Leak

Sam Brucato

New Member
Sep 14, 2018
1
Boat Info
24" 1998 Sea Ray Sundancer
Engines
350 Mercruiser
I have a 1998 Sea Ray Sundancer. Going into the cabin on the 1st. step is a compartment. Is that a trash bin? Also It now has water inside that is leaking between the head and the cabinet on the rug inside. Does anybody have any ideas where this may be coming from? Thanks
 
^^^ this... i had a cracked fitting into box and wet the carpet... fixed w/jb weld

but also have leaky portlights which wet same spot.. currently duct tapped and dry, next repair..
 
We just bought an 08 280 Dancer and only had it in the water for the survey. We have water in that same area every time it rains, when I pull the garbage can that area is full of water. Also the carpet outside of it which is right next to the head is soaked. In the spring I'll try to find where its leaking. We also get quite a bit of water in the aft cabin
 
Hey guys, have a 05 280, used to get a lot of water after it rained, turned out to be the fitting in the bottom of the foot well became loose. ( don’t know if I using the right words, the first outside step, before entering cabin)
 
I have a 94 Dancer, that compartment under the stairs is a liquor cabinet. My floor stays dry.
 
HI,
I have an 05 270 Amberjack. My water leak was coming from the starboard running light.
 
Thanks so much to everyone for all your responses. Its great to know we have this resource to help resolve issues. I guess come early spring we will start with me outside with the hose and my wife inside. Being quite a bit of water in the aft and the wet carpet outside the head it shouldn't/hopefully be to hard to find.
Thanks again!!
 
We just bought an 08 280 Dancer and only had it in the water for the survey. We have water in that same area every time it rains, when I pull the garbage can that area is full of water. Also the carpet outside of it which is right next to the head is soaked. In the spring I'll try to find where its leaking. We also get quite a bit of water in the aft cabin

Hello. We purchased a 1999 Sea Ray Sundancer 310 last summer. I never really noticed a leaking problem all summer. Then ~~ 2 weeks after we had it professionally winterized I began to notice a very similar leak that you describe, after a big rain. In Fact the cabinet under the sink in the head is rusted and the carpet is very wet. the water seems to run across the head floor, soaks the carpeting under the stairs and then we end up with 2-5 inches of standing water in the recessed aft cabin floor/carpeting. Did you ever solve your problem ?? Has anyone else ever had this problem ? If so what can be done to fix it ?

Thank you
 
We just bought an 08 280 Dancer and only had it in the water for the survey. We have water in that same area every time it rains, when I pull the garbage can that area is full of water. Also the carpet outside of it which is right next to the head is soaked. In the spring I'll try to find where its leaking. We also get quite a bit of water in the aft cabin
If you have a/c on board water may be leaking from condensate hose or drain pan.
 
On my boat my shower sump is also my ac drain. Mine had failed so we replaced it. They run about $115.00. Once it overfills it runs into the mid ships sump pump.
 
On my 270 SD I was getting water under the garbage pail where the sump pump is located. I traced it to the window in the head. I ended up pulling the window and the problem turns out to be the caulking dries out over time. i rebedded it and problem solved.
 
Hello. We purchased a 1999 Sea Ray Sundancer 310 last summer. I never really noticed a leaking problem all summer. Then ~~ 2 weeks after we had it professionally winterized I began to notice a very similar leak that you describe, after a big rain. In Fact the cabinet under the sink in the head is rusted and the carpet is very wet. the water seems to run across the head floor, soaks the carpeting under the stairs and then we end up with 2-5 inches of standing water in the recessed aft cabin floor/carpeting. Did you ever solve your problem ?? Has anyone else ever had this problem ? If so what can be done to fix it ?

Thank you
Hey Thomas, I haven't been on the boat much since we had it brought home shrink wrapped in late Oct. Early April I plan to make that my very first priority. I will definitely be posting some updates.
 
Hey Thomas, I haven't been on the boat much since we had it brought home shrink wrapped in late Oct. Early April I plan to make that my very first priority. I will definitely be posting some updates.
Check your windows. Last fall I had water under the step. The source was one of the cabin windows. The screw for one if the 3 dogs the holds the window shut broke. Therefore the window didn’t seal properly and leaked wit rain. Replacing the screw fixed the leak. Sometimes the screws just get loose, or need adjusting.
 
Check your windows. Last fall I had water under the step. The source was one of the cabin windows. The screw for one if the 3 dogs the holds the window shut broke. Therefore the window didn’t seal properly and leaked wit rain. Replacing the screw fixed the leak. Sometimes the screws just get loose, or need adjusting.

