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Dufour 38 - Mystery Leak

8K views 10 replies 6 participants last post by  CaptainHelper 
#1 ·
Anyone out there experienced a leak in the internal water system of their Dufour?


For no known reason and at random intervals the entire water tank (fore or aft), syphons into the bilges. It can be dry as a bone for 3 months then for no reason it just happens and i have 6 inches of water below !

I am pulling my hair out trying to find it and because its intermittent this makes it even harder to isolate.

Anyone had a similar experience ??

Mike - Cuckoo
 
#2 ·
Any nylon fittings? I ask because I had several that split with age, but you couldn't tell by looking at them. every time the temp changed outside they would leak, and here is the fun part, at differant times! Oh yeah---some of the clamps didn't seat properly as a result.
 
#6 ·
Hi,

I have one mystery leak also. Water started gathering, and i cant find from were, water is salty, it gathers there, but when the boat is standing it gathers just inside that framing it does n t come out . After sucking that water out with syringe for several times it stooped.
Last season it was all fine.
There was no incident involving kiel or hull.
I checked all the pipers connecting with the hull all is perfectly dry.

Did know anything about this, its killing me!

 
#7 ·
Hi there,

I have a similar issue on my Dufour 38 Classic from 2001. Water starts accumulating within the frame in front of mast post after heavy rain (emerging from those holes marked on your pic). I have vaccumed out all of the water from last shower we had and pretty much bone dry it to be able to establish where its coming from initially. Definately its from somewhere within bow section but still I'm not 100% sure from where. I'm planning placing a hose on one side of the bow and see if we have any leak emerging along the railing and plan than to repeat that on the other side till its narrow down. Have you find your leak yet? Many thanks C-Wolf
 
#8 ·
No, no luck yet.

It stayed dry for week or so, and now its all dry down there.

Funny thing for my situation is that when water gathers inside framing it doesn't come out, i suck it out with syringe an it gather to same level, until i get it all out.
It could be railing joints must check it some how.

If you get any luck share you knowledge :)
 
#9 ·
Railing post at bow section? That might very well be the culprit! Those are the ony one that bolt down to the deck....by location make sense as water would migrate towards bildge and "fill" out first frame reinforcement. I'll attend to dismantle both this week rebed and let you know. Thanks for your suggestion. Best regards, C-Wolf
 
#10 ·
Anyone out there experienced a leak in the internal water system of their Dufour?

For no known reason and at random intervals the entire water tank (fore or aft), syphons into the bilges. It can be dry as a bone for 3 months then for no reason it just happens and i have 6 inches of water below !

I am pulling my hair out trying to find it and because its intermittent this makes it even harder to isolate.

Anyone had a similar experience ??

Mike - Cuckoo
Check the impulse damper on your water pump. They do wear out and the first sign seems to be intermittent leakage from the underside of the pump. BTDT.

FWIW...
 
#11 ·
Well i thin we found the problem, and the problem was out side shower handle it was broken, probably in winter the might be left some water and it cracked.
So the thing is that, when you turn water pump on it crates pressure and slowly leaks down there to inside, until it ends up in lowest part of a boat. So it explains why water didn't came in few hour trips because none used the tap and so on.
I hear about similar problem in Nauticat 39 it had plastic hose connectors witch was also were leaking.
 
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