[C320-list] mystery leak

[pat reynolds]

I have leaks down the pedestal tubing into the steering sheave cover in the rear berth and then down the outside of the bulk head into the sub bilge area.  The pedestal "feet" need recaulking from time to time.

On Tuesday, May 6, 2014 3:47 PM, Bronwen Young <baeyoung at telus.net> wrote:
 
We have had FanaSea for two years.  We have been driven nearly mad by a phantom leak(s) that get water into the secondary bilge area under the sole.  We have attended to a whole host of things that were contributing to the problem.

-The rear water tank was leaking out its inspection port.  The breather tube went downhill from the tank and hence pressure would force water out the top.  We positioned the breather tube and sealed the cap.
The forward tank was inspected and all lines in and out seem correctly positioned and secure.  Its cap does not leak air, nor water.

-The shower hose leaked at its inlet.  We replaced the hose.  While in there we replaced all the hoses out of the sink, from the shower sump, and in and out of the head.  We also sealed the fibreglas area at the sole level, directly inboard from the sink.  Numerous inspections have shown that there are no further leaks in this area.

-There were many issues with the hot water tank [pressure relief valve, drain valve, heat exchange pipes].  In the end we have replaced the hot water tank.  Inspection does not reveal any leaks, including the hoses/pipes where the radiator fluid enters the exchanger at the back.

-The water pump seemed okay but seemed to be working too hard.  We put in a reno kit and checked all its line fittings.  Everything seems okay.

-We inspected all the hot and cold water lines as best we could.  This includes: to and from the aft shower, from both water tanks (even removed, checked, and replaced the aft one) [put duct tape over a couple of spots that were rubbing], blue and red feeds to both sinks, and all the lines to and from the hot water tank.  The aft input line may have leaked just below the valve at the Y junction, so the connector was replaced.

-The drain lines from the galley sinks were replaced, though they did not ever seem to have leaked.

-The macerator was replaced and all the sewage lines around the holding tank were inspected.  The thru-hulls both were checked and are quite operational.  The holding tank has been checked as best it can while still in place.

-All the goose necks have been inspected and seem to be in their correct positions and are functioning.

Okay, the latest thing we did was the hot water tank.  We then motored to a rendezvous on basically flat seas for 4.5 hours.  There was perhaps 100 ml of liquid in the cross tube that goes from the port locker across to the corner of the holding tank.  The water was dirty, but was not salty.  It may have been due to residual spillage during the re-and-re.  It might have had some e-glycol in it.
After the weekend, we beat our way home for seven hours, with about 45 minutes total engine time from the two ends.  The wind was 10 - 15 knots, so it was a great sail, going over to 10°-12°-15° & a bit to 20°.  We check when we get back to the dock and there is 250-350 ml of water in the cross tube.  The hot water tank was checked - no leak from the back.   The water pressure was on during the sail.

We are stumped.  What system would leak because we are healing over?

Bronwen & Eric Young
FanaSea, #198