2003 Carver 366 fresh water leak under black tank

[redden77]

I have a 2003 Carver 366 and I have a fresh water leak in the forward bilge.
Turn shore water off and fresh water pump off leak goes away.
The water is coming from under the black water tank. In the 366 there are two hatches to the front bilge, one in the galley and one in the forward berth. I used a shop vac and paper towel to dry everything up. Once dry I turned the shore water back on and a little water started showing from the front of the black tank but not the rear.
All water lines are pex and I have checked all the ones I can access. I have check the fresh water pump. I even checked the hot water tank and through hulls everything is dry. I do believe on the 366 there are three separate bilges that are not connected, front mid and rear. That is also what it looks like. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[bud37]

So does the freshwater pump cycle when all the taps are closed and you are only using your freshwater tank and the shore water is disconnected ?

The lines are most likely 15mm plastic.....you can double check the size , it will be stamped on the lines so you may get the correct fittings for the repair. Those tiny leaks can spray quite a distance before hitting something.

One thing to remember in the search....the freshwater pump is usually the higher of the pressures compared to shore.

[redden77]

QR_BBPOST So does the freshwater pump cycle when all the taps are closed and you are only using your freshwater tank and the shore water is disconnected ?

The lines are most likely 15mm plastic.....you can double check the size , it will be stamped on the lines so you may get the correct fittings for the repair. Those tiny leaks can spray quite a distance before hitting something.

One thing to remember in the search....the freshwater pump is usually the higher of the pressures compared to shore.

Yes the pump will cycle with everything closed but it take about an hour or so. The leak is very small but everything in and around the pump is dry. The only place I see water is from under the black water tank.

[redden77]

So I did figure out where the water is coming in. It is not fresh water after all. It is coming into the anchor locker from the anchor locker drains when doing 7 or 8 knots from the bow wave. So my anchor locker is not water proof, that is todays project to figure out how to water proof the anchor locker.

[km1125]

There were some other members who had to deal with a situation like this. I tried a quick search for those posts but couldn't find them but you might try poking around.

I recall one of the members added a little clamshell cover over the anchor locker drain, and faced it part way aft. That way any bow wave was directed away from the hull, rather than up into the drain. I recall seeing posted pictures of that mod.

[redden77]

So an update, I found where the raw water is coming in.
When they drilled the holes for the anchor locker drains they drill through the floor of the anchor locker and then the hull. This left a 1/8 gap between the hull and the floor of the anchor locker. First simple fix I tried this morning was using 3M 5200 red and fill around the hole. I will water test tomorrow.

[redden77]

QR_BBPOST There were some other members who had to deal with a situation like this. I tried a quick search for those posts but couldn't find them but you might try poking around.

I recall one of the members added a little clamshell cover over the anchor locker drain, and faced it part way aft. That way any bow wave was directed away from the hull, rather than up into the drain. I recall seeing posted pictures of that mod.

This would definitely help but it does not fix the real problem. Evertime the anchor comes in all the water on the anchor rode would run into the bilge.

[bud37]

Thanks for posting that...but I thought you had a static problem, there was no mention of it showing up after outings and your fresh pump was cycling .

IMO you really don't need 5200 for sealing things like that, just regular clear silicone will do and then it can be removed easily if there needs to be an adjustment.

I think others have had issues with the anchor locker , also the forward bilge pump drain back feeding after a trip.

[km1125]

QR_BBPOST

QR_BBPOST There were some other members who had to deal with a situation like this. I tried a quick search for those posts but couldn't find them but you might try poking around.

I recall one of the members added a little clamshell cover over the anchor locker drain, and faced it part way aft. That way any bow wave was directed away from the hull, rather than up into the drain. I recall seeing posted pictures of that mod.

This would definitely help but it does not fix the real problem. Evertime the anchor comes in all the water on the anchor rode would run into the bilge.

Ok. I guess I was confused by the statement "It is coming into the anchor locker from the anchor locker drains when doing 7 or 8 knots from the bow wave."