I own “Sabbatical”, Valiant 40 #209, a 1979 vintage. Mine started oozing water in the galley area when I walked around. Turns out that the original water lines from under the aft berth (where my water pump is located) to the galley sink were copper, and they bent upwards 90 degrees from the floorboards to the galley faucet. I had to take out the drawers in my galley to see the copper pipes. Unfortunately, the pipes had been kinked at some point in their lives, right at the 90 degree bend, either during installation at the factory, or during some work by a prior owner. Well, after almost 30 years of water rushing through them, one of the kinks turned into a leak, right where the copper pipe bent upwards. And, of course, it was on the inside of the bend, facing aft, behind the bulkhead between the galley and the aft cabin, where you couldn’t see the leak without a mirror.

I didn’t find the leak until I left the pressure water running and held a mirror behind the pipe. Sure enough, it bubbled out and ran between the plywood subflooring and the cabin sole. I couldn’t patch the leak, so I had to cut the pipe under the aft berth and again under the galley sink in order to pull the pipes out. What a royal pain! I replaced the copper pipe with reinforced water hose (yeah, the expensive Trident stuff from the marine supply houses). The good news: That fixed the problem. No leaks since then!!!

A note of caution: be sure to cut the correct copper lines. I had two pairs – one to the galley, and the other to the faucet in the head. Another suggestion: tape a length of parachute cord to the copper pipe as you’re pulling it out, then tape the cord to the new hose when you’re ready to install it. The cord makes it easier to pull the replacement hose back under the aft berth to the pump area.

Luckily, the copper pipes going to the head seem to be OK. I don’t even want to think about having to replace them!!

Best of luck with your trip.

- Phil