Houseboat Bilges and Water Leaks - how to trace and find the problem?

When it comes to houseboat bilges and water leaks, how do you trace and find the problem as to what causes water to accumulate and gather under the head of our 1969, 34 ft Nautaline houseboat?

We can't find the source of the leak that allows water to fill up in the trench under sink in head. We have checked the windows and re-sealed, can't see water coming in down walls, and I am at a loss as to where it might be coming in.

Anybody else with a similar problem?

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Reply - Answer
Welcome to the houseboat forums, and sorry to hear about the water accumulating in your bilge and under your head.

If you have checked all the windows and surrounding area, than the next step is to verify that the water is coming from outside the boat, or from the houseboats actual water supply system.

This is where you may find that some food coloring (used in cooking) will come in handy to trace and follow the flow of the water through the plumbing.

Once you've covered the fresh water plumbing, than it's onto the head, and run some colored water into the head, and flush it, or pump it. This way you can see if there is any food coloring nearby.

If you still haven't found it, than the next step would be the fresh water tank. You can always put some into the tank, and wait an hour and if there's a leak, the colored water flow should lead you to the problem.

The following article maybe of interest, find a water leak in a houseboat.



Lastly, hopefully some of our readers will share and post comments about their houseboat plumbing and experiences with water leaks. Feel free to use the "Click here to post comments." link found near the bottom of this page.


Thanks again for sharing, IAN from all-about-houseboats

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