Small Leak - Carver Santego

H

hawkeyes01

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Joined
Jan 29, 2010
RO Number
31963
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51
Thanks for the help with the image. Reposted my question with the image this time.

Hi everyone,

I noticed recently that the aft bilge pump was kicking on every so often, once every few days or so. I have found a very small stream of water in the engine room coming from one of the small holes throughout the engine room to allow water to run from the individual compartments into the bilge. While I can see what hole the water is coming out of, I can't figure out where water would come in because I don't have visual access without removing the port side muffler. I tried to take multiple pictures and tie them together to better explain where the water is located (apologies for poor picture quality). I have confirmed it is water (not fuel). I have not confirmed if it it is lake water, or if it is perhaps rain water that is not draining appropriately and is entering the engine room somewhere. Since it is a fairly small, steady stream of water, I think it is most likely lake water since it hasn't rained here for a few days and the rest of the boat was dry.

Anyone have any ideas where water in this part of the engine room could be coming from? I have dripless shafts (that are still dripless :)), and the rudder stocks are good.

Thanks!
Leak.jpg
 
Here is what I entered in my post to get the image to post, anyone see something wrong? I can't get the image into the post for some reason. I double-checked the file path and it is correct. I had to replace the brackets with parentheses to get the text to show up in this post.

(img)C:TempLeak.jpg(/img)
 
the image has to be hosted somewhere like photobucket or flixr. then you can insert it into your post using the image icon
 
I can't really tell from the pictures but is that coming from the side of the boat through the weep holes on the stringers or is this centerline on the boat?

2 other random things it may be depending on where the leak is actually coming from....
-Is your freshwater pump on when you notice this water, is the tank full, or is the dockside water connected? Yes/No
-If it is on the side of the boat behind a muffler have you checked around the exhaust ports? You say Santego, but not what model. I'm only assuming a 34/538/380? If the ladder or a retrofit was done the oval shaped exhaust ports have a tendency to need to be re-bed every so often.
 
spreading baking soda areound suspect areas migh help to trace the leak. BS is easy to wash away when done
 
It is on the side of the boat. This is a Carver Santego 380.

Good idea on the exhaust ports, I'm going to have it hauled in a few weeks for bottom paint I will have them check it. It does have a large swim step on it that I think cover the exhaust ports. The exhaust comes out through 4 holes on the bottom of each side of the swim step.

Pretty sure it isn't the freshwater pump, it is not running when this water is coming in.

Thanks for the ideas!
 
A friend of mine had a similar issue with the exhaust ports leaking on his older Santego. The Carver dealer retrofitted the exhaust to no longer come out of the 4 holes in the platform and now it exits like the newer Santegos do before the platform on the side of the hull.
 
Hi all,

Wanted to provide an update on the location of the leak. It turns out water was actually coming in from one of the engine room blower vents on the port side. There was water seeping into the vent hold, and when enough built up it would leak down the interior engine room wall and eventually come out of one of the stringer drain holes. A little bit of sealant around the vent to prevent water from seeping behind the vent cover and all is well.

Glad it was something simple!
 
I had a similar, and elusive, problem with my 325. It was leaking from a crack in the muffler casing where the drain hole/plug were located. After failed attempts to tighen, add gasket, etc., I ended up plugging the hole and glassing it over and redrilling and tapping a new drain hole. No more leak.
 
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