Try the hose from the anchor well. Depending on where you're sailing, if you get water over the bow...? Try hosing it at the dock and see.

Jim:

Setting here on our 1990 36 currently, I can not think how water could get into the bilge coming from the forward section of the boat. If it was getting into the anchor locker and leaking from the hose it would stay in the forward section of the boat and not enter the bilge unless it was a vast amount of water.

The speed and depth transducer is in this area but if they leaked it would stay in the forward section and not enter the bilge. If I pull the 3 section drawer unit out that is under the v berth there is no limber holes and is sealed to where the water would have to come out where the drawers are located first, This would be seen then on the teak and holly floor.

Are both sea cocks shut in the bathroom when you sail? if not check that area to see if any leaks. Take and plug the sections of the bilge off so you know for sure where it is coming from. I did this and as the leak I have is in the rear and now have to work on where it coming from.

Hope this helps

Randy

Jimmy,
Have you tasted the water? (If someone knows a way to tell the difference between salt water and fresh, I would love to stop tasting my own bilge water)

The shower sump will drain through the wire lead hole when the sump is half full and sloshing. If you have leak in the plumbing under sink or in the connection to the forward water tank, that water may find its way back to the bilge.

From the stern, it could be your raw water pump. The pump drains into the pan beneath the engine, which will eventually slosh its way into the bilge.

Hope that helps.

Dave

I hate to mention this, but are your keel bolts OK.
John Meyer
2135 Hilbre

Jim:

Pull your drawers out under the v berth and look in there as I mentioned prior, and plug your limber holes off in the bilge so you can isolate where it is coming form better,

Do you have in-mast roller furling? If so, you will always get water in the bilge when sailing if there is any spray, since it enters the slot the sail furls into.

Once again... do you have a roller furling main?

I had this problem while underway, to this day I have not found the cause.

I can tell you that, I now close all the thru hulls, execpt the raw water. I close off the two in the head and the one under the sink. To this day I have not had any water in the bilge while underway.
I am not sure the cause of this. But once the thru hulls were closed off dry as a bone.

Hope this helps :cool:

Hi Jim
I have battled 25 separate leaks into our bilge over 3 years :-) We have a mark 1, and found the following leaks from forward:

Anchor Well:
A leak from between the small copper drain and the hull
A leak around the same pipe from inside the anchor well
Leaks around bolts thru the bulkhead holding our inner forestay
A leak from the windlass switch in the deck ran down the wires
The anchor well fills with water (when a bit rough) and overflows near the top of the deck where the Nav light wires passes thru the bulkhead to port, and the windlass wires to starboard. We keep the fenders in the anchor well to reduce water weight building up and hold the anchor chain in in case of knock down or worse. I plan to install a larger drain in addition to the smaller one to stop the build up of water in there.

We also had a crack in front of the keel (badly patched repair from a grounding) that only allowed water to enter when we were sailing

Inside the mast (wire and spinnaker halyard entry)
Outside the mast thru the mast boot

Best way I found was to lift the floors whilst sailing, and dry the hull with a cloth and keep tracking the dampness to its source. You have to empty the V-berth as well.

Good luck. :)

On a recent sail down to Monterey, I had to change from one water tank to another because the first tank had run out of water. When I removed the cover under the seat to change tanks, I found that there was about 8" of water in the bilge. Yikes! However, it was fresh water. I pumped it out and wodnered what was happening. A few minutes later, there was more water in there. Then I went to the head to use the toilet. The toilet was filled with water and was splashing out. Turns out somebody hadn't raised the handle all the way up on my vacuflush toilet and the water was steadily running in.

Sounds like you guys have found the source of you leaks.

I made a discovery on my last trip down the coast. I do not make a habit of closing the thru hull for the lav sink unless I know I will be layed over hard on a starboard tack. I do instruct guests as to where the thru hull is in case I ask them to shut it off as I find the boat stay much drier after closing this valve.

On my way back from Half Moon Bay, a five hour motor sail with a screaming reach coming back through the bay I was pleased to find my bilge was very dry on my return. My head was a bit sloppy as it appeared not all the crew had there sea legs or lacked concentration in the head.
I used the shower nozzle and hosed down the head, after which I used the shower sump pump to clear the water. I then lifted up the shower sump pump to wipe the area down with a sponge and noted two small holes drilled into the sump that drain to the bilge. I assume that my past issues with a wet bilge was related to heeling to the point that water would back up in the sink, splash out on the floor and slowly drain from the shower pan into the bilge through these small holes.

to find leaks use water soluble pen and draw line around thru hulls etc. then check if ink has run.

Ray Little miss Magic

that sounds like that would be a good idea, thanks.