I'm still trying to trace the source of a water leak, where I keep getting the carpet in the cabin floor wet. I've had the head port light fixed as it was leaking quite a bit, the sump box had some blockage in the line so a new line was run.
We've had a ton of rain in west Michigan this spring. I get a skim layer of water outside the sump box but not enough to kick on the emergency forward bilge pump. This past weekend, all looked dry after days of rain until we had a few people in the cabin, then the water found its way to the floor again. I take a shop vac and between the area outside the sump box and the carpet will pull a gallon of water or more out!

Assuming the aft automatic bilge pump is working when I'm away, does anyone know if the firewall in the bilge is completely sealed? I'm wondering if water is in there and we get more weight forward if it's finding it's way to the cabin??

Thoughts or help appreciated!

2006 270 AJ
 
I'm still trying to trace the source of a water leak, where I keep getting the carpet in the cabin floor wet. I've had the head port light fixed as it was leaking quite a bit, the sump box had some blockage in the line so a new line was run.
We've had a ton of rain in west Michigan this spring. I get a skim layer of water outside the sump box but not enough to kick on the emergency forward bilge pump. This past weekend, all looked dry after days of rain until we had a few people in the cabin, then the water found its way to the floor again. I take a shop vac and between the area outside the sump box and the carpet will pull a gallon of water or more out!

Assuming the aft automatic bilge pump is working when I'm away, does anyone know if the firewall in the bilge is completely sealed? I'm wondering if water is in there and we get more weight forward if it's finding it's way to the cabin??

Thoughts or help appreciated!

2006 270 AJ

Having going through this, I feel your frustration. I'm always amazed at how much water the carpet will hold. You need a LOT of water in there to activate the float switch on the bilge. I would tell you to taste the water, but you're in Michigan so no salt water.

I don't think there is a limber hole that connects the under stair bilge back to the engine bilge. For one, I've had a good amount of water under the stairs and it doesn't drain backward. Two, the whole thing is gelcoated on the bottom and up the sides. Three, the engine space is supposed to be sealed to prevent any fuel vapors from travelling to other compartments. I could be incorrect on the connection to an aft bilge.

It's possible that there was more water in the bilge area than you might have expected. The weight in the cabin could have pushed the bow down and let the water in the under step bilge run forward. Just since the portholes can be such a source of leaks, I would suggest to check them all again. I had one hatch dog that looked fine, but the retaining screw was broken and couldn't apply enough force to seal against the gasket. Try also wiping down both the gaskets and window surface to ensure they are clean. About the hatch dogs, they should be adjusted so they are a bit difficult to close - that will help ensure a good seal.

Last thought - perhaps there is still some minor drip from the shower sump? Oh, and for good sump health use only liquid shower gel - never bar soap. The bar soap will clog things. Also pour in some bilge cleaner from time to time and let sit.
 
Having going through this, I feel your frustration. I'm always amazed at how much water the carpet will hold. You need a LOT of water in there to activate the float switch on the bilge. I would tell you to taste the water, but you're in Michigan so no salt water.

I don't think there is a limber hole that connects the under stair bilge back to the engine bilge. For one, I've had a good amount of water under the stairs and it doesn't drain backward. Two, the whole thing is gelcoated on the bottom and up the sides. Three, the engine space is supposed to be sealed to prevent any fuel vapors from travelling to other compartments. I could be incorrect on the connection to an aft bilge.

It's possible that there was more water in the bilge area than you might have expected. The weight in the cabin could have pushed the bow down and let the water in the under step bilge run forward. Just since the portholes can be such a source of leaks, I would suggest to check them all again. I had one hatch dog that looked fine, but the retaining screw was broken and couldn't apply enough force to seal against the gasket. Try also wiping down both the gaskets and window surface to ensure they are clean. About the hatch dogs, they should be adjusted so they are a bit difficult to close - that will help ensure a good seal.

Last thought - perhaps there is still some minor drip from the shower sump? Oh, and for good sump health use only liquid shower gel - never bar soap. The bar soap will clog things. Also pour in some bilge cleaner from time to time and let sit.
Thanks for the reply and suggestions Brad! This has been very frustrating to say the least! The shower/sink hasn't been used this year, nor is there any water in the freshwater tank. I will check ALL the port lights as you advise, and clean to ensure a good seal. I did notice my horn that died had the 'mesh' cover behind the chrome face plate was disintegrated. I was leaving the boat and it caught my eye as I was verifying all the lines were secure...as a quick fix I removed the plate and shoved a rag to prevent water from entering there, as I'm sure it did!
I was pretty sure the engine compartment was sealed but I will dump some bilge cleaner in there, let it slosh around a bit and pump it out too. I will also suck out whatever water remains with a shop vac to see if that helps.

Thanks Again!
 

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