Skip
Well-Known Member
- Oct 5, 2006
- 1,085
- Boat Info
- 07 58 DB
Truly Blessed IV
2010 Nautica 12' RIB, 40HP Yamaha
- Engines
- MAN CRM 900s
Given the time of year, this may not help...but last spring I had a recurring fresh water leak on my boat; water was ending up in the bilge on the port side, and puddling in the pan under the 9KW Onan Gen set. I also had water in the bilge consistently..the annoying quantity that is not high enough to trip the float on the pump, but enough to make a mess in the bilge.
The first cause of water was a loose fresh water fitting at the icemaker. When the fresh water system would pressurize, the loose fitting would release a steady drip of water which would run down the deck under the cockpit sink, then into the lip of the engine hatch, back to the transom, where it would pool, overflow the lip, and end up under the Onan. I put teflon tape on the fresh water connection to the icemaker, tightened it up, and that solved the problem.
My second source of fresh water (I run in the fresh water Potomac River) was from the Cummins exhausts. On a 420DA diesel, and most diesel boats I guess, the exhaust is about the size of a 155MM howitzer barrel. These big fiberglass tubes are held in place, and to the other components of the exhaust, by hose clamps. Diesels vibrate a lot, and my exhaust clamps had all come loose (previous owner not into visiting the engine room, apparently) Once I tightened up evey hose clamp in sight, the water problems dissappeared.
I also noticed during shrink wrapping that at the point in my radar arch where the radar antenna cable enters the arch is open--the unattractive glob of silicone which was "good 'nuf" when the boat was built has now shrunk to the point that it will allow water into the arch internal spaces. Not good, and a spring maintenance item for me.
From my perspective, you only ought to get water in yor engine spaces when you check strainers..a little overflow there is unavoidable. Otherwise, you should not have any water in the bilge. If you do, someting is amiss somewhere. It might be worth getting into your engine spaces during the next rain storm or having a friend with a hose do the next best thing--this might help narrow down the source of the water intrusion.
best of luck with it
regards
Skip
The first cause of water was a loose fresh water fitting at the icemaker. When the fresh water system would pressurize, the loose fitting would release a steady drip of water which would run down the deck under the cockpit sink, then into the lip of the engine hatch, back to the transom, where it would pool, overflow the lip, and end up under the Onan. I put teflon tape on the fresh water connection to the icemaker, tightened it up, and that solved the problem.
My second source of fresh water (I run in the fresh water Potomac River) was from the Cummins exhausts. On a 420DA diesel, and most diesel boats I guess, the exhaust is about the size of a 155MM howitzer barrel. These big fiberglass tubes are held in place, and to the other components of the exhaust, by hose clamps. Diesels vibrate a lot, and my exhaust clamps had all come loose (previous owner not into visiting the engine room, apparently) Once I tightened up evey hose clamp in sight, the water problems dissappeared.
I also noticed during shrink wrapping that at the point in my radar arch where the radar antenna cable enters the arch is open--the unattractive glob of silicone which was "good 'nuf" when the boat was built has now shrunk to the point that it will allow water into the arch internal spaces. Not good, and a spring maintenance item for me.
From my perspective, you only ought to get water in yor engine spaces when you check strainers..a little overflow there is unavoidable. Otherwise, you should not have any water in the bilge. If you do, someting is amiss somewhere. It might be worth getting into your engine spaces during the next rain storm or having a friend with a hose do the next best thing--this might help narrow down the source of the water intrusion.
best of luck with it
regards
Skip