Water found in forward pan near fwd head

[sam]

All knowing list, I have another item I could use help with.

I have found water several times in the forward pan under the forward head. When you lift the floorboard just inside the forward cabin door (where my knotlog and depth sender are located) I find water in the area just starboard of the stringer . I have evacuated two or three gallons from there. Simple quick taste indicates it is fresh and not saltwater but I am not 100% sure of that yet. After having replaced my aft water tank I am sensitized that the forward one may be leaking, but I cannot see any water by simply looking from the top around the edges. So, I may take it out and set it on the dock and fill and test.

I am almost positive that it is not a shower sump leak.

I am almost positive that it is not a pressure side leak on the fresh water system to the sink and shower as the system holds pressure and the pump does not burp on periodically (as one would expect with a leak), only on demand when a faucet is used.

I am open to suggestions. Ideas?

Just spent a wonderful weekend on the boat sailing down Galveston Bay. Great to find a weather window in  February!

Sam

LONGHAWK B-43, 2008, Hull #9

[Mike Brown]

Sam, I've had a leak in the trim work for the shower door. The trim at the bottom on the hinge side had a gap in it. I sealed it with some white silicone sealant which has stopped most water exiting while showering. I find that I have to be careful not to aim the shower head in that direction or I'll still get a trickle. I'm not sure if the door seal is at fault or the gap I sealed.

If you still can't find the cause try placing one or two small drops of food coloring in potential source. Use a different color for each area. Note that a small amount of food coloring goes a long way. If you don't want to put any in the forward tank try placing a hand towel forward of that area as close to the tank as possible. It would be slightly higher than the area you mention. If you find its wet then you know you're in the right ballpark. BTW I too had the aft tank replaced as there was a bad lot of them. I've never heard of the fwd one failing.

Good luck and let me know what you find.
Mike

[sam]

Thanks for the quick response. I know that this case is not caused by the shower spray, as we have not used that shower , I like the idea of the food coloring.

I will investigate further and definitely will share findings.

Sam

[Scott MacLeod]

You may also want to check the cap on the water tank itself. I had the same problem that baffled me for some time then clued in that I was getting water in the bilge every time I was topping up the water tanks. Sometimes the seal on the cover can fail or it is not being tightened enough.

[sam]

Thanks Scott. I dug into the forward berth area, removing the mattress and lifting the most forward inspection panel on the bunk platform. This gave me access to the forward area below the anchor locker.. I saw traces or streaks down the interior of the hull where it looked like water had trickled down previously. I used a garden hose and squirt water on the anchor drain  from outside the boat after placing dry paper towels in the v of the hull in the area. ( I had previously knocked off the starboard  anchor well drain clamshell (which is the lower one)cover using an anchor bridle). Lo and behold I found a trickle of water. So, after prolonged motoring I surmise that there is where the water comes from and drains through the limber holes to that pan area. Now, I cannot explain yet how the water is finding its way down into the hull from what should be a sealed anchor well with drains. I replaced the scoop / clamshell cover and will test under way soon.

I noticed a friend's boat motoring beside me this weekend and the bow wave was curling up right onto that drain area.

[Mike Brown]

Sam, I too have knocked the covers off with the anchor bridle but have not seen water in the pan as you have. This would be a good time and place to use the food coloring. It should give you a clear path the water takes through the anchor locker.
Good luck
Mike