Water Leak

swede · Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 10:25 am Post subject: Water Leak

Can someone help - I have a water leak in my 2008 25’ cruiser. I confirmed there was a leak by adding red food coloring to the water tank….yup, it was leaking. Now all I have to do is find it. Is anyone familiar with the plumbing of the 25? The supply hose leaves the fresh water pump mounted on the port side of the rear compartment. It goes thru the bulkhead and into the gas tank compartment. I presume it goes thru the next bulkhead and into the locker on the port side, however, there are 3 hoses that come thru the bulkhead between the gas tank compartment and into the port side locker. Does anyone know where those hoses go? My guess is that one of them is the fresh water hose which leads back to the freshwater pump.

Dora~Jean · Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 12:34 pm Post subject:

Sorry, I have a 2003 25 Cruiser, the water tank is up front under the center of the bunk. I had to cut a hole and install a porthole above to inspect the water fill and vent hoses.

On your model I believe they relocated it to the rear, too bad, I like the weight forward. But maybe someone else has that model and can help. Good luck!

toyman · Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 2:36 pm Post subject:

Sorry, mine's an '06, tanks located like Dora~Jean. Seems like whoever installed the wiring was the same guy that did the plumbing and was the same guy that swept the parking lot and he was lost with all 3 tasks. Mine looked kinda like a it was done by a mad woman stringing S--t ! But it is "fixable".

thataway · Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 2:44 pm Post subject:

Where are you finding the water? Assuming that your water heater is under the aft dinette seat, the water hose will go along the fuel tank (outboard of the stringer, thru the bulkhead, then thru the hanging locker, and to the water tank. At the water tank it is "T" to the tank and then back around, under the "step" by the door, with two hoses--both hot and cold, to the shower and galley.

I would look fist around the water pump and the fitting at the bottom of the tank. Check to be sure that the hose clamps are tight, and the tube is double hose clamped. Sometimes a mirror and light can see where the leak is. If not, then a borescope is the next choice. Milwakee makes a video scope for about $100. I have found it very handy in finding problems in remote areas of the C Dory.

JamesTXSD · Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 9:32 pm Post subject:

On our 2007 CD-25, there were several leaks: at the fresh water tank (under the cockpit at the aft end); at the water heater; at the shower connections; and at the toilet. The fresh water tank just needed tightening, all the others required different plumbing fittings. Not a big deal, just took a while to track it down.

Where is the water accumulating? We also had a leak along the rub rail, mostly outside the head area. The fix there was to remove the rub rail, fill holes that had been re-drilled and never filled, then a bead of 5200 along the metal extrusion on the rub rail.

No leaks since.

Hope that helps.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

swede · Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 4:31 am Post subject: Water Leak

I believe the leak is somewhere in the gas tank compartment. Looks like I will have to remove the deck above the tank to find it.

localboy · Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 9:17 am Post subject:

There should be plastic "Y" fittings to split of the hoses from the H2O pump; hot water, sink, head, shower. Mine are in the bilge, adjacent to the pump. When I replaced my pump one of them was slowly leaking and despite my best efforts, it still leaks. Rolling Eyes

I imagine it's possible they did the splits under the deck, next to the fuel tank. Not where I would put them, but when it comes to the "plumbing" on these boats, nothing would surprise me; like Jim, I also had leaks at the head, the shower and the heater and the pump died in six months from sitting in the bilge water when it wasn't rated for that. Thumbs Down

thataway · Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 3:53 pm Post subject:

Unless your boat has a cockpit deck which is screwed down, removing the deck is a bit drastic. Is your pump aft under the cockpit hatch? Some photos would help. I agree that it would not be logical to put the "Y" or "T" under the cockpit floor outboard of the tank. The fuel tank is in the center, and there are plywood stringers outboard of it--same as where the water tank is.

You can still borescope this area, and find out where the fittings are. If they are under the cockpit floor, I would abandon them, and put new continous hose to the aft locker. Then put the "T" there (cold water to the shower and kitchen sink, main line to the water heater.

You can run the pump and force the dyed water thru the lines. If all are red, the "T" is under the cockpit floor.

Is your cockpit floor screwed down--into a sealant, or glassed in?

swede · Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 4:43 pm Post subject: Water Leak

The cockpit deck is screwed down and the edges are seal with 4200. Yes, the pump is aft under the port cockpit hatch. The hose from the pump goes through the bulkhead into the gas tank compartment. 4 hoses emerge through the next bulkhead into the portside locked, which leads me to believe that the fittings are in the gas tank compartment under the cockpit deck. I do like your idea of abandoning the old hoses and fittings and running new lines.