Lot of Water in Bilge After Rain on 270DA

Ok, 6 hours yesterday in torrential Houston rain and here is my report:

- The engine hatch drains had nothing to do with the bilge water. There was very little water in the engine hatch drain at all.
- The water was literally pouring in to both rear port and starboard sides of the bilge in the area of the port and starboard ventilation ports. I think the water was coming mostly from the ventilation ports that do not keep the rain out, but also maybe from the aft locker. I noticed on my pier that all the cockpit covers overlap the top of the aft locker. When I opened mine, all the water on top drained down into the locker from the hinge area. Clearly, I will have to add some type of seal in this area to prevent water intrusion. I had to rip the ventilation hose out of the port side to see where the water was entering and found the source of the brown crap in the bilge. It was all over the vent hoses and my hands for that matter.
- The more concerning leak was inside the cabin in front of the head door. I pulled the refrigerator and there was water beneath the head fiberglass door and this apparently seeped into the carpet. Is there an opening at the bottom of the carpet that covers the bottom of the head fiberglass door????? I can only assume that this leak is from one of the two portholes on the starboard side of the boat. I put a bead of silicone around the tops until I can pull them and re-bed the porthole covers. The odd part of this leak is that it seems to originate in the center of the carpet and spread to the head door bottom. I check the head sump pump and felt the carpet on the back side and it did not appear to be coming from there. Kinda weird, but I am still gonna focus on the portholes unless someone has a better idea.
- I also found numerous places where the windshield was leaking at the seals and allowing water to dump into the boat.

Holy crap, this was definitely a learning experience.
 
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Here is a picture of the interior leak.
 
Assuming your setup is similar to mine, that carpeted (vertical) section immediately below the head door is removable. There will be screws hidden in the carpet - you'll just have to feel around for them - start in the corners.

I had a leak that showed up in the step-down. I was able to verify that it was the head portlight (water leaked down in between the hull and the fiberglass shower wall) by removing a small panel in my hanging locker - which was located on the outer, forward wall of the head. I can't recall, offhand, if your boat has the same thing or not.

If your siliconing job took care of the leak, then you found it. You could also try simply covering the portlights with a piece of plastic and tape.
 
I agree completely. There is a lotta mold and condensation on the head port light. The silicone was just a stop gap to keep that amount of water out of the cabin. I know how to fix this one.

The ventilation cover issue, I'm just not sure yet.

Thanks for the advice !
 
I'm not following some of this. Attached are the pics of my hatch and I don't have any gasket material under hatch. Water runs in the channels and out to the swim platform. I am curious where is the seal you are referring to?

My thoughts are is it possible your water connection is leaking down the stern into the bilge or is it disconnected with the water system off?

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test1_zpsfa2c8a08.jpg




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BTW - the pics above were taken when I was trying to find if the plastic buttons (and the ss washers/spacers) were from Sea Ray and they confirmed (customer service at SR) they were not. I don't know who installed them and for what....

BTW, I do not have the pieces in the corners and we have basically the same boat.

John
 
Ok, 6 hours yesterday in torrential Houston rain and here is my report:

- The engine hatch drains had nothing to do with the bilge water. There was very little water in the engine hatch drain at all.
- The water was literally pouring in to both rear port and starboard sides of the bilge in the area of the port and starboard ventilation ports. I think the water was coming mostly from the ventilation ports that do not keep the rain out, but also maybe from the aft locker. I noticed on my pier that all the cockpit covers overlap the top of the aft locker. When I opened mine, all the water on top drained down into the locker from the hinge area. Clearly, I will have to add some type of seal in this area to prevent water intrusion. I had to rip the ventilation hose out of the port side to see where the water was entering and found the source of the brown crap in the bilge. It was all over the vent hoses and my hands for that matter.
- The more concerning leak was inside the cabin in front of the head door. I pulled the refrigerator and there was water beneath the head fiberglass door and this apparently seeped into the carpet. Is there an opening at the bottom of the carpet that covers the bottom of the head fiberglass door????? I can only assume that this leak is from one of the two portholes on the starboard side of the boat. I put a bead of silicone around the tops until I can pull them and re-bed the porthole covers. The odd part of this leak is that it seems to originate in the center of the carpet and spread to the head door bottom. I check the head sump pump and felt the carpet on the back side and it did not appear to be coming from there. Kinda weird, but I am still gonna focus on the portholes unless someone has a better idea.
- I also found numerous places where the windshield was leaking at the seals and allowing water to dump into the boat.

Holy crap, this was definitely a learning experience.

I have been fortunate to not experience most of these leaks but I have read of leaks from the plumbing in the shower leaking out into the carpet from within the head but if yours show up only with rain the it has to be external like the port light as you suggest. I did have a leak from the wiper shaft penetration but it was easy to track down and would be pretty obvious. I had water coming out of the light above the cooktop.

