Small water leak. Do not know what is this

[Roque2021]

Hi to everyone

Is just really wired!!! I check the anchor locker, and water drains correctly through the chain locker.

I checked the bow compartments under the bed and looks all dry!

So where this comes from because is salted water really clean!!

Did I missing something?

Should I remove the plug and check if is old water?

Will any recommend to close this hole permanently? I would like to know where is coming from

Looking forward to hear from someone with similar experience

Great Sunday

[Don C L]

You're going to have to provide more info and some photos. Where is the water exactly? What kind of boat do you have?

[massnspace]

I think the water is coming from there…..

[Roque2021]

Good morning Don & Massnpace,


I have a Moody 27. There is a small hole in the chain locker, which I initially thought was the chain locker drain. I have since painted the area, but it turns out that is not the case.


Considering other possibilities, I have attached some images for your reference. The wooden plug is located just in front of the bilge, far from the engine. The water is salty and clean.


What do you think is the source of the water? I provide with a link to the drive pictures:



https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...Sf?usp=sharing


Looking forward to ear your opinions

[JoeRobertJr]

Hi, Rogue,

That hole with the wooden plug looks like a limber hole. If so, that is intended to let water flow from the forward bilge into the one you pictured. What is on the other side of that hole with the wooden plug? Is it the bow compartments under the bed that you mentioned?

The soaked wooden plug is a little worrisome. It suggests that someone plugged the hole to prevent water flowing through the hole. Perhaps, they plugged that hole to prevent water flowing from the pictured bilge to the next section when servicing the paddlewheel in your picture.

Is your boat in the water? If so, have another new wooden plug standing by. Remove that old, soaked plug. If you get a steady flow of saltwater, that would suggest to me a serious problem like a crack in the hull. If only residual water comes out, just dry everything up and keep an eye on it.

I would also dry all around your paddlewheel, and then surround that with tissues to see if water is seeping through that. If so, it may be time to replace the o-rings.

[JoeRobertJr]

Attaching a couple of Rogue's pictures.

[Don C L]

We’ll, I guess I’d be looking for a crack in the bow, perhaps from hitting something, like a dock.

[Roque2021]

Hi Joe,


Yes, the bow compartments are all dry! This is a mystery.


There might be a small hole in the chain locker, but I checked and I doubt it.


Yes, the boat is in the water. I took it out in February, sanded the Coppercoat thoroughly, and didn’t find any holes or cracks.


What do you mean by paddlewheel? Sorry, I am Spanish and I do not know all the terminology.


Also, what are O-rings and where are they usually located in sailboats?


Do you have any images?



Thanks again for your help.

[Roque2021]

Hi Don, as i mentioned to Joe, since i haad the boat was no crash.



So will see, i will check next week as this week i am away


Thanks again

[JoeRobertJr]

Rogue,

Here is what I meant by "paddlewheel" from your picture.



This is the speed sensor. The loose part next to it is a blank plug that you can put in the hole while servicing the paddlewheel. The blank plug may have two grooves for rubber o-rings, and may have o-rings already in those grooves. The speed sensor that is in place also has o-rings. They might be leaking.

So, my recommendation is to dry all around the speed sensor, then surround it with tissues. That should help you determine if seawater is leaking by the sensor o-rings.

[JoeRobertJr]

Here is a picture of the paddlewheel unit. The arrow points to the o-rings.


My picture is a Raymarine unit. It looks like that might be what you have.

[Roque2021]

Ahh ok!

The paddle wheel is down on inclination from the plug! So from my eyes the water comes down from the bug to the bilge!

Is posible than water can filter through the bottom of the hull upward??

[JoeRobertJr]

It is possible that water is seeping through a damaged hull, but I think it is unlikely given what you have described.

Is that wooden plug wet? If so, I would take it out and see how much water is behind it.

[Curmugeon]

I had water in a deep bilge for years and I tried everything to find the cause.... eventually I got so frustrated I had a hole cut in the hull by a professional fibreglasser and found the leak was in the under floor embedded fibreglass water tank.
I fixed it and finally a dry bilge.

[sinnerman]

Be careful.

There once was a man who was born with a screw threaded into his navel.

For years he lived with the screw until one day he went to a doctor, and showed him the screw.

The doctor was perplexed, having never seen anything like this in his medical career.

He said to the man: "let's remove the screw and see what happens".

So..he removed the screw, and the man's butt fell off......

cheers