Water in bilge

[rcsummers]

Folks, I've got some water coming into my bilge on my 1998 3000 SCR. Water does not seem to get much higher than the actual bilge platform, it is pretty slow, but I don't like to see it in there. The water seems to be coming from the forward side of the compartment, through the weep hole that goes under the pump out tank and the aft cabin. The water is clean and fresh. My mid cabin bilge is dry. Where does this weep hole go as it passes under the mid cabin? I'm trying to isolate if this could possibly rain water working its way in there somehow, or if it's got something to do with the freshwater tank. Any insight would be appreciated.

[mmwjr]

Is the water heater near by? Could be leaking.

[MoonRiver]

Yep, I second the water heat possibility. I just noticed my pressure re leaf valve sometimes leaks once the tank reaches high temp. Its only a steady drip and cannot flood the boat. But like you said "any water in the bilge is wrong".

[mmwjr]

Looking at the owners manual the water heater is in the engine compartment but the fresh water tank is in the floor of the cabin. So it could be the tank on a water line. Another possibility is A/C condensation.

[rcsummers]

Team, no A/C on the boat, so we can rule that out. Hot water heater is pretty well plain sight down in the engine compartment, if I was leaking there I think I'd see the water in a different spot (it drains down under the engine and through a weep hole back by the transom). This water comes from forward of the engine compartment, along the hull and through the weep hole under the waste tank/aft cabin. Sounds like the fresh water tank might be a culprit. Am I going to access that through the side panel in the aft cabin, near where the starboard fuel tank is? Also, I didn't hear any comments on rain water, but is there any way rain water could make its way to that spot somehow? Seems like the deck all would drain through the through hulls, but not sure how else water might creep down there.

[Phillbo]

Best way to rule out the fresh water tank is to pump it dry and see if the leak stops.

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by Phillbo

Best way to rule out the fresh water tank is to pump it dry and see if the leak stops.

Agree and to see if it’s rain water use a hose and douse one area of the bow at a time to see if water shows up.

[Phillbo]

But only do one at a time

[mrt214]

just replaced my water heater after 2yrs trickle leak.

[jparsons121]

It's aft of the midships bilge then. The bulkhead just aft of the freshwater tank is solid and doesn't connect to the engine rm bilge.
There are limber holes in the aft cabin lockers that I think drain to the ER.

Two suggestions. Taste the water. Is it fresh or salt? Fresh would be rain or the water system. Salt could be thru hulls and or transom bracket and such. Second would be to pump out and dry the areas. Spread/dust the area with baby powder. Water coming in from top sides would leave a trail in the powder and help to track it to its source.

If it's fresh. It may also be rainwater that overflows the scuppers in the cockpit. Not as noticeable if you have he Bimini up, but I know I can get a couple of gallons in the bilge during a Florida t-storm if Bimini is down.