water tanks setting in two or 3 inches of water

  • August 18, 2016 1:29 PM
    Message # 4199696
    Deleted user

    I have a 1976 Westsail 32 (504).  Both my stainless steel freshwater tanks were leaking and I just removed them.  I have noticed for years that the tanks were setting in two inches of water even after the bilge pumps were activated.  The area where the tanks set is actually lower than than the bilge pump cavity and the water just does not drain to the bilge pump.  Is this something to worry about?  I have a friend here in Rio Dulce who has the same occurrence with his Westsail 32. I am amassed the stainless steel tanks lasted so long setting in water.

    I would certainly appreciate any comments. 

    P.S.  I have long ago put my anchor chain aft but it had no effect

  • August 18, 2016 3:00 PM
    Reply # 4199757 on 4199696
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    I've noticed standing water in Pygmalion #567 bilge water in the past and agree that the water tank area doesn't slope to the deeper builge/sump area. 

    I'll check the weekend and see - with the lack of rain and heat - I would think that the bilge should be dry...

    Jay 

  • August 18, 2016 5:46 PM
    Reply # 4199857 on 4199696
    Deleted user
    Is it normal to have 3 inches of water around the fresh water tanks on a Westsail 32? The water will not drain to the bilge pump,  Any comments will be greatly appreciated


    Merged topic from Westsail General Discussion: August 25, 2016 5:20 PM
  • August 19, 2016 10:46 AM
    Reply # 4200970 on 4199696
    Anonymous

    I have a similar problem. I removed the original two l stainless steel tanks this past winter and replaced them with a single smaller plastic tank. When I had the tanks out I could see a small hole at the back of the center bilge which leads to the compartment where I have the aft bilge pump. Unfortunately when I filled the new tank the inlet pipe leaked and I ended up with about 40 litres of water in the center bilge compartment. I couldn't get the center bilge compartment to drain despite pushing a rod through the hole, from the aft bilge,  as far as I could. Possibly it's blocked but no matter what I tried I couldn't get it to drain. I ended up using a sponge to mop up as much water as I could and was going to leave it till the next haul out to deal with it properly. So I've got a few inches on my center bilge right now. 

    If you put your hand in the aft bilge you should be able to feel the hole at the very bottom of the bilge. I was wondering if the issue is that my rear bilge pump float was so high,  and the bilge so large,  that the water level never gets high enough to trigger the bilge pump. That's the only idea I have right now. Maybe some others can provide some more information about this. 

    Merged topic from Westsail General Discussion: August 25, 2016 5:20 PM
  • August 19, 2016 11:09 AM
    Reply # 4200993 on 4199696
    Anonymous

    Just re-posting this here, since this topic is on two different thread/boards.

    I have a similar problem. I removed the original two l stainless steel tanks this past winter and replaced them with a single smaller plastic tank. When I had the tanks out I could see a small hole at the back of the center bilge which leads to the compartment where I have the aft bilge pump. Unfortunately when I filled the new tank the inlet pipe leaked and I ended up with about 40 litres of water in the center bilge compartment. I couldn't get the center bilge compartment to drain despite pushing a rod through the hole, from the aft bilge,  as far as I could. Possibly it's blocked but no matter what I tried I couldn't get it to drain. I ended up using a sponge to mop up as much water as I could and was going to leave it till the next haul out to deal with it properly. So I've got a few inches on my center bilge right now. 

    If you put your hand in the aft bilge you should be able to feel the hole at the very bottom of the bilge. I was wondering if the issue is that my rear bilge pump float was so high,  and the bilge so large,  that the water level never gets high enough to trigger the bilge pump. That's the only idea I have right now. Maybe some others can provide some more information about this. 


