afslondon

Well I have pumped out most of my water too...hopefully will complete the job tomorrow. There was about 7 inches there, and it took several hours to get it down to about 1.5. What slowed it up was that at one stage it was refilling almost as fast as it was pumping out! But that, foruitously led me to the source of the problem; the water pump. Clearly on the last occasion when I checked the filter I had not screwed it back on 100% securely and whenever the pump was on "on" mode it was spewing water around. There is going to be a fair amount of damp to deal with but its in areas which are reasonly open and accessible, but hopefully it will not cause a major problem Again, many thanks to all correspondents Alan

Thank you; I really appreciate everyone's observations, which suggest that I have a problem ..and have had it for at least 18 months, which is about when I first observed the water. I will drain it at the weekend; try to fid the source of it and report back next week. Again, many thanks A

Well what can I say? I told you I was naive....I really do appreciate your comments, and come Saturday I will be be acting on them...thank you!!! (of course if it all goes badly wrong...the writ is in the post!) A

Hi..yes I had it surveyed and nothing was said about the ballast. I know that Sea Otters (mine is not one) use water ballast and so I thought it might be a common feature. There is a small amount of water in the engine bilge, but nothing to give cause for concern, since I know the source of that. I just dont know if there is anything under the water, which appears to be about 6 or 7 inches deep. I think at the weekend I will pump it out and see what happens.. sorry to read of yr own problems...I am scratching my head to think of something that might have been overlooked! A

Hm....thanks Becky; well I am not wholly sure.But all the time I have had the boat there has been water there, which I took to be ballast...maybe I should get it pumped out and see what happens? I can always fill it back up again!

I am embarassed to ask such a naive question, but I wonder if colleagues can help me with a puzzle? I have quite an old boat (of unknown provenance)...made in c.1970. Its ballast seems to consist of a large water tank along much of the length of the vessel. How is that level of water maintained at a proper level? See; I told you it was naive !!!! A