Water accumulation on top of fuel and water tanks

[Tawney1]

Plumbing guru's I need your help. Today I noticed water accumulation on top of the fuel and water tanks on our 61' MY (1985), and on top of the tanks which can be seen through two holes in the soleplate in the middle of the companion way (but don't really know why those holes are there and neither does Hatteras, they're just holes and they suggested I permanently plug them).

This area has been previously dry (for at least 6 months, which is the time I have been viewing the area). This is not a bilge area, to my knowledge, nothing drains here, so I do not understand where the water is coming from or why. The bilge areas are generally at least one foot lower than this area. The water is about 1/2 inch high in the areas, and I vacuumed about 1 and 1/2 gallon out of the area before taking the attached photos.

Does anyone have any idea where this water is coming from, or why?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Is water coming from a leak in the fresh water system? If you shut off the fresh water and then de-pressurize the system is it still there after a couple of days?

 

[Starman]

It looks to me like there is a slow drip on the fuel hose. It just appears that water was on the intake line.

On the water tank it appears like there has been some condensation or a slow leak on the connections/joints where the in line filter is.

I would first check the deck inlets and make sure they are caulked very well. Remove the screws and re-bed those fittings.

I would also re-work those water line fittings.

Water will travel a long ways on a round hose because there is no sharp edge for it to accumulate on. It normally stops when it has to start going uphill, or reaches the very bottom.

You can take some food coloring and pour some in the suspected leak areas and see if it shows up where it is accumulating. Wash the boat first, get it really wet on the decks. Then add the food coloring, a bright color.

 

[Brian Degulis]

Hi

I have the same boat as you there is an upper water tank at the stern then a lower water tank in the areas you show in the photos. The water fill is to the upper tank only then it runs down into the lower or keel water tank. You may have a leak in either the hose or fitting that runs from upper to lower tank. Or you may have a small leak in one of the fittings on top of the lower tank. I have an acess hatch in the floor on top of the lower water tank take a look there. Or you could try letting enough water out to empty the upper tank and see if it stays dry that would isolate the problem. To the best of my knoledge once water acumulates on top of the fuel or water tanks there isn't any place for it to go. I had the same problem it turned out to be 1/2" pipe plug leaking on top of the lower water tank

Good Luck

Brian

 

[Nonchalant1]

Do you know for sure if it's fresh water or flotation water? You could test for salt water by boiling it dry in a pan to see how much residue is left.

I once got water there on my 53MY (different boat but same situation) and it turned out to be a small hole worn in the original Hatt aft bilge pump drain hose that runs up about 3 ft. to the top of the port sea chest. A factory installed hose clamp had pinched the hose and over time it wore a small hole there. The water was 30 ft. in front of the aft bilge because the hole in the hose was high enough to let water out on top of the aft fuel tank and the stringer channels under the floor. Once in there, it can run all over looking for a way out. In my case, it would slowly find it's way back to the aft bilge and get pumped out through the hole again. It was a fairly small hole in a very difficult place to find....under the floor which is under the queen bed in the aft stateroom. Once I replaced that hose, all was dry again.

Doug Shuman

 

[captddis]

From the corrosion it looks like salt water. I would check all around the engines and exhaust system. I would also check the holding tank in the gen room, it is a ways away but it might be able to migrate.

 

[Will]

There appears to be a TANK TENDER fitting in the lower, right hand corner of the second photo. If you have one and it is connected to a water tank, you should add that to your list of things to check.

Will

 

[SKYCHENEY]

A good point was made about checking the exhaust system. I had leaks on both sides at one of the joints from the hose to the fiberglass tubes. They were both hidden from view and didn't really leak enough to notice. I ended up disassembling the entire side stateroom closet to get to the port side leak to fix it. Apparently the PO had let muscrats get into the exhaust and then fired them up and melted some of the hsoes and tubes. Of course, the surveyor never found that .

