Unusual Leak

T

Trinity Knot

New Member
Jul 28, 2015
4
Massachusetts /Cape Cod
Boat Info
2006 260 Sundancer / radar arch / GPS / AC & Heat
Engines
Mercruiser
I have a 2006 260 Sea Ray Sundancer - While out cruising the engine started Bogging and when I lifted the hatch had over a foot of water in the bilge?!? I did a manual pump out and replaced the bilge pump (but that wasnt the problem). Turns out, the water is coming in thru the back of the boat above the engine. The seam where the top and bottom of the fiberglass meet (where the aluminium wrap around seams them together). Very strange problem that just suddenly started. Only leaks while cruising but is a real pain the butt. Tried silicone and flex seal but didnt fix problem. Is something like this a common problem and how do I fix?
 
The deck fits over the hull like a shoebox lid. This joint is then covered up by the vinyl portion of the rubrail and the vinyl part is then finished off with a stainless steel insert. So... you are seeing the water enter at the "shoebox" joint? That joint is made, first, with adhesive caulk (think "thick" super glue) and then mechanically. However, there were a couple years where some boats had issues with that joint in that there wasn't enough super glue used. The fix is to remove the rubrail (both pieces), mechanically separate/wedge the joint a bit, apply new adhesive caulk into the joint and then reattach the rubrail.

Was it the bilge pump or the float switch that failed? Or do you have an auto-sensing pump?
 
Lazy Daze said:
The deck fits over the hull like a shoebox lid. This joint is then covered up by the vinyl portion of the rubrail and the vinyl part is then finished off with a stainless steel insert. So... you are seeing the water enter at the "shoebox" joint? That joint is made, first, with adhesive caulk (think "thick" super glue) and then mechanically. However, there were a couple years where some boats had issues with that joint in that there wasn't enough super glue used. The fix is to remove the rubrail (both pieces), mechanically separate/wedge the joint a bit, apply new adhesive caulk into the joint and then reattach the rubrail.

Was it the bilge pump or the float switch that failed? Or do you have an auto-sensing pump?
Click to expand...

Thank you Very Much for your reply! Yes I think so. It was running in and then down into the engine area. The Bilge Supposed to be auto sensing but it didnt work or couldnt keep up with the amount of water. Also once engine cooled, I hosed down entire engine to rid the salt water that was spraying all over as that would only cause more issues down the road. This sounds like a job the marina will need to do when it comes out the water in the Fall. Sounds Pricey?
 
Trinity Knot said:
Thank you Very Much for your reply! Yes I think so. It was running in and then down into the engine area. The Bilge Supposed to be auto sensing but it didnt work or couldnt keep up with the amount of water. Also once engine cooled, I hosed down entire engine to rid the salt water that was spraying all over as that would only cause more issues down the road. This sounds like a job the marina will need to do when it comes out the water in the Fall. Sounds Pricey?
Click to expand...

With That much water coming in, I don’t see how you can use the boat from now until the fall. Are you sure that is the source?
The rub rail area typically isn’t under water while docked or cruising.
 
Espos4 said:
With That much water coming in, I don’t see how you can use the boat from now until the fall. Are you sure that is the source?
The rub rail area typically isn’t under water while docked or cruising.
Click to expand...

Correct, the area where water comes in is above water line but while cruising wake or waves that hit the back sends the water up there. when it first happended it was a bit dicey while engine was bogging we were in 3 foot seas. The flex seal or Calking might have helped a bit but didnt fix it. Last night we went out just for a quick ride and water still got in so we stopped and manual pumped out bilge and headed back. To keep doing that every time is a real pain but I dont think I can fix it myself. Shame that its a 2006 so no longer under warranty, this seems like manufactuer defect not wear an tear.
 
Trinity Knot said:
Correct, the area where water comes in is above water line but while cruising wake or waves that hit the back sends the water up there. when it first happended it was a bit dicey while engine was bogging we were in 3 foot seas. The flex seal or Calking might have helped a bit but didnt fix it. Last night we went out just for a quick ride and water still got in so we stopped and manual pumped out bilge and headed back. To keep doing that every time is a real pain but I dont think I can fix it myself. Shame that its a 2006 so no longer under warranty, this seems like manufactuer defect not wear an tear.
Click to expand...
As a test, try some flex tape over the rub rail and see if it blocks the water.
 
