Diesel and oil leak

[sunnydayz]

Greetings from a warm and sunny Falmouth Harbour in Antigua.
Seeking some help please.

In the small bilge compartment behind the engine where the stern gland is, I have a small pool of mainly diesel and some oil.
Engine bilge is immaculate, no obvious leaks from pipes. Checked the genset, and no obvious leaks either. 
Have any owners experienced this before?

Would be very grateful for any advice please.

Thank you.

Steve

[Don Reaves]

Did someone make a mess while changing filters and not clean it up?

[sunnydayz]

A good point. We are full time liveaboards, and prefer to do our own work when it comes to filters etc.
Have spent some time today in the generator locker, we have a pinhole leak in one of the fuel pipes. Going to try and source a new one ASAP to see if that cures it.

Thank you.

Steve

[sunnydayz]

Just returned back to the boat having been ashore for a couple of hours, and mopped up half a litre of diesel. Not sure if we have found the root of the problem earlier. Will strip out the rear cabins tomorrow.

[Zanshin]

Good luck in finding the source of your problem! I'm in Falmouth Harbour as well (volunteering for the Antigua Sailing Week) and because of the north swell I decided to leave my position outside close to pigeon beach and took one of the moorings on the inside, close to the docks.

If there's any assistance that I might give, please drop me a line...

[sunnydayz]

Thank you so much for your kind offer Zanshin, very much appreciated. Rear cabins now emptied and bunk boards up. From what we can tell it looks as though a small leak has been going on for some time, ironically the swell you mentioned may have contributed to the movement of the diesel from the genset down to the small bilge at the back of the engine bay. The swell appears more pronounced on board, as our mast is off as the standing rigging is being replaced. Do yachts roll more without a mast? Anyway, new hose going on soon and will run the genset to test again. Fingers crossed.
Thank you once again for your offer.

Steve

[sunnydayz]

Possibly solved it. Looks like the diesel leak from the hose had mixed in with some residual oil spillage in the generator housing, and tracked down into the bilge. Have had the genset running for an hour now, and all appears well. Also discovered a very small water leak from the generator water pump housing, but service kit on board and now next job on the list.
Just need the mast back on, and we can go sailing again!

Steve

[Zanshin]

Apr 26, 2016 13:45:34 GMT sunnydayz said:

...Do yachts roll more without a mast?...

As I'm sure you've learned by now the answer to that question is a resounding "YES". When the inertia of the mass of the mast (with a very long arm) is missing, the hull and keel make a sailboat a particularly rolly place to be!
Tomorrow is lay day and I'll be spending it off Green Island, but if you do need anything (apart from a mast...) then don't hesitate to give me a buzz.

[sleighride]

Regarding the roll issue, I have noticed over the years that having the sails up, even in no wind offshore, will also reduce rolling. If we are forced to motor offshore in large swells, we always hoist the main to create a dampening effect, and it really works. Of course if you have no battens, you have to be careful not to beat the sail to death if it starts snapping or luffing in the apparent wind.

[sunnydayz]

Finally found the cause of the leak. A fractured fuel line underneath the generator. Not shown on the schematic drawings, but it is there.
As the generator weighs around 90 kg, and needs to come out of the generator locker, it is going to take a bit of organising. Some good services in the area, so on the case. Will get all the fuel lines replaced at the same time, and a general overhaul, as easier on a workshop bench than in a small locker. More envious than ever of the walk in engine room on a 75 footer I was on earlier in the week.

Re fitting of mast delayed until next week, so more rock and roll to enjoy!

Steve