I guess you didn't taste the water? (Honestly! - BTW that's taste on your lips / tongue and
not drink!!).
Salt water = water coming UP (which is potentially more serious, but usually easier to fix).
Fresh Water = Water coming DOWN (which is less serious but can be PITA to track down and then fix.......but could be relatively simple to fix.....indeed rain run offs within the
cockpit / around hatches / windows and covers could mean a bit of rain water finding it's way into the bilge was accepted as "normal" by the owner........different folk do have different tolerances for this - My Father is upset with dust - me on the other hand is a bit more "relaxed"
........I have a rain run off down the Mizzen
Mast into the bilge - on my to do list
- but as the Bilge is very deep and the water does not pour in I am not concerned).
But could be that the float is stuck /
battery flat or is above the water. 1 to 2 inches could be awkward to suck up depending on
pump placement / bilge shape.
Sounds like another trip to the boat is in order (never a bad thing) - good to ask the owner directly why their is a touch of water in her, when he last pumped her out and if you visit after some more rain you will get an idea of how quickly she is filling up......as you say she looks like a dry boat (except for this) I wouldn't
rule her out simply over this.