Frozen Bilge Water -- Issue?

[Cruisingdad]

Originally Posted by chucklesR

The only issue I see is a) you need to disconnect your bilge pump so it doesn't try to run while frozen
b) you need to find the source, blue chalk helps you to trace water leaks, just sprinkle it on the likely places and see if a water trace runs through it (you can get it in bulk from a hardware store, use the chalk made for chalk lines).

and of course C) your bilge is too small to open a for profit ice rink

d) You need to move somewhere warmer!!!

- CD

[citation34]

If you're getting some water intrusion while in the water might also check the packing gland on the prop shaft. Might need a tweak.

[maddata]

The shaft is dripless so I doubt that is it. And its on the hard.

I agree and thanks to all who chimed in -- likely not catastrophic here. I did give the manual pump a few tries but I dont think it hurt anything. The batteries are disconnected on the electric pump so we're good there.

I liked the blue chalk idea. This leak has been killing me since last season so I need to figure it out now. I dont really want to unstep the mast to figure this one out though -- not that bad of a leak!

[lbdavis]

Small leaks could be bad leaks if you don't know the source. The small amount of water making it to the bilge could be all thats left of water that got in. The rest of the water could be getting absorbed by deck core, a bulkhead, furniture, etc.

Next thing you know, water on the brain.

You'll be much happier when you know it's source.