water running in the motor bilge

[RodNca]

Hello guys, on the boat I have my eye on ( a 240 sundancer), the owner told me when it rains a lot, water is running to the engine bilge, it can be quite significant he told me. He also told me that it happens the carpet in the cabin just after the stairs becomes really wet. So the water runs from the front ( he does not know from where) and then goes to the engine bilge, I can see there is a space below the fuel tank where there is the détection device « waggler » for the bilge pump.

Now, on the hull On the lowest part ( above the cabin) there is a scratch where some fiber glass is visible and it is showing some humidity.

i am wondering if there is still not some water trapped somewhere above but I do not know how the hull is designed so what would you recommend? I am thinking about filling the anchor compartment to see if water runs to the bilge but the bilge is now empty of any water so how come there is humidity on the fibreglass ?
thank you guys

will make some pictures tomorrow if that helps

 

[RodNca]

Any access from the cabin if I take the carpet out? I am not going to have the hull drilled without knowing how it is designed

 

[northern]

What year is the boat? It could be a leak at the connection between the upper and lower parts at rub rail

 

[Golfman25]

Yep hull to deck joint is probably leaking.

 

[FootballFan]

have someone on the dock to spray a hose while you are watching in the bilge, then inside the boat.

Remember water may come in at one location, then run a considerable distance before it becomes visible. Can be a bear to track down - then relatively easy to fix in some cases.

 

[bobeast]

Best you take your eye off this boat. Bare fiberglass showing moisture likely hides a much bigger problem. Likewise, "quite significant" water in the bilge even after a heavy rain leads me to believe you aren't getting the full story. Lots of boats out there that don't leak. I'd find one of those.

 

[RodNca]

What year is the boat? It could be a leak at the connection between the upper and lower parts at rub rail

2009

 

[atrick]

Could it possible be the front windows ie; between window frame and boat or between glass and window frame. Had leaks in my boat and finally traced them to both of the above issues.

 

[RodNca]

Ok so fibreglass was actually dry this morning, maybe it was some water that ran from the hull On top and followed the line .

now, I checked the ac pump in the bilge and the tank is full of water and some small sea shells made their way in it. Is that a problem? then I went to check the tank below the entrance step and it was full of greenish water.
then I decided to spray some water at the entrance where there is a small evacuation hole because it was dirty, I immediately saw that water stagnated so I took a hose and sprayed it at the evacuation output , when I got back up´ what was clogging the evacuation pipe was out at the entrance but the tank below the step had overflowed.

I am now wondering why?

 

[Lazy Daze]

now, I checked the ac pump in the bilge and the tank is full of water and some small sea shells made their way in it. Is that a problem? then I went to check the tank below the entrance step and it was full of greenish water.
then I decided to spray some water at the entrance where there is a small evacuation hole because it was dirty, I immediately saw that water stagnated so I took a hose and sprayed it at the evacuation output , when I got back up´ what was clogging the evacuation pipe was out at the entrance but the tank below the step had overflowed.

I am now wondering why?

I'm not following what you are saying. Can re-explain? For example, there is no "tank" for the air conditioning pump. Do you mean the strainer? Clean it out.

For the rest, I think you're talking about the pump box under the step? I have no idea what a "small evac hole" is. Everything should have hoses. Multiple "in" hoses and one "out" hose to the thru-hull on the side of the boat.

The box will overflow if the pump isn't working (or fuse) or the output hose is clogged.

I'm really not sure what you're talking about regarding the pump box - it's hard to understand what you wrote. But hopefully between what you know and what I wrote it makes sense for you.

Also... water in the cabin should NOT make it to the engine bilge. Water on the cabin floor (especially near the step) is likely from the windows leaking and/or the head drain leaking. Water in the engine bilge has multiple sources from rain... transom locker, engine hatch drain and/or hoses, blower vents, etc. Highly unlikely to be the deck/hull joint.

 

[Lazy Daze]

"Now, on the hull On the lowest part ( above the cabin) there is a scratch where some fiber glass is visible and it is showing some humidity."

I'm not following this, either. The lowest part of the hull is the keel... which is nowhere near being above the cabin - it's pretty much the opposite of above the cabin.

 

[Scott215]

Post a pic of scratch

 

[RodNca]

Hello, sorry for my poor English.

you are correct I am talking about the pump box below the step And the strainer which I will empty and clean.

as I said the pump box was full when I checked it, I decided to let it that way.
in the meantime, I decided to check if the «in » hoses were not clogged. I started with the one at the cabin entrance door and I saw that water had troubles clearing so I went down and sprayed water in the out »hose ». What was clogging the hose was pushed back out the « in » hose but then I checked the pump box and it had overflowed with the greenish water that was in it.

from what you said, I understand that if that hose is clogged it might be the reason for pump box to overflow when it rains a lot?

for the engine bilge I really though that the space below the rear of the fuel tank was a pathway for the water to run from the front to the rear of the boat. Will make a picture of that « space ».

will use marine sealing to work on the windows. When you talk about the head drain, what is it?

THANK YOU

 

[Lazy Daze]

Morning, Rod.

-- No, the engine bilge is purposefully NOT connected to the cabin.

-- I'm not understanding what you're saying about in/out hoses. Spraying into the "out" hose will have no effect on the "in" hose. They are not connected in any way.

-- The drain at the cabin entrance goes directly overboard - if you look on the starboard side of the hull, you'll see the thru-hull for it.

-- The bilge pump inside the pump box should be evacuating the water in there. Need to figure out why it isn't. Regardless of a clog, the pump should run when it gets full.

-- The "head" is the nautical term for the bathroom.

 

[RodNca]

Again my bad , I sprayed water in the thru hull located on starboard. That is when the clog got out at the entrance drain and when the box overflowed.

since Air conditioning and shower are never used, how come water is getting there?

forgot again wto take the engine bilge picture, but maybe you understand or you see the space below the fuel I am talking about?

resealing of the the windows has been done for the time being

 

[Lazy Daze]

1) Again my bad , I sprayed water in the thru hull located on starboard. That is when the clog got out at the entrance drain and when the box overflowed.

2) since Air conditioning and shower are never used, how come water is getting there?

3) forgot again wto take the engine bilge picture, but maybe you understand or you see the space below the fuel I am talking about?

resealing of the the windows has been done for the time being

1) Oh, OK. Now it makes sense. Good.

2) Does it continue to get INSIDE the box, or could it still be leftover water from the previous own'er use? If water leaks into the head it will drain via the head drain in the floor. Does your galley sink also drain into the box?

3) Yes, I understand what you're talking about. It's just a space. The two bilges are NOT connected. Look at the area under the step - you won't see a drain hole/passageway to the engine bilge. The aft bulkhead in the sump area is completely solid.