Help me find source of leak

TitanTn

Active Member
Jul 12, 2015
386
Chattanooga, TN
Boat Info
1986 Saltare, 1998 400 Express
Engines
454 direct drive; twin 3116TA
I have a 1998 400EC. It started by noticing the carpet at the foot of the bed in the master stateroom was damp. I traced the wet carpet slightly up the starboard side in the storage compartments. I took a guess that the port lights on the starboard side were leaking and I rebedded them. They weren't in great shape, but not horrible.

The leaking did not stop. I should also mention that the boat is in a covered slip. I think it's coming from blowing rain. It's recently gotten worse and I've noticed the shelf next the bed on the starboard side is wet and actually has a little standing water on it. So my current guess is that rain water is coming in through the hull/deck joint under the rub rail.

Anyone want to agree or throw in a different opinion? Easier to fix from the inside or outside?
 
Your boat has a cored deck. Any water that enters the core higher up than the rubrail joint can be trapped between the top and bottom fiberglass and migrate thru coring until it is able to leak out near a hatch or go all the way to deck/hull joint. Could be bow rail stanchions, center rail base screws, port lights, windshield screws, snap screws, etc.
 
I had a similar problem on my 330. The culprit was the shower drain to the sump box wasn't winterized one year and the plastic elbow had a crack that leaked.
 
I had a similar problem on my 330. The culprit was the shower drain to the sump box wasn't winterized one year and the plastic elbow had a crack that leaked.
Have you checked the Bow rail bolts they may have to be
I have a 1998 400EC. It started by noticing the carpet at the foot of the bed in the master stateroom was damp. I traced the wet carpet slightly up the starboard side in the storage compartments. I took a guess that the port lights on the starboard side were leaking and I rebedded them. They weren't in great shape, but not horrible.

The leaking did not stop. I should also mention that the boat is in a covered slip. I think it's coming from blowing rain. It's recently gotten worse and I've noticed the shelf next the bed on the starboard side is wet and actually has a little standing water on it. So my current guess is that rain water is coming in through the hull/deck joint under the rub rail.

Anyone want to agree or throw in a different opinion? Easier to fix from the inside or outside?
Have you checked the bow rail bolts you may have to redo them. water can be a bitch to find it will run to a low point before dropping off. Good luck ! Hope this helps you find the problem.
Les
 
Do you have a freshwater anchor washdown? It could be the water line.
 
I have not inspected the bow rail bolts, but I will do that. They're a good possibility. I do not have a freshwater wash down so I do not believe there are any water lines in this area of the boat. Seems like the rail stanchions or the rub rail may be the most likely culprits.
 
I have not inspected the bow rail bolts, but I will do that. They're a good possibility. I do not have a freshwater wash down so I do not believe there are any water lines in this area of the boat. Seems like the rail stanchions or the rub rail may be the most likely culprits.
I doubt its the rub rail the boat is made that the top half has a flange that fits over the bottom half it would be pretty hard for water to get in that way
 
I have not inspected the bow rail bolts, but I will do that. They're a good possibility. I do not have a freshwater wash down so I do not believe there are any water lines in this area of the boat. Seems like the rail stanchions or the rub rail may be the most likely culprits.
I doubt its the rub rail the boat is made that the top half has a flange that fits over the bottom half it would be pretty hard for water to get in that way
 
20130915_083501.jpg
 
I doubt its the rub rail the boat is made that the top half has a flange that fits over the bottom half it would be pretty hard for water to get in that way

Like 390 said-- the top deck fits over the hull like a shoebox lid. Water has to be forced in-up- over to get on the shelve area if it was the rubrail, most likely getting I the core higher up and coming out where the outer and inner shell comes together at the "lid area" , unless there is some underlining damage that had a questionable repair in that area.
 
I'm facing the exact same issue. I suspected (hoped) it could be the rubrail until I saw the other posts, although I wonder if my 1990 420 Express has the same "shoebox lid" joint under the rubrail. I had the marina have a look at rebedding the stanchions but there are so many inaccessible bolts I don't think it would be worth the expense.
 
When was the last time the forward hatch over the berth was rebedded?
 
I have to say, I am on the lake with a covered slip and unless you are on a west side end slip it seems to me that there isn’t enough rain water to create the kind of issue you are describing. Again, just reasoning from the outside here. Is there a chance that a pressurized hose to the shower head is leaking somewhere? Not challenging the first hand facts, but trying to rationalize that much water...
 

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