Water in the bilge

[guido]

Guys,

I noticed a lot of water in my bilge prior to putting my boat in. The only place it could have come from is rain. While preping it I drained all the water and cleaned the bilge, but it sat for a few days with the drain plug screwed in. When I was on the boat getting ready to launch I opened the hatch and saw a lot of water sitting in there. It's a 2000 Chase 263, is that normal to have rain water accumulate in the bilge. I thought it would just go out the gravity drains on deck. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

JC

 

[jekyl]

As you say it has come from rain.....so if you have moved the boat then it's possible some has moved from a forward compartment to the rear one. Shouldn't be there if you have a self draining deck ...however as some of the anchor lockers drain into the bilge that is a likely culprit.
I don't know what the thoughts are there in the US but here in Aus we worry more about fresh water laying in a hull than Saltwater. Salt is a preservative so is less likely to rot timber than fresh water. Well that's the theory anyway. Most old timber vessels always have a level of saltwater in the bilge. As long as you know how it gets in and at what rate .

 

[gradyfish22]

It is likely your deck is not sealed well. Check the chaulking on the deck and everywhere else, if there are gaps or the lip of the chaulking is peeling up, remove it and start over. The deck hatch in the engine well seems to have the chaulking go first, check that as well. Also, al of the small round inspection plates have gaskets on them, if you use them a lot they deteriorate and need replacement, I'd say every year, if not every 2 years for the ones you never open. they can still break down if you do not open them from the boat pounding and rattling in seas. While you are doing this, check your deck plate screws in the cockpit, if any are loose tighten them, if any do not grab, remove the screw, fill the hole with 3M's 4200 and reseal, yuo can use 5200 but if you ever plan to get down there for a repair it will be much ahrder to remove that screw. Water can seep through those screw's if they are loose. also, I do not believe your anchor locker is water tight and it likely drains into your bilge, you may want to add a gasket around the bottom of the anchor locker door to keep water out. I'd target these area's first since this is stuff that needs to be done anyways to keep the boat in good shape and these are the most common culprits of water in the bilge. If this does not work, then you need to look elsewhere and may have a leak in the console or somewhere else. Let me know if this works for you, if not hopefully others on this forum can come up with possible places causing this water acucmulation.

 

[guido]

I love this forum! I will get right on all the suggestions mentioned.

Thanks Guys!!!

 

[TunaT]

leaks

quido.......I had same issue....As gradyfish22 said, reseal the deck, especially in my case floor area were the gas tank is. Second, Mine also leaked around the windlass, you would be surprised at how much water in a good rain the anchor locker will except....between the hole for the rope and chain and the hatch a good rain could put a 5 gal bucket of water in you bilge. Now, I have not been able to completely stop the water....Windlass issue, but I have at least cut it down to 1/2 gal a rain.......good luck

 

[Motivator]

Don't forget about the drink holders.

 

[Kenlahr]

What are you guys doing about the drink holders? Some of them drain rignt into the bilge. Are you removing the hose and blocking the drain.. and then emptying the holder by hand? Or are you re routing the drain hose onto the deck some place?

 

[Boats Rock]

I was getting water in my boats bulge and I found the o-rings were not sealing from the access covers. I replaced all the seals and the water stopped. I rerouted the drain hoses from the drink cups to empty back onto the deck. I used a small threw fitting by the side rod holders. Same with my rear rod holders by the hand sprayer. The newer Gradys have rod holders with drain tubes. I used those so the salt water would not drip on the batteries.

 

[jfmagana]

My two pence is that a little water in the bilge is really no big deal. It's a boat for goodness sake. I think we Grady owners tend to obsess too much about bilge water because of the ancient history of transom issues...IMHO Grady has learned their lessons and make the necessary changes to make this a non-issue with more recent vintage boats.