This is odd. Even on a 26 that seam should be well out of the water even at full throttle or even when you first throttle up to get on plane when the stern squats down. Are you positive it isn't coming through the outdrive penetration? Have you watched it while someone else is operating the boat? I think you need to really diagnose this closer before jumping to any solutions. If you were in 3+footers it must have been last weekend! I was out on saturday and sunday morning and it was really blowing from the east!
Do some more diagnostics on this issue and keep us posted. Good call on spraying the engine room down with fresh water. The salt will corrode/rust everything quickly. I would also think about spraying with WD40. Watch your electrical connections etc. You don't want to chase more issues down the road as corrosion sets in to so many parts.
 
Trinity, I had a similiar issue with my 06 Sundancer also. Not the water issue but with the hull seam. You can see where the gap is in the hull seam.As Dennis said , the stainless steel strip needs to be removed, then the S/S screws removed, you will see the gap. Clean the area that needs to be closed up. Apply sealant ( I used 3M 4200), and reinstall the screws. I also added a few more S/S screws to ensure the gap would pulled together tightly. Re -install the rubber rub rail, then the S/S strip. Its not difficult, just takes a bit of time and patience, best to have an extra set of hands to hold s/s strip and rubber rail.
However, as capecodcruiser said, you need to diagnose further. i don't think the hull gap would allow the amount of water you described in the bilge. Sounds like there is another problem somewhere. Keep us posted !
 
capecodcruiser said:
This is odd. Even on a 26 that seam should be well out of the water even at full throttle or even when you first throttle up to get on plane when the stern squats down. Are you positive it isn't coming through the outdrive penetration? Have you watched it while someone else is operating the boat? I think you need to really diagnose this closer before jumping to any solutions. If you were in 3+footers it must have been last weekend! I was out on saturday and sunday morning and it was really blowing from the east!
Do some more diagnostics on this issue and keep us posted. Good call on spraying the engine room down with fresh water. The salt will corrode/rust everything quickly. I would also think about spraying with WD40. Watch your electrical connections etc. You don't want to chase more issues down the road as corrosion sets in to so many parts.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply! Well I am pretty sure that is the problem, had 4 guys from my dock take it out for a quick rip and they had the hatch open and said that was where the water was coming in from ?? Since it was re cocked and flexsealed the leak was much less however the job needs to be done right i guess my taking the rail strip off completely and done again. As a matter of fact, since I got the boat in 2013 I've had another annoying leak under the cockpit bilge that happens at random dry for weeks and then Bam, galley carpet is soaked (tried not AC or bathroom sink to isolate the problem if it was a leak in the line somewhere but still would happen) and because the galley carpet goes into stairs/bilge box it often leaks thru. I wonder if the Hull seam or elsewhere could be the culprit? Maybe have to go all the way around the boat not just the stern. Yesterday took it to Hull and back and got like 2" of water in the engine bilge. Just annoying but as they say, there is no Bad day on the water!
 
Trinity Knot said:
I wonder if the Hull seam or elsewhere could be the culprit? Maybe have to go all the way around the boat not just the stern.
Click to expand...
I forgot to mention this above, but there absolutely could be a leak somwehere else. In fact, the stern leak could actually be leaking in along the side of the boat, following the seam, and then dripping down at the stern. 'Course, it could be leaking in multiple places, too. It's not much more work to do the whole perimeter. The SS pieces are about 10' or 12' long, so it goes pretty quick.

Be very careful as you remove/store the SS pieces that you don't accidentally bend/crease them.
 
Hello Trinity,

I have the exact same boat and exact same stern leak problem. I was out for a cruise around 12 kts no water in the engine room, once I ran at around 3500rpm with the engine hatch open I could see water pouring in from the seam above the fire extinguisher in the aft part of the engine room compartment. Just wondering if you solved the problem with your boat? I also had the carpet by the forward stairs wet when the stern leak would happen, wondering if the stern bilge somehow connects to the forward bilge causing dampness when the stern leaks. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
 
Ray, the engine bilge and the cabin bilge are not connected.

