Not long ago I read about another cruising sailboat that the sailors abandoned offshore because they didn't have time enough to find the source of a major leak. It happened at a time when everyone was outside, and no one saw the water rising over the floorboards. By the time they discovered the water and went to work on the problem, it had risen high enough to short out the batteries, which killed the bilge pump and let the water rise even faster. Once water is already a foot or two deep, it becomes almost impossible to see down to hull fittings and other locations where the leak may be happening. Just maybe they could have saved the boat, and not required rescue, if they'd had a bilge alarm or other system for an early alert. Such systems don't cost that much and are easy to install, a good winter or spring project. Read about bilge alarms, high water alarms, and bilge counters that can alert you to smaller leaks.
