2008 R25 Water Leak

[dougandnancy]

Our new-to-us tug recently developed an alarming bilge leak. The bulk of the water seems to be coming out of a limber hole in a small fiberglass hump in the absolute bottom of the bilge directly under the transmission output. The leak is water and it appears clear, but as we are moored in a river I can't tell if it is external or internal.
The bilge forward of this limber hole appears to be dry, except when the flow fills the bilge enough to set off the forward (#2) bilge pump. Of course, that only happens because the sensor on bilge pump #1 recently went out, and yes, I did try cleaning it.
So, are any of you tugnuts familiar enough with the layup of these boat to be able to tell me from where the water out of this hole comes? Thanks for listening. I have found this forum to be a godsend.
Doug

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

My first thought is from the water tank or hot water heater. Does your water pump cycle on occasionally when not in use? If so you may have a leak in one or the other. Check the fittings on the hot water tank and or any you can observe going to and from the water tank, sink or shower fittings. I see that your in Oregon, are you close enough to the Ocean to be in salt water? I ask only to find out of you can determine if the water is fresh or salt water?

Jim F

 

[dougandnancy]

Thanks for the response, Jim 😀
After posting, we were able, by emptying the fresh water tank, to confirm that the leak was internal. Unfortunately, I did not think about isolating the water heater first, and am now left with putting enough colored water back into the system to start the leak again. Any hints on gaining access to all that plumbing on the starboard side? I've heard posters advise checking the tightness of all the hose clamps, but I can't even see much less get a tool on most of them. Is removing the fridge and/or galley cabinetry necessary?

My hope was that someone knowledgeable enough about the fiberglass layup of the bilge would be able to tell me where the water was coming from to emerge from the little limber hole under the engine. All I know is that it was not flowing past the front bilge pump :?:

Doug















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[TexasEye]

Look in the locker starboard side cockpit, most fresh water leaks run thru this area into the bilge. Normally something simple but impossible (almost) to get to.

 

[doke01]

On our 2007 Tug, the boat drain plug is located in the area you describe. Could yours be loose?

 

[doke01]

I remember an issue we had where a hose clamp to the shower water feed was loose and leaking with similar way. It was accessible from the engine compartment on the forward, starboard side. We also had a similar leak from the back of the shower valve. That one we had to remove the teak holding the valve (you need to identify the screws holding it in placed and it slides right out, but the screws are not so obvious). There is about a 2-inch hole the plumbing goes through, so any leak will go straight from there to the bilge.

When you see the water again, rub your hand on the fresh water (not engine) hoses on the starboard, forward side in the engine compartment and see if they are wet. It's not easy to see visually. From there it is just following the leak to the source (not always so easy)🙂.

 

[knotflying]

When troubleshooting always do one thing at a time otherwise you will be dealing with too many variables. It sounds like you have already confirmed that it is a domestic water issue. Before putting dye in the system I would check as many clamps and connections on your domestic water system. After you do that I would then add some water (no dye) in the system and see what happens. I would not power up the water pump and see if water starts to rise. If it does then it could be a tank issue and not connections. If there is no water rise then turn on the pump and purge air from the lines. Then wait and see if the pump cycles and you start to get a water rise. If so then it is a connection or possibly the hot water tank. To rule out the hot water tank I would then disconnect the heater from the system, connect the two inlet and outlet hoses together and pressure up the system again with the water pump. Wait and see if you get a water rise again. If no water rise, it is the water tank. I would then pressurize the tank with air and a pressure gauge and confirm that it is leaking air. If the tank checks out okay then you have to search for that leaking connection.