--- In [email protected], "rigdence" <christ...@...> wrote: > > Hi folks - > > We've just looked at a 2nd-hand boat today, any comments about whether > finding about an inch of water in a cabin bilge is an issue or not? > > If so, what would you do about it? > > Chris (& Terry) > www.rigdenage.co.uk/canals >
I do not think some of the replies have been particularly helpful, I exclude the joke ones. Although you say cabin bilge are you 100% sure it is not an all in one bilge boat. One of the big hire fleets seems to like them because they think the bilge pump will pump out leaking gas - I make no comment on that. If it is an all in one bilge then it may well be as intended. Let us assume it is indeed a separate bilge. Many owners on my courses do not seem to know they have a cabin bilge so that water could have been building up for years but the question is where did it come from. I am afraid you need to smell and even possibly taste it. Some boast use a plastic shower sump box housing the shower pump, these are not the most leak-proof objects. Also some boats have allowed their showers to drain into the bilge and the pump it out from there. Both these would produce water where I would expect to see/smell soap residues. If its a holding tank boat the smell of the water should give you a fair idea if the tank is leaking. If the water is clear or rusty and just smells of water there are a number of possible causes. In no particular order: Leaks from the window to cabin side joint. Condensation trickling down from the cabin side. Leaking domestic water from a joint or damaged tank. Leaking domestic water filler or breather pipes. Calorifier PRV vented into that bilge. Leaking domestic water pump. Leaking calorifier (domestic side). Poor external door design allowing rain to be driven or drain into cabin. You should be able to see water stains on the wood around the doors in this case. It is always possible a weld is leaking but a number of experienced boat builders have said that tends to seal itself up so I think its unlikely. Leaking calorifier coil, leaking central heating, or Alde central heating overflow directed into bilge. However both these should have antifreeze involved so a touch on the end of the tongue should taste sweetish. I would not let an inch of water deter me from buying a boat that was otherwise what I wanted, but I would spend a deal of time trying to locate the cause and instruct the surveyor to give his opinion also. JennyB had more than an inch of clean water in the bilge and over the years I have gradually solved most of the leaks. The main ones were from a totally unsealed instrument panel that was fixed to the cabin lining instead of the rear bulkhead and from the back door. Tony Brooks
