Water on floor 240DA

Any idea how rain water is getting in under my trash can and wicking into the carpet?

DennisV said:

Any idea how rain water is getting in under my trash can and wicking into the carpet?

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I hope someone has an idea...I have a 270 AJ that has the same issue. I'm getting water outside the shower sump box...finds its way down to the carpet as not enough to engage the bilge pump there...I had the marina check it out, and they found my sink was leaking below..fixed that but still getting water when it rains in there.

krs616 said:

I hope someone has an idea...I have a 270 AJ that has the same issue. I'm getting water outside the shower sump box...finds its way down to the carpet as not enough to engage the bilge pump there...I had the marina check it out, and they found my sink was leaking below..fixed that but still getting water when it rains in there.

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Check the dogs on the cabin / head portlights. If they are loose water can run down the inside of the hull and wet the carpet, particularly in the head. The dogs have small adjustment screws to make a tighter fit against the window. Use a small flat-head screwdriver to adjust.

Also check the sump box for several things: A crack; loose hose; bad pump / float switch; clogged internal screen. I've had each of these at one time or another. If the screen clogs it won't drain well and can then overflow. Using liquid body wash in the shower helps prevent buildup in the sump (if you use it to shower)

Also check your hull to deck joint. Mine separated substantially in that area, allowing water to splash under the rub rail.

b_arrington said:

Check the dogs on the cabin / head portlights. If they are loose water can run down the inside of the hull and wet the carpet, particularly in the head. The dogs have small adjustment screws to make a tighter fit against the window. Use a small flat-head screwdriver to adjust.

Also check the sump box for several things: A crack; loose hose; bad pump / float switch; clogged internal screen. I've had each of these at one time or another. If the screen clogs it won't drain well and can then overflow. Using liquid body wash in the shower helps prevent buildup in the sump (if you use it to shower)

Also check your hull to deck joint. Mine separated substantially in that area, allowing water to splash under the rub rail.

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Thanks for the suggestions! I will check the cabin/head port lights first...I know I've seen evidence of water seeping through there, but it would drain to the floor drain..which goes to the shower sump. <---that has been confirmed to work, and no leaking (well, last year anyways!)...the shower is never used.

I did go around the rub rail and check/tighten all screws last Friday prior to launch.

I talked with a AJ owner last year...same issue. His marina tracked it to the arch or all things! They resealed where it joins the sides of the boat and fixed the issue.

krs616 said:

Thanks for the suggestions! I will check the cabin/head port lights first...I know I've seen evidence of water seeping through there, but it would drain to the floor drain..which goes to the shower sump.

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Not necessarily. The head is a fiberglass liner. The water could seep in the head port light and down the back side of the head wall between it and the hull side. I found this on my boat.

I did go around the rub rail and check/tighten all screws last Friday prior to launch.

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There is a difference between the rub rail screws and the hull joint screws, which are hidden behind the rub rail. The rub rail screws are shorter and do not have any impact on securing the hull to deck joint. It is entirely possible to have fully tight rub rail screws while the hull joint screws are loose - I saw this on my boat. The only way to tighten the hull joint screws is to remove the rub rail.

I talked with a AJ owner last year...same issue. His marina tracked it to the arch or all things! They resealed where it joins the sides of the boat and fixed the issue.

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Water leaks are devilish - they can come from the most unexpected places.

Hi Dennis, I had my 240DA on blocks this spring while rebuilding/replacing the instruments in the panel. I threw a tarp over the cockpit area when a heavy rain storm was fast approaching. The tarp fit from over the transom and went forward to just short of the anchor locker. So the tarp was up over the windshield and over the deck railing then laid flat on the deck. The tarp formed a funnel directing the rain INTO the anchor locker! The two scuppers in the anchor locker were clogged with mud/seaweed so the locker filled up with water until the water level in there got higher than the aft bulkhead in the locker! Water then ran down the bulkhead in the cabin (behind the mirror) and on to the floor! I had 2" of water on the floor in front of the head. So... Check that the scuppers in your anchor locker are OPEN! My 2cts.

My 2006 260 is pretty much the same boat as your 240..just a little lomger.
I had the exact same issue. It drove me NUTS! It's very common in our boats.
I think I figured out what was happening just as I was selling the boat.
I noticed the area under the waste basket, under the stairs, would stay bone dry for days at the dock. It would even stay dry after some cruises on the water.
If there was any chop however, boom! The carpet was wet again! I hated knowing something was wrong but not what it was. Especially if I pounded her on some 3-4' seas..it would be soaking in there. Enough to to set off the pump on the outside of the shower box.
So, this is what I'm pretty sure was happening...
Water was simply forcing its way in the through hull fitting, that it was also getting pumped out from.
The deck wasn't separating or anything catastrophic..I was going to have a one way..check valve..installed to prevent water from getting in there..a trap door only opening one way to let water out not in.
It's the hole on the starboard side..I'd bet my life that's what was responsible for the water. At least in most cases.
I wish I figured it out sooner. I would have been a lot happier fixing that issue when I had that boat.
Hope that helps.
Good luck!

