Water intrusion

[msballin]

Good Morning -

It seems I have water collecting in the bilge compartment in the aft berth. After sponging up the area, I noticed water coming from some "pin holes" in the walls of the compartment. I've determined it is not fresh water as the pump does not go on when pressure is lost. Also noticed the water is also coming from forward of the compartment to port where it appears there is raw fiberglass visible. I did shut off the A/C as this is the only raw water that is constantly running through the system. It did reduce the collection of water somewhat but it is still accumulating from the area forward of the compartment as described above. Is this normal and if not where may the water coming from the forward area be coming from?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

 

[brimanst]

I think my old 340 A/C units drained directly into the bilge. So you should check again after an extended period without the A/C running.

 

[sbw1]

I'd be very surprised if this boat was plumbed to have the a/c drain into the bilge. It's a 2000 boat. That was not an acceptable standard then or even going back to the early 90's. I would check for leaks in the a/c plumbing system, check the sea chest for condensate leaks, look for clogged drain holes in the condensate pan to rule those out. Then I'd start looking at structure.

 

[Jack380AC]

My boat is the same year but a very different model, but...

I had sea water leaking into the aft section of the boat. Checked everything mentioned here with no luck. Turned out to be a pin hole leak where the wet exhaust flange is fiberglassed to the inside of the hull. The external part is metal (brass?). However, inside the boat, it was sealed to the hull with fiberglass. The fix was easy by a good fiberglass technician but getting to it on my boat was extremely difficult.

 

[msballin]

Thanks all for your input. My A/C doesn't drain into bilge, actually into the sump pump box along w my shower water. I'll check the a/c plumbing - would think it can only be a leaky hose between pump in engine compartment and the unit under the forward berth. Water is somewhat salty which is why I believe it is raw water. If not A/C, must be structural.

I do have a constant amount of water in the engine compartment to port where the raw water intake seacock is located. Since there is no water on the starboard side, I'm thinking maybe it needs to be re-sealed. Is it possible that this water can pertrude through bulkhead?

Regardless, made an appt. to have a marine engineer take a peek. Don't want to mess around if it happens to be structural.

Thanks again for your input.

All the best,

Captain Mike