hi all
just had a look at a 1996 26X which has an automatic bilge pump fitted in the storage area just forward of the head under the foam seat pad. The owner tells me it is to clear spilt water from the storage tank forward of the plotting table. Is this likely or is it something that has been fitted because a leak could not be found?? Is it a concern or not. Unfortunately didn’t think to taste it whilst we were there but think it unlikely to be sea water as the boat has been out of the water since August.
any advice please
Hi Keith
Mac's, like all boats, can accumulate water in the bilges for all kinds of reasons. Rain ingress is the most common, there are many points on the deck where water can seep in, and because the hull is watertight (generally a good thing!), the water has nowhere to go. A bilge pump of some kind is an essential accessory.
Many owners never trace the source of slow leaks, and we just live with the need to pump the bilges from time to time. I wouldn't assume the current owner is actually correct about the source, it might just be a best guess.
One problem with bilges in Macs is that the ballast tank creates two separate bilge spaces, one each side, so you need to be able to pump both sides separately. Hence with a fixed pump you really need another one in the space below the galley.
Where does the pump empty, is it connected to an existing through-hull?
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
Thanks Rick
i seem to think there’s a pipe out through a hole in the hull.
Hi Keith,
In my experience, there is a lot of condensation inside a Mac, especially during the winter months. I checked leaks from the deck fittings very carefully and came to the conclusion that water ingress from rainwater was minimal; we spent ages playing a hose on the outside while checking the inside for leaks, and found nothing to speak of.
I used to keep a couple of old towels under the galley in the port side and starboard side bilges, and just wring them out occasionally. I was always surprised at how much condensation there was considering the boat was stored in a field well away from the sea, so I got a couple of Unibond de-humidifiers to soak it up a bit. And I always removed the cushions and anything else absorbent and stored them in the loft at home over the winter.
I guess Macs were built for warmer climates than ours!
Hi John
thanks for the info. The problem might solve itself them as we are planning to drive down to Spain in the warmer weather.
Hi Keith,
The problem you asked about was a leak from a storage tank.
I'm not familiar with the X but, assuming the owner isn't referring to the drainable water ballast, then it must be a drinking water tank.
My M had an inflatable tank under the sink which I chucked out; I use a portable 15 litre container with its own tap for longer trips supplemented by fresh bottles.
To necessitate installing a "bilge pump to cope with a leak from a water tank" implies the probability of a built in tank in a bilge/storage area where access for fixing the leak is prohibitive.
If you're serious about this boat it sounds like it's an issue (i.e. Where the water's coming from) worth running down since, wherever the leak is from, the pump installation implies that it's a fairly serious and ongoing issue.
Regarding leaks generally, my limited experience is that there are many sources but almost all easily fixed; once identified. Having said that, as has been mentioned, it's a normal boaty issue so if you're not too fussy...the main thing is to identify any serious leaks, e.g. Cracked hull, leaking through-hull fittings etc.
On the subject of floatability, its worth checking that all the expanded polystyrene floatation blocks are still in place. I've read accounts of Mac owners removing some to gain additional storage/water tanks etc
MacGregor 26M 2009 - Sky's the Limit - Suzuki DF50
Hi Mike
yes, this one has an inflatable tank filled through a filler cap piped to it from just in front of the window starboard side. Thanks for your thoughts.