So what's the stuff in the bilge....

[furball]

And where is it coming from?
2006 Flushdeck with Yanmar 6LP.
I keep the bilge pretty clean, just some fresh water, maybe a gallon in the front bilge when we come down each weekend. Clean and dry it weekly. Starting about 3-4 weeks ago, I started finding small gray/black spots floating at the bottom of the water in the bow. Then found paint chip looking bits dry under the front of the motor, just a couple.
I can press the ones in water onto my finger and they stick but don't leave a mark so they aren't oil or grease. On a paper towel they dry to what looks like a paint chip. In the water they are wet blobs, soft but they hold together.
If I had to guess, maybe a tablespoon or two worth of "paint chips", over a couple weeks, enough to make me say WT....??.
I'm thinking some type of carbon or graphite??
Any gaskets on the turbo or exhaust side that might be failing?
Haven't noticed any exhaust leak, smoke or significant power loss.
Maybe 50 rpm at wot but that could be my bottom as well this time of year.

Any thoughts?

By the way, thought if might be related to the loss of power in my bow thruster but since I haven't used that in two weeks and it's currently out of the boat, must be coming from somewhere else.
ILoveMyBoat, ILoveMyBoat, ILoveMBoat,
Thanks,
John

[Norseman]

Furballs......?

[Tom Alby]

Maybe dust from the brushes on the bow thruster

[furball]

LOL!
Wish it was dog hair?
Seems like a lot of material to be from brushes. Hope that's all it is.
Something failing on the motor is what worries me, just can't figure out what to worry about.

[RobS]

Is it rubber-like? A failing tranny torsional coupler would shed rubber bits. Any new noises at slow speed in/out of gear?

[furball]

Rob, no new noises or vibrations.
When it's in the bilge water, it forms little balls or irregular stapes that sink but float just off the bottom. They don't stick to the bottom, they float and move with motion. Very soft to the touch. If I catch one on a finger tip, maybe 1/4" across I can kind of roll it around on my finger tip and it doesn't leave any residue. On a paper towel, it dries back to what looks like a paint chip. It's almost like there are fibers holding it together but they are too small to see. It looks like carbon or graphite. I was hoping it was the carbon brushes in the thruster, but inspection shows brush wear but not the kind of disintegration needed to cause the amount of this in the bilge.
I believe you did a complete rebuild on a Yanmar. Are there any graphite or carbon fiber gaskets in the exhaust system? Anything around the turbo? I found wet stuff in the forward and aft bilges but dry material under the front of the motor. I suspect it's coming from the motor, falling under it and when there is water in the bilge it carries it forward to the bow. Belts look fine, hoses look fine, motor mounts good. No obvious exhaust leak.
While changing zincs last week, something fell into the bilge. It was one of the three bolts that hold the turbo to the mounting plate. Was wondering if there might be a gasket in the setup that might be failing as a result of the loose bolt. The other bolts were tight and the turbo didn't seem loose. No other signs. Still hits 3800 WOT but just 3800.
Sorry for the long post. I would really like to find this before it fails completely.
Thanks,
John

[Carl]

Hey John, those little balls you have been rolling around in your fingers are probably from one of the hoses to your holding tank!!

[furball]

They didn't leave a mark on my fingers but they did taste funny

[RobS]

What kind of shaft seal do you have? How about the foam filter on the air intake cage?

[jleonard]

Can you post a picture of it?

[furball]

I have a blue silicone shaft seal. Not sure who makes it, haven't had to replace that yet
The air filter is intact.
I'll be back at the boat this weekend and i'll try to get some photos.

[Norseman]

Pictures. without pictures it did not happen:)

[Halcyon]

Maybe you could send a sample to an oil testing lab and they could identify the material

[DCatSea]

Tribbles?

[TimQ]

I observed something similar once and found it was from a bilge pump suction hose that had deteriorated from having been exposed to a diesel fuel leak. The rubber from the hose was dissolving and small globs like you describe were floating about in the bilge.