Leaking Ballast Tank Idiocy - 26X

[Login3]

Hey! You know that water that pools in the aft area under the cushions? Condensation, leaks, etc. I hate that. Always mopping stuff up. So I got "clever" a while back and drilled a couple 3/8" drain holes.

"Apparently" one of those, on the stbd side, was right over the ballast tank .. the fibreglass I was drilling through sitting right atop the ballast tank, so when I went through, well, you know it. Dum te dummb dumb.

I discovered the results of this after a frenzied week prepping the boat for a friend's wedding, 23 NM away. No highways or airplanes go there directly, so boat was the only option. Chucked the mast, finished electrics, and prepped. At dock, 23 miles from home, I noticed I was listing to stbd. Quick inspection revealed much water. Pump! Good thing I also had my 12-volt diaphragm pump and lots of tubing, to direct water into the head sink drain.

I was there for 2 days, and rigged a system so I could pilot and manage the pumps. It was better after leaving dock, I drained the ballast. (still not being aware of the leak source at that time, thinking it was maybe holes I drilled in the galley floor to allow me to stiffen the crunchy soft feeling. Had I drilled through? I didn't think so ...)

Once home, and mostly drained, Wifey mad, both of us curious, I was preparing to rip up the galley floor when I noticed a remnant of 5/8" tubing I'd used for the fuel vents. It fit PERFECTLY into the ballast tank vent hole. I blew in and heard a WHOOSH behind me. With Wifey's help I tracked the whoosh to. ... the hole I drilled for, ironically, a drain in the aft berth.

Using G-flex epoxy, wetted and then thickened, and a zip tie and a silicone cup, I filled that damn hole. As of yesterday the tank holds air pressure (breathing like inflating a balloon) and also vacuum ... for quite a while. No more whoosh! (I also replaced the transom valve seals, which I suspected were letting water in despite being closed).

What a dumbass I was . Don't let this happen to you!

I'm of half a mind to install a pump to allow ballast emptying when at dock, if so desired. I dunno ... hopefully will never be necessary again.

[LordElsinore]

Wow. Thanks for sharing. Sounds terrifying.

Those holes you drilled in the floor - what did you intend them to drain the water into?

[Login3]

Into the "bilge". It's nuisance water ... always leaks/condensation, and wet cushions. There are actually three holes (I chose the locations for them based on the pooled water). Two of them easily miss the ballast tank ... but that last one ... WHOOPS!

*Had I bothered to consider, I'd have looked underneath via the hatches, to confirm. Just being hasty.

[leefrankpierce]

I cut the floors and sink out of my bathroom to give me a few more inches to stand.
Had I known about the tank going under the bathroom, I may have re-considered, as it was I had been careful to stay shallow.

[Russ]

Ah...so you were drilling into the liner and hit the spot over the ballast.

What a story. My thinking is that if the gate valve on the transom was closed, only ballast water should leak into the cabin. Although that's still a lot of water.

Clever and lucky you had a means to pump it out.

[Login3]

That's a nice bit of work there. What coating is that you used? Is the plywood with the fastener bits and bobs a base for a composting toilet?

Also, what did you use to cut shallow? I could use more options. So far I'm preferring my Fein Multimaster, but it's not always quite right. (here's to hoping a minimum of cutting in my future!)

I cut the floors and sink out of my bathroom to give me a few more inches to stand.
Had I known about the tank going under the bathroom, I may have re-considered, as it was I had been careful to stay shallow.

[Login3]

Yes, I was lucky .. had a bit of clever to undo my previous "clever". : )

I suspect my transom valve was leaking a bit ... slowly, thankfully. The seals were considerably harder than the new ones, and there was a small gouge in one. Also, since the water was in the stern, that area where the hole was was lower, so the "uphill" water in the ballast tank contributed to head, and it just kept coming in!

Ah...so you were drilling into the liner and hit the spot over the ballast.

What a story. My thinking is that if the gate valve on the transom was closed, only ballast water should leak into the cabin. Although that's still a lot of water.

Clever and lucky you had a means to pump it out.

[leefrankpierce]

That's a nice bit of work there. What coating is that you used? Is the plywood with the fastener bits and bobs a base for a composting toilet?

Also, what did you use to cut shallow? I could use more options. So far I'm preferring my Fein Multimaster, but it's not always quite right. (here's to hoping a minimum of cutting in my future!)

I cut the floors and sink out of my bathroom to give me a few more inches to stand.
Had I known about the tank going under the bathroom, I may have re-considered, as it was I had been careful to stay shallow.

The blue is just paint, the "wood" is PVC boards that I think were intended for fences.
As far as the brackets, alas just a portapotty.