Water Leaking from Ballast to Bilge

[wgshaw]

I can confirm, through a die test, that I have water leaking from the ballast tank to the bilge in my 2001 MacGregor 26X. I have searched visually for a leak, but cannot find it. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to find the leak in the ballast tank and how to fix it?

Thanks. Billy

[sailboatmike]

The bilge is broken into separate parts that dont join so it should be easy enough to find the general area of the leak by the position of the water in the bilge

[whgoffrn]

I've never had to do this before but just an idea that may work?? Fill the bilge full of water and blow compressed air into the ballast listen / look for bubbles

[K9Kampers]

A few years ago, Catigale had the same problem. His issue was discovered to be the base of his forward compression post, that mounts on top of the ballast tank, had rusted thru. The compression post also houses the line for the swing keel. Details of his experience and solution can be found in the archives.

[kurz]

My friend had same problem.
Finally he found that a battery loader was screwed into the ballast tank

[sailboatmike]

My friend had same problem.
Finally he found that a battery loader was screwed into the ballast tank

Saw the facebook video of this bizarre that the PO would do such a thing to a water ballast boat, I guess their brain was switched off

[vizwhiz]

We're experiencing a similar problem at this time on our S. We think it is coming from around one of the ballast tank access ports that we have. But we can't prove it yet. We are planning to take the boat to the nearby lake and launch, using a borescope to look under the cabin liner to try to locate the source. It's the only way we can think of to see beneath the liner...

[Bilgemaster]

My friend had same problem.
Finally he found that a battery loader was screwed into the ballast tank

Saw the facebook video of this bizarre that the PO would do such a thing to a water ballast boat, I guess their brain was switched off

Maybe the battery wasn't the only thing "loaded"?

[Spector]

We had a leak from our ballast tank. Water was collecting in starboard area under seat and head area but the leak was on the other side near batteries.

See here http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... 43#p319637

[wgshaw]

Thanks very much for the suggestions. I have tried pumping air into the ballast tank with a small air pump, but was not able to find the leak. I may try to fill the bilge with water and then pump air into the ballast tank and look for bubbles.

wgshaw

[paul I]

Thanks very much for the suggestions. I have tried pumping air into the ballast tank with a small air pump, but was not able to find the leak. I may try to fill the bilge with water and then pump air into the ballast tank and look for bubbles.

wgshaw

Don't try it with anything as small as a air pump. Plug the vent and use a leaf blower or the output of a wet dry vac instead. You need some nice high air pressure.

For any seam you can see, squirt it with soapy water. If there is air leaking it will bubble up very actively.

The seams you cant see will be tougher. You can try to fill the bilge part by part and see if you get bubbles up through the water. Hopefully you'll be able to hear them.

[hschumac]

I had same symptom. Discovered that the ballast vent plug was not sealing cometely. As the boat moved in wakes and waves the water in the ballast tank surged and the force squeezed some water up. Since the vent plug was under the step, i never noticed. Bought new vent plug, tightened down and problem solved.