 

[doc g]

First check and see if its salt water or fresh. The keel tank is gravity fed from the stern tank so basically the keel tank is pressurized by the water in the stern tank. I had a pipe plug that was leaking on my keel tank and allowing water to pool there on top of the keel tank. As far as the fwd fuel tank area that looks like salt water has been there, I am with Starman on that one ,deck fittings or vents could allow that to happen. There is a panel in the back of the closet in the aft guest stateroom, if you take that out you can check the fill hose/vent lines. I am of course assuming that it is like mine,1981 61' cmy........Pat

 

[Tawney1]

Thanks for all the good tips. I am in the process of checking on each of the areas suggested. The first thing I am doing is checking to see whether it is fresh or salt water. However, I think we may have found the source of the water (as of yesterday afternoon).

On Sunday when we noticed the water accumulation on the top of the fuel tanks and through the companionway holes in the soleplate, the Admiral had washed 4 loads of clothes that morning. It had also rained most of the day, sometimes heavily.

We did not initially make any connection. When we noticed the water, we then vacuumed out as much of the water we could, and let the area dry. Yesterday, we decided to experiment. So, we did another load of clothes and, sure enough, water pooled again on top of the aft tank.

Could this be the source of the water? It does not seem likely to me, since the discharge should be directly overboard. However, in looking at the lines crossing over top of the fuel tanks, there appears to be a black one inch polybutylene plastic water pipe. You've seen them, the type which was found faulty about 10 years ago and recalled, etc. Does anyone know why this pipe there? See the above photos which shows the pipe.

I have checked the original Hatt manual on the boat, and it indicates that the optional washer discharge is on the starboad side next to the stbd. bilge pump discharge. I intend to pull the woodframing and check behind the washer to see if anything is wrong with the discharge drain and if it is installed, etc., like it should be.

Paul

 

[Nonchalant1]

I believe the washer discharges into a seachest and there will be a number of other hoses connected to that same seachest. It is possible for the seachest drain opening to be open and will pass enough water for some things, but if it is partially cloggede inside, for instance by deck drains letting cottonwood fluff into it in spring, then a large volume like a washer might exceed the reduced capacity and it will either overflow out the vent hole at the top or through any broken hose. Check all hoses at the seachest to make sure they're all tight and no holes.

Doug

 

[REBrueckner]

I'm unsure which tank tops are higher than others, but at least you know the water is dripping down. On the other hand a leak out of sight under pressure could sprays up and accumulate...

An easy way to check for salt vs fresh is to boil a little dry in a pan..if salt residue remains you'll see it.

On the other hand, a soapy feel should be present if its washer discharge leak. But it would likely be diluted from the rinse cycle discharge.

Taking advantage of another suggestion: Do an empty load of wash with food dye added to water for color...see if that color appears at your observation points.

 

[Tawney1]

The food dye in the washer is a great idea and we will be trying that.

 

[doc g]

The washer in mine does not discharge into a seachest . It is a direct overboard fitting in the bilge out the stb side by the stb bilge pump as stated . If you open the linen closet,the closet just aft of the washer/dryer that has the hamper built into the bottom, and lift up the hatch in the floor of the closet you should be able to trace it out. It would not make any sense to take that washer discharge back past the fwd fuel tank . I would open up that hatch and run the washer in drain cycle and watch down there while it's draining. It also looks like that black line in the upper left corner of the hatch has been moving across that copper return line . I do not recall seeing that in mine..........................................Pat

 

[yachtsmanbill]

I would agree on the rub--- also, that pink / orange color on the copper is a sign of electrolytic or chemical action. Detergent perhaps (caustic), or a ground on the washer not bonded? Get everything anchored, and fixed, then take some steel wool and clean the copper fuel line to monitor any further action. It would take 100 years to rot away, but that bright stuff is a brittle spot IMPO. ws

 

[yachtsmanbill]

You can also was the area with baking soda and a brush--it'll do wonders-- just like a battery! ws

 

[Tawney1]

I will open the starboard linen closet and check, as well as following-up on the other suggestions.

Many thanks!