Handling Bilge water

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by SVRocinante

Wow! Thanks for all the great replies people - greatly appreciate it.

As a point of reference, the pad under my engine is spotless, so guess I am being a bit more paranoid than necessary... Time to track down that leak!

Iv'e checked various access panels and so far, the keel bolt compartment is dry as a bone as is the area where my depth sounder is installed. No water up by the freshwater tank and nothing in the head or shower area. Water seems to be concentrated in the galley, but don't see any obvious source yet - I have a sneaking suspicion that it's one of my thru-hulls...

Is it salty ( tasting )?

[Diesel Bill]

Originally Posted by SVRocinante

Wow! Thanks for all the great replies people - greatly appreciate it.

As a point of reference, the pad under my engine is spotless, so guess I am being a bit more paranoid than necessary... Time to track down that leak!

Iv'e checked various access panels and so far, the keel bolt compartment is dry as a bone as is the area where my depth sounder is installed. No water up by the freshwater tank and nothing in the head or shower area. Water seems to be concentrated in the galley, but don't see any obvious source yet - I have a sneaking suspicion that it's one of my thru-hulls...

Funny you mention water seems to be concentrated in the galley. I just repaired a leak on the fresh water potable hose under my galley sink. Had a bad clamp on the hose end at the "T" where the hose divides to galley sink and then goes on to the sink and shower further forward in the head.
It took a while to track the leak as lots of cleaning supplies and soaps were stored under there. Really hard to find a very slow leak but if you take the time and keep at it you will find it.

[SSgtPitt]

How about your refridgerator/ ice box / freezer in the galley. Mine dumps in the bilge. Spread some talcum powder or flour around on the sides of the bilge area and look for the wet spot........wait a minute, that reminds me of a juvenile joke.

[SVRocinante]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

Is it salty ( tasting )?

I'm in a marina and the water is pretty nasty looking... I know I should, but tasting will be my last resort!

[SVRocinante]

Originally Posted by Diesel Bill

...It took a while to track the leak as lots of cleaning supplies and soaps were stored under there. Really hard to find a very slow leak but if you take the time and keep at it you will find it.

Yep, took a while to even know I had a leak because of that...

Thanks for the thought... hadn't really considered the freshwater under the sink as the leak source, might have to reconsider Sailmonkey's question

[SVRocinante]

Originally Posted by SSgtPitt

How about your refridgerator/ ice box / freezer in the galley. Mine dumps in the bilge. Spread some talcum powder or flour around on the sides of the bilge area and look for the wet spot........wait a minute, that reminds me of a juvenile joke.

Thank you, again, had not considered the fridge as a possible source... also like the flour idea... I've put down tissues in the past.

[David M]

Keep your bilges clean and it is not a concern. I keep a few oil sorbs in my bilge just in case oil does get into my bilge. When it does need a cleaning I use biodegradable soap.

Not that two wrongs make it right but ships under MARPOL are allowed to pump overboard some oil. Oil does eventually break down in the environment. Obviously, you just can't overwhelm the environment with it.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by SVRocinante

I'm in a marina and the water is pretty nasty looking... I know I should, but tasting will be my last resort!

Notice I said "taste it" not "ingest it"[emoji41]

[SVRocinante]

Yep! Tastes like Bilge water!

Just wanted to close the loop on this post.
Thanks for all the advice, I was being overly paranoid - bilge pumped.

I also believe I found the leak source - as suspected, it seems to be the thru hull under the galley sink... guess I'm going to have to haul this sucker!

Thanks again,