mast step

[rb18720]

I have begun to get a slight amount of water that accumulates in the shallow bilge area that is up close to head and mast compression post. This water only shows up after a sail. I can soak up the water with an aborbant towel and this compartment will be dry as a bone until the next sail. I am at a loss to discover where this water is coming from. Any one had this issue?

[lynn black]

We are noticing the same thing and wondering whether or not you found the cause. One theory we have is that the water is coming forward from the bilge.

[rb18720]

I have not determined with any degree of certainty the source of the water. it is occurs very infrequently but drives me nuts when it shows up. I have investigated just about everything. For a while I thought it was perhaps a leak in the fresh water line going from the tank under the V berth to the galley sink because the water seems to come from the port side. I have a shower hose that is tucked away under the sink. My theory was that it may have been leaking or turning on. I brought the hose out form under so I can monitor. Now I am not so sure it was the cause. With regard to it happening during a sail, it doesn't happen on every sail. The last time I found it (and I check regularly), was after a sail in very strong winds. The boat was healed over a lot. It could possibly be related to the head. Maybe it is spilling a bit when the boat is on it's side. I am skeptical of that because I don't tend to keep any water in the bowl and the bowl. I just don't know. The water does seem to come from someplace forward of the bilge so it has to be connected to the anchor rode locker or the head and/or holding tank system (fairly new tank mounted under V berth). All connections are tight on the system and there is no evidence of leaking forward so water coming over the top of the bowl is the only thing I can imagine. One final possible is that on occasion I pull the knot meter to clean it. When I do that of course some sea water comes in. I have never associated the two because I take great measures to have absorbing towels in the compartment when I do this and the water that does come in seems to drain to the back of the boat towards the bilge. Maybe some goes to that shallow bilge. It's still a mystery. I sleep better knowing it is not a breach in the hull or something constant. All through hulls have been checked and are fine. As a side note, does your Ranger also collect a bit of water in the bilge? Even though my shaft packing is great I collect a little water in the bottom of my bilge no mater if I wet vacuum it out our not. There is always a a few inches showing up from week to week. Condensation maybe, but again a mystery.

[Desmond]

I discovered a damp floor and water in the mast bilge after a day of active sailing. I had forgotten to turn off the head intake and when I heeled hard over the head emptied then filled up on its own. When I heeled again it emptied again.