Water tank question

[SparklePlenty]

Friends new to their 2016 Ranger Tug 31CB have a perplexing problem. While putting water in the water fill, water started coming out the side of the boat before the tank was full. Water had been put in at a slow to medium, not a high, pressure rate for about 10 minutes before it started coming out. After turning off the water and stopping filling the tank, the water continued to come out the side (but never from the deck fill) at a rapid pace for about ten minutes. The water pressure pump sounded like it was trying to siphon an empty tank. The galley faucet flow was between slow and spitting. The bilge pumps weren't making any sound, and the bilges were bone dry. Water kept coming out the side of the boat at a steady pace when the bilge pumps were turned off. The water tank gauge indicated almost empty (many other tugs have a water gauge issue, too, so that may not be an indicator of anything amiss). All the visible clamps on the water lines are in place and there is no water anywhere under any clamps or fittings. Does anyone any ideas?

 

[BradOwens]

If not from the bilge pumps, the water was probably coming out of the water tank vent. This is normal, when the tank is full. The gauge is probably not accurate.
The slow flow from the galley faucet could have been from air in the system or from a blockage in the water lines.

 

[SparklePlenty]

That all sounds reasonable. It is possible the owner didn't keep the faucet on long enough to bleed the air out of the system. Maybe it was all ado about nothing. I will pass this on to them. Thank you, Brad!

 

[TBates]

Hi SparklePlenty, I think I may have been working with your friends this afternoon concerning this. The issue ended up being the water heater drain was left open which was letting water drain into the bilge, which was then pumped overboard by the bilge pumps.

-Tim

 

[SparklePlenty]

Yes, Tim. That was them, and problem solved! Thank you.

 

[baz]

Hi SparklePlenty, I think I may have been working with your friends this afternoon concerning this. The issue ended up being the water heater drain was left open which was letting water drain into the bilge, which was then pumped overboard by the bilge pumps.

-Tim

If this was the prime cause then the water exiting from the side of boat was because the bilge pump(s) were pumping out the water that was coming out of the water heater, right ? The OP indicated there was no bilge pumping noises! :?

 

[tugnnaweigh]

In familiarizing myself with whatever my current boat is I flow everything that discharges overboard and then try to remember for future reference what's coming from where when a particular discharge is discharging.

Some discharges simply flow such as the sink drain and with others they'll be a pump running which will hopefully help reveal the source of the fluid being pumped.

Another tank situation is fluids suddenly blasting out from where they shouldn't so if you notice the black water tank sides collapsing inward as you pump out whatever you do don’t go looking down the pump out opening once you’ve removed the suction hose. Don’t ask me how I know this.

Also, when filling tanks, I hold the hose a bit away to try to get the stream of water down the center of the fill hose so it can be an additional vent, I’ve found tank vents completely clogged by salt which is what caused the black water tank situation.

 

[TexasEye]

Hi SparklePlenty, I think I may have been working with your friends this afternoon concerning this. The issue ended up being the water heater drain was left open which was letting water drain into the bilge, which was then pumped overboard by the bilge pumps.

-Tim

It would be good to have the number and location of all seacocks and valves listed in the manual. How many seacocks does the RT25 Classic have? should all thru hull below waterline have seacocks?

 

[Chimo]

[/quote]

It would be good to have the number and location of all seacocks and valves listed in the manual. How many seacocks does the RT25 Classic have? should all thru hull below waterline have seacocks?[/quote]


One, Yes. 😉

 

[TexasEye]

It would be good to have the number and location of all seacocks and valves listed in the manual. How many seacocks does the RT25 Classic have? should all thru hull below waterline have seacocks?[/quote]


One, Yes. 😉[/quote]

I was being sneeky, I've only found one! been over every inch of the boat and still only found one! Thanks Chimo...