John
 
Is the companionway door was left opened during the heavy rain ? If yes, the water comes from the the deck access windshield door. like in my boat, there is a void at the top of this door. The isinglass panels seem a little short to cover this area, exactly located near the zipper joinging the central and the port isinglass. When it rain, I can see water dropping to the floor just in front of the head when the companionway door is opened.
 
This stuff drives me nuts too. I must have must spent $200 on Boat Life silicone sealant last year removing every windshield and railing screw and all other hardware on the top deck and resealed them. Then removed all 4 portholes cleaned, replaced the gasket and resealed them. Then I completed removed all the old sealant from the rub rail and resealed that. And I still get some water in the bilge. I never thought about the bilge vent being the culprit. As a test next season I plan to cover the vents when I know a good rain is on its way completely dry the bilge the wait and see. I pretty sure the after locker drains out, don't see any way that can be the cause. This is a good thread, thanks.
 
when checking the portlights, make sure the screws that are in the clips that hold the glass against the seal are tight. That was where I had my water leak into the cabin. I was ready to rip and repair when I finally went to the KISS principle.
 
The water was literally pouring in to both rear port and starboard sides of the bilge in the area of the port and starboard ventilation ports. I think the water was coming mostly from the ventilation ports that do not keep the rain out, but also maybe from the aft locker.

On mine the lockers in the cockpit (outside lockers) have doors that just "swing shut". The rain was going behind them, down the compartment there into the ER area. I made some pretty nice aluminum "eyebrow" deflectors for both lockers, and that was that for that leak.
My vent louvers on the outside of the hull were also leaking when it rained, dumping water into the ER thru the white hoses (and everywhere else it could get) too. I took those off, made little dams, recaulked, tilted the louvers down some with wedges, and generally did whatever I could to make it so the rain didn't just drip into them and then right down below. That was only marginally successful. I want louver eyebrows or deflectors that really do stick out some and protect that area from rain, rather than just collect it. Like on some older boats I've seen.
The leak thing is funny, you think you have one. But probably, if it's really hard to figure out, you have a few all competing to confuse you.
 
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Mine doesn't have them either. But I do have a gasket.
What does the gasket look like? I assume its flat about 1/4 inch thick and 1/2 inch wide and sits in the bottom flat part of the water channel? I am puzzled because with the hatch closed, water would have to rise up about 1 inch to enter the bilge based on its design - which btw I think is a good design. I am guessing the gasket does more for noise/squeaking rather than water entry. I can hose my cockpit down and never get water in the bilge (unless I spray the side compartments directly :().
Back on topic - I have sprayed my vents and never saw your kind of water entry. I am guessing my sealant is still in tact. I did re bed both Starboard portholes to eliminate water behind the switch panel and head which did leak. Turtle's write up and photo's are good. I hope you get to the bottom of it as I know how you feel. I even pulled my motor because a shot glass of water was driving me nuts!!

Also - my locker gets very little water but there is a rubber plug which covers the anchor light plug. This socket has a hole in the bottom so water will enter here if the plug is missing.

Good luck

Mark
 
After a great deal of testing I have identified the source of the leakage on my boat. The largest source is by far the side ventilation covers. The second source is that I noticed that on the rear storage locker that most boats at the marina have their cockpit covers lap over the top of the locker. Mine has no gasket and my cover does not overlap. I covered all the above with plastic and duct tape and the bilge was significantly drier.
 
What does the gasket look like? I assume its flat about 1/4 inch thick and 1/2 inch wide and sits in the bottom flat part of the water channel? I am puzzled because with the hatch closed, water would have to rise up about 1 inch to enter the bilge based on its design - which btw I think is a good design. I am guessing the gasket does more for noise/squeaking rather than water entry. I can hose my cockpit down and never get water in the bilge (unless I spray the side compartments directly :().
Back on topic - I have sprayed my vents and never saw your kind of water entry. I am guessing my sealant is still in tact. I did re bed both Starboard portholes to eliminate water behind the switch panel and head which did leak. Turtle's write up and photo's are good. I hope you get to the bottom of it as I know how you feel. I even pulled my motor because a shot glass of water was driving me nuts!!

Also - my locker gets very little water but there is a rubber plug which covers the anchor light plug. This socket has a hole in the bottom so water will enter here if the plug is missing.

Good luck

Mark

Mine's attached to the hatch so when it closes it seals against the lip of the channel. About 1/4" thick by 1" wide. may not be factory but it was there when I bought the boat.
 
There is someone on CSR here who is making a stainless steel side vent for a model boat and selling them. It seems to me that unless we can have something like the material that allows air to enter but not water, then we need a redesign that lowers the louvers so the water does not blow into the bilge.

Ron Mason
 
Hi team,

did you ever find a solution for water getting in through the side vent covers?
I took my port side cover off today and discovered the whole compartment behind it was full of water. Recaulked it and put it back together, but the slats are just not long enough and the angle is not steep enough to keep any water out if it’s raining and windy.

I’m thinking about either an improved design (3D printed plastic or stainless) or maybe even some material behind the vent that would allow air through, but not water?

Thanks, guys!


Cheers
Clemens
 

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