Gb 32 - water in sump under engine

Good Day all

My bid for a 32 GB has been accepted. Now setting up for inspection etc. I notices that there was water in the sump under the engine.

Question: How can this water get there ? Not sure if seawater or fresh.

Boat is in Gulfport FL (Tampa/St Pete area)

If it is fresh water, the boat has teak decks and the tops of the fuel tanks show rust be very careful if not worried.

THX
Yes teak decks
Aft ends of side walkways, both port and starboard, has viewing port to top of fuel tanks. No rust showing.
Owner did do a wash down on lower decks. Can that be how water got there and why not in other areas ?

Come to think about it water may have been in other areas below just didn't see any

If it is Seawater the Raw water pump could be leaking. The seals wear out and if the pump is below the water line it can drip with the engine not running.

Is the water in the catch pan or bilge?

its in the engine sump right below the engine / transmission.
Boat is a 1987 Grand Banks 32 with a Ford Lehman 120.
It has all its teak which appears in good shape, no loose rails or sponginess.
Boat is seems in good shape but needs a detail cleaning.
Bright work needs some TLC.

Just wondering about the water in the engine sump. I thought that water could not enter the sump under the engine mush as engine oil can not get out.

Water was also in the bilge which makes me think the wash down they did before my arrival was the reason.

Water in the bilge is most likely from the wash down. Water wouldn’t normally get in the pan from that. Check all of the heat exchangers, hose clamps and zincs. It’s not green so it’s not antifreeze. The other spot is the raw water injection elbow for the exhaust. The have been known to leak from there also. A flashlight and inspection mirror while she is running is your best bet. If there is a leak bad enough to show in the pan it will be obvious.

One other though, did they mop the floor prior to your visit, The access hatches will let water straight through and onto the engine.

How about a photo of your new boat? I’m a longtime GB lover.

Bob

Thx Bob
Yes they hosed down and mopped the outside decks just before my visit.

Id like to post a pick not sure how to do that though but will try.
I think the boat is very pretty.

Water in the bilge may be a normal drip from a stuffing box.

Salt water weighs 9.0 pounds per gallon. Fresh water weighs 8.3 pounds per gallon. Aquarium stores sell a simple gauge for determining salinity (water weight). Whether the water is fresh or salt will tell a lot.

Very nice!

me inside

Nice photo. First boat I took to Alaska from Puget Sound was a wooden 32 GB with three other people. Put a drop of the liquid on your tongue to see if it is salty, soapy, fresh etc.

Tator

Dip a finger in the water and taste. You'll know if its salt, no need for scales etc.

If you are concerned about quaffing a drop or two of bilge water stay away from Cancun bars!
~A

Seems the liquid is in the catch tray under the engine. Lehmans not modified by connecting a coolant return bottle to the expansion tank overflow commonly overflow coolant from the expansion tank into the tray. Could be that. Or as suggested above.

Drip pans under my Lehmans are not waterproof. I suspect the welds are corroded. If level in the bilge rises above the bottom of the pans, the pans start filling. I suppose I could seal the seams but it hasn't reached my to do list and probably never will.

I sometimes find water in the engine bilge after a big rain storm. It is coming from the lazarette hatch which is very shallow with two small overly-complicated easily-plugged scuppers. If I keep them clean there is no water in that bilge.


The stuffing box also drains directly to this bilge. I've switched to Gore-Tex packing so no more drips.

salt water or fresh

the taste test is obviously the easiest but sometimes there may be some salt contamination in the pan or bilge or wherever you are testing.

I had this problem and although the taste test leaned toward fresh water, there was some saltiness.

I bought a 20 dollar refractometer and conclusively showed it to be fresh. and it was kindof fun.. and will use it as a science lesson for the grandkids.

In my GB 32 I always have water in my bilge from two sources, one is the drip hose from my water heater and the second from rain water seeping from the stern deck storage compartment. Nothing alarming, for the automatic bilge pump will take care of the problem. Have to check the level though on regular basis. Recommend to pour bilge cleaner fluid and hose it down from time to time so you won't have any algae growth. Bleach will do the job too.

Interesting and FWIW, we have an Island Gypsy 32, extremely similar to a GB. We do have a little water in our bilge from the sources mentioned. And, like the writer, some under the engine (not the oil pan) but in a second shallow sump. There is a small rise at the forward end, not high enough to block water flow to the main bilge where the pump is located, but high enough to block the last 1/4 inch or so.

Water in sump

STG said:

Good Day all

My bid for a 32 GB has been accepted. Now setting up for inspection etc. I notices that there was water in the sump under the engine.

Question: How can this water get there ? Not sure if seawater or fresh.

Boat is in Gulfport FL (Tampa/St Pete area)

Click to expand...

Do you have teak decks? Could be from your air conditioning system as well. That drains into the bilge. Could be from rainwater coming from your lazerate hatch covers (if you have those). What are your fuel tanks, btw?