My 260DA has same issue... was portlights for me... seals are crap... i tried to tighten screw holding locking arm and broke the screw.. on list by have not made it there to replace seals or drill out screw and re-tap a new one in.. uggg

so far my fix is duct tape in bottom of window outside making a seal from rain/washing.. peel off going out, replace back in before wash.... have not had a drop under stair since...

FiremistSLK said:

Hi Dennis, I had my 240DA on blocks this spring while rebuilding/replacing the instruments in the panel. I threw a tarp over the cockpit area when a heavy rain storm was fast approaching. The tarp fit from over the transom and went forward to just short of the anchor locker. So the tarp was up over the windshield and over the deck railing then laid flat on the deck. The tarp formed a funnel directing the rain INTO the anchor locker! The two scuppers in the anchor locker were clogged with mud/seaweed so the locker filled up with water until the water level in there got higher than the aft bulkhead in the locker! Water then ran down the bulkhead in the cabin (behind the mirror) and on to the floor! I had 2" of water on the floor in front of the head. So... Check that the scuppers in your anchor locker are OPEN! My 2cts.

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Just getting back to this water leak problem again. thanks for all the help I will check most of things again but think I should start with window gaskets.

Happy Dayz said:

My 260DA has same issue... was portlights for me... seals are crap... i tried to tighten screw holding locking arm and broke the screw.. on list by have not made it there to replace seals or drill out screw and re-tap a new one in.. uggg

so far my fix is duct tape in bottom of window outside making a seal from rain/washing.. peel off going out, replace back in before wash.... have not had a drop under stair since...

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Thanks same thing happened when i tightened my window screws I will try new gaskets first.

Nick70 said:

My 2006 260 is pretty much the same boat as your 240..just a little lomger.
I had the exact same issue. It drove me NUTS! It's very common in our boats.
I think I figured out what was happening just as I was selling the boat.
I noticed the area under the waste basket, under the stairs, would stay bone dry for days at the dock. It would even stay dry after some cruises on the water.
If there was any chop however, boom! The carpet was wet again! I hated knowing something was wrong but not what it was. Especially if I pounded her on some 3-4' seas..it would be soaking in there. Enough to to set off the pump on the outside of the shower box.
So, this is what I'm pretty sure was happening...
Water was simply forcing its way in the through hull fitting, that it was also getting pumped out from.
The deck wasn't separating or anything catastrophic..I was going to have a one way..check valve..installed to prevent water from getting in there..a trap door only opening one way to let water out not in.
It's the hole on the starboard side..I'd bet my life that's what was responsible for the water. At least in most cases.
I wish I figured it out sooner. I would have been a lot happier fixing that issue when I had that boat.
Hope that helps.
Good luck!

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Thanks I want to fix this this year! Almost 200hrs. in fresh water, and I we are going to Delaware for our retirement next year do not want to deal with this in the bay.

If you feel your windows are the cause and the screws won’t tighten anymore, try a little silicone spray on the rubber seals. It will fatten them up a little, swelling, and possibly stop the water coming.

DennisV said:

Thanks I want to fix this this year! Almost 200hrs. in fresh water, and I we are going to Delaware for our retirement next year do not want to deal with this in the bay.

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Well, I logged on just now after close to a year..and I see my old post was tagged. I think I should update what I had since found out.
Since that post I sold that 2006 260, bought a 2009 330 with twin 496’s. Had that one season. Last year I found another 2006 260..I really love that model!..this one is amazing though. It’s got a 496, generator, new radar etc etc...but I digress.
Anyway, it turns out the problem of the water entering the under stairs bilge area was the result of a bad HULL/DECK joint. Unfortunately I found that out from the person I sold it to. I emailed her maybe 7/8 months after she got it from me, saying hello and asking how her summer had been..weird maybe I shouldn’t have..she said she loved the boat but the water issue was bad for her and she had someone check it out and that’s what it was. The hull deck joint. $5k fix. I felt pretty bad about it. I even had it checked by one of the service guys at my marina prior to her buying it. Mostly I hoped she didn’t feel I hid anything. Boating is boating..it’s emotionally and financially draining no matter what at times. But had I known I would have taken care of it prior.
The 260 I have now, is so rock solid. Dry bilge area and carpet. So, I don’t know if water would actually come in through that thru hull fitting or not. It’s a fact that these models do commonly have a wet carpet and it definitely is because the carpet goes under the stairs, and wicks any water in to it. Now, how/why that water is there? Could be nothing serious..could be a bad deck joint. Chances are it’s just the plastic box is leaking where the pump is, that collects the gray water and AC condensate..which btw it’s a good idea to open that box, and clean it out. It can get grimy and stick the float on the pump on/off.