It sounds like your issue can be addressed by the information mentioned in the above posts. If you haven't, read through the whole thread.
 
The wet step could be from a poorly sealed / loose hull to deck joint. When your boat was built the factory had QC problems and wasn’t applying nearly enough sealant to the deck joint. It leads to the joint opening up and water getting inside the hull and pooling under the step.

My boat had this problem. There was literally daylight shining though the large deck joint gap on the starboard side because the screws were backing out. I documented my experience and the repairs in this thread.

http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/resealing-the-hull-to-deck-joint.83083/#post-939082
 
Thanks Lazy Daze for the quick response. A boat mechanic in town said it might be connected with a small pipe, its nice to check that one off the box of unknowns with the new boat:).
 
b_arrington said:
The wet step could be from a poorly sealed / loose hull to deck joint. When your boat was built the factory had QC problems and wasn’t applying nearly enough sealant to the deck joint. It leads to the joint opening up and water getting inside the hull and pooling under the step.

My boat had this problem. There was literally daylight shining though the large deck joint gap on the starboard side because the screws were backing out. I documented my experience and the repairs in this thread.

http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/resealing-the-hull-to-deck-joint.83083/#post-939082
Click to expand...
Thank you for your help b_arrington. I also noticed daylight from the engine compartment on the port quarter, which I am thinking it must be part of the QC problem you are referring too. I will go through the link you posted and start to pin point my problem. Thanks again for your help.
 
raytelly said:
Thanks Lazy Daze for the quick response. A boat mechanic in town said it might be connected with a small pipe, its nice to check that one off the box of unknowns with the new boat:).
Click to expand...
In some boats that is true. But not in your boat - thereby keeping bilge water, and bilge fumes/gases, from entering the cabin.
 
We had a 52DB 2006 and chased a bunch of bilge water leaks until we re-caulked the entire hull-deck joint. That solved the problem.

From above “Shame that its a 2006 so no longer under warranty, this seems like manufactuer defect not wear an tear.”

Most definitely a manufacturers defect - that’s what warranties cover. But do you expect a 15 year warranty? If you were quoted it for 30% add when buying a new boat would you pay it? 2% a year for warranty doesn’t seem unreasonable.
 
GCHOG said:
Trinity, I had a similiar issue with my 06 Sundancer also. Not the water issue but with the hull seam. You can see where the gap is in the hull seam.As Dennis said , the stainless steel strip needs to be removed, then the S/S screws removed, you will see the gap. Clean the area that needs to be closed up. Apply sealant ( I used 3M 4200), and reinstall the screws. I also added a few more S/S screws to ensure the gap would pulled together tightly. Re -install the rubber rub rail, then the S/S strip. Its not difficult, just takes a bit of time and patience, best to have an extra set of hands to hold s/s strip and rubber rail.
However, as capecodcruiser said, you need to diagnose further. i don't think the hull gap would allow the amount of water you described in the bilge. Sounds like there is another problem somewhere. Keep us posted !
Click to expand...

This is the correct answer as others have said. You need to go around the boat in the dark with a flashlight having a buddy in the engine room and look for light coming in. Take the rub rail off, clean old sealant off and 4200 the hulls back together...maybe use slightly longer/larger diameter SS screws.

The big waves and weight in the back produce water running up the sides of the boat not just the back. Make sure these are sealed up also. Found my 2006 260 DA had this problem while in the middle of the gulf stream crossing to Bimini.

Enjoy!
 
Kendall said:
This is the correct answer as others have said. You need to go around the boat in the dark with a flashlight having a buddy in the engine room and look for light coming in. Take the rub rail off, clean old sealant off and 4200 the hulls back together...maybe use slightly longer/larger diameter SS screws.

The big waves and weight in the back produce water running up the sides of the boat not just the back. Make sure these are sealed up also. Found my 2006 260 DA had this problem while in the middle of the gulf stream crossing to Bimini.

Enjoy!
Click to expand...
Sounds like a nice spring project. Thank you for you help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,171
Messages
1,427,823
Members
61,082
Latest member
wavespestcontrol
Back
Top