take them off...we are 20 degrees today with 30mph winds.

Man I am sick of this *#%ing winter, come on "Big Hot Guy" warm us up!!

 

[carterchapman]

LP II,

I don't konw if your 340 has a hot and cold water manifold in your bilge on the port side just above the hot water heater - mine does. I noticed mine is leaking slightly from some of the screw-on PEX fittings. I think this may be a source of the small amount of water that I get in my bilge. I went out for a 30 minute warm-up the other day with the fresh water pump off and I got no water in my bilge.

I am going to investigate this further - WHEN THE DAMN COLD WEATHER IS OVER!

 

[Henry Boyd]

This can be a frustrating task, and the cause can be something that you would never think of. From the moment we got our 280 there was always a small amount of water in the bilge. I would clean it up and it would come back. After replacing the drive bellows, and then doing the steering seal, jobs that were supposed to have the side benefit of a dry bilge, there was still water coming in. Finally this past spring I discovered the source; the caulking was bad on the blower vent covers and rainwater was leaking in down the blower ducts. So the message is you have to consider above the waterline sources as well and below the waterline.

Henry

 

[Jackie J V]

A little water in the bilge is normal. I am not familiar with how the 340 is configured, however possible sources include shaft packing glands, drainage lines from the cockpit, condensation from air conditioning units (a source of water in my boat as a drain line from the air conditioning units empties into the bilge).

If it's only a little water, I wouldn't worry about it.

Paul

 

[earthmover17]

That's odd Paul as I have nothing that drains to the Bilge. All air condensate trays are tied into a drain system which exits aft port drain. I like you do get a little water occasionally. I just vac it out.

Jack

 

[Mr Salt]

My 540 which was built in the same plant as the 560s has the air conditioners draining into a sump with a bilge pump when it reaches the appropriate level the condensate is pumped over board. Paul are you the original owner? If not you should check the parts manual to see if there was a sump in the system somewhere.

 

[earthmover17]

My 540 which was built in the same plant as the 560s has the air conditioners draining into a sump with a bilge pump when it reaches the appropriate level the condensate is pumped over board. Paul are you the original owner? If not you should check the parts manual to see if there was a sump in the system somewhere.

Are you talking about the shower sump?

Jack

 

[JohnEGraham]

Hey, I always seam to have a little water in the bilge. i thought this was normal. I guess I should also start looking, Well not right now. I guess after the foot of snow melts :smt089
Anyone with 97- 98 250 DA have the same deal? I had all new bellows installed already.
Thanks.

 

[tobnpr]

I'm assuming that a small amount of water in the bilge- in YOUR boat, is unusual, or you woudn't have posted.

Assuming that's the case, something's leaking- that wasn't before. I guess that's stating the obvious.

First things I'd check would be the shaft seals (whether "traditional" or dripless) and your rudder packing nuts. Often the rudder nuts will seep very slightly and it's hard to see. Take a dry paper towel and wipe around them.

 

[jimbo 84]

If your 03 has the integrated swim platform there is a plastic through hull benind the wall in your trunk where your shore power hooks up. The wiring from your shore power goes through the floor to the bilge. Wash down the inside of your trunk, raise the engine hatch and see if you have water dripping from around the plastic through hull. Mine wasn't installed properly and that's one of the places I had water coming in. I had to get behind the wall and it wasn't easy. Then unscrew the through hull about 1", cut a piece off the edge and re-bed it so it would lay flat. That took care of that water leak.

Do you have a bow thruster? Does the water look cloudy and does it smell like wet dirty foam? If the answer is yes, when you pull the boat and the hull dries check the strakes around the bow thruster for moisture.

If you have a bow thruster send me a private message with contact info for more details.

 

[Jackie J V]

Jack & Mr. Salt,
There is a tube which ends near the bridge A/C pump and A/C seacock abaft of the port engine. It trickles water, so maybe it's an A/C condensate overflow, I'll have to get in and check. In any event, there's not big flow or anything and the minimal water rolls back to the aft bilge pumps. Jack, do you have a similar tube on your boat?

The bilge area is very clean, but there is a little water that builds around the bilge pumps from time-to-time, then it gets dumped with the pumps.

Every boat I've ever owned, has had a similar minimal amount that collects and gets dumped. I don't fret it unless there is a change that leads to increasing water collection.

Paul