  • August 20, 2016 10:05 AM
    Reply # 4202145 on 4199696

    The hole between the lower bilge and midship bilge should be flush to allow water to drain. There are a few factors that may not allow the midship bilge to drain properly. If you are not balanced aft enough, the water will stand instead of flush aft. If the hole is not flush, then you will need to either drill a flush hole, or install an additional bilge sump for the midship bilge. I suspect that most owners will plug the hole between the two bilges and allow the water from the lower bilge to flow into the midship bilge over the divider. I have a high-volume pump with a switch that has an alarm that will sound if the water in the lower bilge overflows into the midship. Usually this is a result of either the lower little pump not functioning, or the boat is taking on water beyond the volume allowance of the little pump. I do not have any leaks that would cause the midship bilge to fill, so I usually work to keep it completely dry. A sponge is what I use once the water has drained enough, then a portable fan to make it bone dry. If you tend to have standing water often, due to leaks in the water tanks, caprails, etc, consider installing a diaphragm pump like the Jabsco with a 1/4" hose to move the water into the lower bilge. You can install it in the settee bench locker and use a switch to turn it on whenever you want to pump the bilge dry. Otherwise, fix the leaks. Cheers.

  • August 21, 2016 5:11 AM
    Reply # 4202723 on 4202145
    I'm not sure what you mean by "The hole between the lower bilge and midship bilge should be flush to allow water to drain.". My WS32 is factory built. My midship bilge (where my water tanks are located) and the much deeper bilge aft (where my bilge pumps are located) have no divider/barrier between them. Thus there is no hole.  The flat surface that my water tanks sit (over the ballast) simply 'drops off' into the aft bilge sump.

    Not sure what it would take to move the balance more aft. Harold and I have discussed this (we are in the same area) and he moved 150' of 3/8" chain to his lazarette and it still did not allow the water to drain into the deep bilge aft.

    And not to change the subject (sorta on the same topic) but we both have also always had standing water that collects just forward of the scuppers.  Anyone else experience this?

    Last modified: August 21, 2016 5:12 AM | Anonymous member
  • August 22, 2016 4:12 PM
    Reply # 4204564 on 4199696
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    This weekend I filled the water tanks on Pygmalion #567 and sprayed done the area - - that left some water in the otherwise dry bilge.  I've noticed that the water doesn't drain well to the sump... in fact the water stands under the tanks.  

    2-3 inches of standing water is a lot of water though.  

    What happens if you get about 4 of the crew aft as far as you can -- does the water drain to the sump? 

    Jay  

    Merged topic from Westsail General Discussion: August 25, 2016 5:20 PM
  • August 22, 2016 9:11 PM
    Reply # 4204799 on 4199696

    It sounds like your bilge is setup different than Satori. She has a board to divide the bilges and where yours would spill over there is a hole in the board that allows water to drain from the midship bilge to the aft. Sounds like you need a sump and sponge to collect the standing water, and a means to keep the aft bilge from overflowing into the midship bilge. There has only been a half inch of standing water before. The rest drains properly aft. She does not leak much so I rarely ever see more than a cup of water in the midship and aft bilges. 

    Satori has standing water forward of the deck drains as well. I use a brush to sweep the water into the drains. Not much you can do there except help it along. I did notice it drains fine while sailing though. There is enough motion to keep it draining out.



  • August 23, 2016 6:44 AM
    Reply # 4205778 on 4199696
    Deleted user

    Hi Mike,

    I have the same setup as you do with my pump and float switch mounted on a wooden board that puts the pump and float switch into the deep bilge. I will soon be remounting them on to a fiberglass I-Beam with two pumps and two float switches. I never have standing water under the tanks, in fact, I occassionally hose the bilge down and the water runs aft into the deep bilge no problem. On Rhapsody the water ahead of the scupper drains OK leaving just a small amount that evaporates quickly. The bobstay fitting just barely kisses the water and this seems to be the line she likes to sit on. I have the old MD11C which is probably a bit heavier than more modern engines. Right now about 40 gallons of fuel, 135 feet of chain under the v-berth just aft of the anchor locker bulkhead, a 35 lb. plow and a similar size Bruce on the bowsprit, a Honda 2 mounted on the stern pulpit and lead pigs in the deep aft locker which were there when I bought the boat and have never weighed. She is a 1976 Sail-Away kit boat. Hope this helps.

    Werner

    Forgot to mention the two Group 27 batteries mounted in the aft lazarette.


    Last modified: August 23, 2016 6:57 AM | Deleted user