Slow leak of fresh water into bilge

[smr547]

Source unknown. Possible breather pipe leak in fwd water tank(s) as problem is most noticeable after water refill

[smr547]

• The maintenance committee observed that this was a recurring problem associated with overfilling the forward main tank.
• Possibly an obstructed breather tube.
• Peter Wilson in Airlie reported the bilges as "dry" on last routine inspection
• Committee recommended marking this issue as watch and wait and closing pending further developments.

[smr547]

Bill Lesley spent an number of hours cleaning out the bilge compartments in the saloon and galley. Each locker had a generous amount of rancid water which had damaged some of the contents. We are grateful for the huge effort Bill put into this grubby task.

Working bee group also checked all tanks by filling each and inspecting all related plumbing. There were no leaks detected.

However, while filling the forward central tank (via the inlet port at the top of the sail locker) water overflowing the filler was found to flood back into the sail locker. This water would no doubt find its way into the bilge via the Limber holes. The source of the problem is drains limited ability to cope with a filler cap overflow.

We will close this issue but open a notice to skippers warning them of the problem

[smr547]

@pjwain reports: Bilge water: There was a litre or so of fresh water accumulating in the small bilge just ahead of the main bulkhead every day. Possibly coming from one of the small fwd water tanks.

Reopening this issue for attention at Boatworks

[smr547]

• Some rain water coming from the mast
• Some water port forward tank
• Perhaps coming from the sail locker compartments

[smr547]

Some observations from @pauljones17 support the theory that the leak is coming from one (or more) of the forward tanks. In a recent report he said:

It appears there is a problem with forward water tanks. The aft tank lasted eight persons over 2 days. The forward tanks were emptied in quick succession even with no showers for the last 1.5 days.

Pauls comment also suggests that the leak may be of sufficient quantity to impact the normal endurance of the tanks.

@Christopher-w-green has been sloothing this problem for some time and he will no doubt be interested in this observation

[Christopher-w-green]

Not sure about that. If there was so much water leaking - from all three forward tanks? - then there would be water everywhere. The water seeping into the bilge compartment is only a relatively small amount. Odd that all three tanks would be affected at once. Suggests a problem in the pipe between the switching taps up front and the taps down the back, in that case. But no evidence of water there.

Who filled the tanks? We had a similar occurrence on our last trip where one of the crew swore they had filled the aft tank, but there wasn't much water in it at all. As you know, it's easy to get an airlock in the filler tube that makes it look like the tank is full.

Also, we completely emptied all three forward tanks on our last trip and it didn't seem to affect the water ingress into the bilge compartment.

So an interesting observation but I'm not convinced we've solved the problem.

[pcbaston]

In Opua, a small leak at the mast base was noticed and rectified - cable glands were leaking in the rain into the deckhead panel in the fwd vestibule. Sealant was used to coat all cables as they passed through the cable gland - which the rubber gland was not of the correct size and shape for multiple cable bundles.

Additionally, there have been several reports of water pipe leakage as noticed by the loss of pressure (water pump operating often).