Ballast tank leak or hull breach - MYSTERY SOLVED!!!!!!

[Richard O'Brien]

Don't forget the talcum powder method? Shake talcum powder all over the bilge, and watch for water tracks. More effective than dyes

[kmclemore]

Don't forget the talcum powder method? Shake talcum powder all over the bilge, and watch for water tracks. More effective than dyes

Roll it in flour and look for the wet spot?






Sorry.

[Tom Walsh]

Here is a potential source of leak that you definately want to check, and it is relativly easy to do. The motor well has a drain that drains to the transom through hull. via 1"clear tubing it is a tight spot for someone making the hook ups,I guess thats why mine fell off. Not only will you get all the rain run off from the cockpit ,you also get any sea waterthat sloshes into the motor well. My boat had 4-5" of water in the bilge before
I figured it out. I think it was a slow leak for a long time before it finally fell off complete.
Crawl way back into the aft berth (not afterbirth) head first. take off the interior clothboard cover check it out. A glass of water in the well will tell ya. Another good reason for bige pump.
Tom Walsh 26x

[RandyMoon]

Another option would be to get some of those inflatible plugs that plumbers use to plug up black drain pipe when doing a pressure test with no water in the tank. You would not want to put much pressure in, but you could see if it would hold constant pressure for 12 hours.

[Max]

Catigale,
Interesting. I too have sea water leak - 1996 mac X. Under the ice chest (that I don't put in, as my batteries are down there. It appears to be - tho not sure - to be coming from the bottom of the keel housing where it meets the hull. Taken out 2.5 galls so far ie 0.5 galls per 7 hour tide. Had to take Mac out. Now going to a boat yard for inspection so I can look at Insurance claim as I fear she may have bottomed on something under mud.
On a swinging mooring for 5 months of the year - bottoms out twice day. However I don't really know.
Can't be ballast as the water is right up to bung - after losing that much water you would not expect that level.
Same side as yours..s'board.
Rather worried at minute.
Max

[Catigale]

I have the bilge dried out and will start filling the ballast with water from the pool tonight.

My prediction is I will find no leak, and the "leak" was my loose plug on the ballast tank combined with heavy crew load for my 10 day cruise splooging ballast water into the bilge.

Should have a report over weekend.

Cat

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

, and the "leak" was my loose plug on the ballast tank combined with heavy crew load for my 10 day cruise splooging ballast water into the bilge.



Cat

I wouldve figured that the factory water-dam at the plug site would prevent splooging into the bilge....but I'll bet youve found the solution. Hope you post your findings. Thanks.

[RandyMoon]

Stephen, I Googled "splooging." It seems to have a connotation along the lines of "adult" activities. Now I am wondering about your relationship with your boat.

[Catigale]

Update - filled the ballast by siphoning the pool, no obvious leaks found yet.

I am wiping the bilge of trace of water every hour or so with a sponge, but I think this is just residual water I spilled ...Ill leave it overnight and see if I accumulate my 10 gallons like I did on my trip.

Im leaning even more to my splooge theory...

[They Theirs]

Catigale
I hope this helps, but I'd rather its not needed.
Sorry I missed your asking for some design diagram. It is an early model tank, but may provide reference.

[Catigale]

TT - that top photo is great and just what I needed..now I can make sense of where water in what part of the bilge will run when I tilt the boat on the trailer.

Im letting her sit overnight with ballast full, and will make final report tomorrow..

[They Theirs]

"Keep yer powder dry mate!"

[Catigale]

8 bells and all is well....bilge is dry and the tank is holding water.

I did learn my transom valve outside the boat is leaking about 1 gallon per 10 minutes, but, in a flash of inspiration, put a bucket under the valve, then poured the contents back into the tank a few times.

Over several hour time, the tank is not leaking other than from the transom valve

Looks like a false alarm on the leak...whew.....my theory about a loose plug letting ballast tank water (with a heavy cruising load probably making the ballast waterline near the top of the water dam) is the explanation.

[kmclemore]

Sometimes those plug-holes get a little cracked or ragged on the edges and can weep.

Suggestion: You my want to put a light coat of epoxy round the opening to the vent where the plug goes. to smooth things out. You could try applying a bit of wet epoxy around the hole, then insert a waxed rubber stopper (like from a large test-tube, with carnuba wax rubbed into its surface) then apply a bit more epoxy around the top next to the stopper. When it's dry the stopper will pop out and you'll have a nice well formed hole for your expanding vent plug.

[Captain Steve]

I cut a natural sponge to fit into the dam around the vent to catch and absorb any water. Just wring it out when we come back in and open the vent. I often leave it out...the plug...and let the sponge hold it back.