The mysterious transfer of water from tank to cabinet

South lake

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Messages
222
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
OK, so a couple of weeks ago I left the fresh water pump turned on over night when I left the boat. I usually make sure it's turned off when I leave but I had one of my senior moments and forgot to do so.

A day or two later I was on the boat and went to fetch something from the bottom cabinet under the galley counter and was surprised to see 1/2 to 3/4's of an inch of water there. Since they're all connected, the water stood in all three cabinets. I checked the gauge on the water tank and it was almost empty. It was almost full before.

So I cleaned up the water and started to try and find how it got from the tank to the cabinet. There was no water on the floor of the cabin, not even down by the forward berth. The shelves above the standing water had things on them including paper and nothing was wet. I opened the access panel under the sink and there was no sign of water or leaks. The only place I found water was in the cabinet although I'm sure water had to make its way to the bilge and was pumped out.

I refilled the tank, turned on the pump, checked everything I could see for leaks, ran water from the faucets in the galley sink and the head and no water was showing up except in the basins where it belonged. I left the pump on for several hours while I puttered around on the boat and still no leaks that I could see. No noise like a cycling pump, no sound of water dripping, no visual of water, etc.

I turned the pump off, locked the boat and came inside to make this post in hopes that one of the Ranger Tug experts on this forum might have an idea of what could be causing this.

Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated...
 
I had fresh water in the same cabinets in my R25 the first summer I had the boat. The leak was in a T connection in the fresh water line that is between the inner and outer hull on the starboard side behind the cabinets. There is an access port that can be removed to access the connection. I tightened the hose clamps on the connections and have had no problem since.

Tom

Indian Summer
 
Thanks Tom. I found the tee. Doesn't seem to be a leak but maybe the pressure builds up over time. I'm going to tighten the hose clamps and see if the problem reoccurs...
 
When I took ownershipe of my R 25, hull #21, 2007, about a month ago I had water in the same cabinets when ever I turned on the pump. After searching I finally discovered thru the aid of a light and mirror that it was coming from the city water pressure hook up. Removed this JABSCO MODEL 44410-1000, and discovered the nylon 90 degree ell screwed into the back side of this fitting was fractured. The JABSCO has a built in backflow preventer within it, hence, when the pump is turned on, all lines are pressurised, and water was then escapeing from the nylon ell.

Bob Messmer
ESCAPE
239-775-3493
Naples Fl.
 
Thanks Bob...

I tightened the hose clamps on the tee as Tom suggested and the screws turned pretty easily to tighten them so that may have been the problem. If I still have a leak I'll look into the water hookup.
 
We have a R 29 and had the same problem with ours this past weekend. Turns out that the hose clamp on the back of the water pressure regulator on the side of the boat was loose. water ran down the hose and some went into the bilge, but some filled the cabinet base with water
 
I had the same thing in my 28 Cutwater. Pump on over night and once in a while it would come on for a second so finally I got up and shut the pump off and thought no more of it. We crossed frome Snug cove to Silva bay in fairly smooth waters but when we got to Silva bay the cabinet, floor and carpet were wet. Still cannot find the leak.

Garry
 
Michael Ann":xy3t8mt1 said:
I had the same thing in my 28 Cutwater. Pump on over night and once in a while it would come on for a second so finally I got up and shut the pump off and thought no more of it. We crossed frome Snug cove to Silva bay in fairly smooth waters but when we got to Silva bay the cabinet, floor and carpet were wet. Still cannot find the leak.

Garry

On our C28 it was a detached hose on the water heater. Sounds like you have a leak, rather than a hose that's completely off. Which cabinet, floor and carpet are you referring to?
 
On our 29 we had this issue with water in cabinets. Metal Sinks needed caulking around the entire edge. Pulled them, calked around sinks and problem was solved. Jim
 
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