‘88 sedan bridge 345 water leak from bridge into cabin

[Tpow]

hello all,
I purchased a 1988 sedan bridge 345 sedan bridge this time last year and have been in the long process of restoring it and working out all the kinks.

My biggest issue is a water leak coming from somewhere on the bridge. The water is obviously finding the lowest point of gravity and entering the main cabin where all of the helm wires come through the bridge into the cabin, then the wires continue to the switch board. I believe the water is running in between the two fiberglass structures that creates the base of the bridge wall on either side. I’ve spent hours caulking and trying to find the leak with a hose. I thought I have found it several times but it continues to come in somewhere else.

Anyone that has experience with this type scenario with this model or similar types please reach out. Help!

Or if you’d like to converse about the model 345 sedan bridge, I’m always looking to learn and pass on info I’ve picked up along the way.

Email- colonelqb5@yahoo.com

Take care!

 

[rondds]

Do you have the bridge covered? Meaning, enclosure or canvas that covers everything. I had an '89 340DB (basically the same boat) and the only water I ever got was far right, back wall up by the ceiling next to the sliding door. It was minimal (enough to just dampen the headliner) and only with very heavy rains. The bridge was covered at all times.

 

[Tpow]

I currently do not. I plan on getting the Bimini top made this winter. And then eventually adding the enclosure. A lot of money at once, especially with it being custom made. Unless there is a resource out there that you know of when I can get the Bimini for this model boat. I’ve looked but can never find my model.

I just feel as though if the bridge is cover or not, water shouldn’t be entering the cabin at the rate in which it is now or at all.

Am I wrong?

Thanks for the response.

 

[rondds]

You're not wrong. But these are OLD boats and it's tough to stay on top of these things. There are all sorts of screw holes and passages for wires and cables that communicate with the living space on the boat and sometimes it's darn near impossible to keep water out. You don't want mold forming - can make you sick and if nothing else, the smell is bad. Keep trying to find it - I wish I could help you more. I had a bridge cover made that goes from the windshield around the back of the bridge and over the railing. It was about $1000.00 from a local canvas guy. You won't find any after-market pre-made stuff for these old girls.

 

[Tpow]

That’s what I assumed. Wow that’s a lot cheaper than anything I could find. Up here in CT just the 8 by 5 Bimini was quoted at 1600 ( 40 bucks a square foot), not including enclosure. I gotta keep calling around. Looks like that may be my only solution.

 

[gdavis67]

No experience with your particular model, but I had the same issue on my previous boat. 87 Carver flybridge. There was one "opening" in the floor of the flybridge that all of the wiring and controls from the fly went through down to the lower station helm. That opening was originally just caulked in. With the mess of wires, cables, and hydraulic lines, there was NO way to get it sealed. I made a riser of sorts to go around that bundle and then caulked it to the floor, using caulk to build a radius dam around the joint of the riser/floor joint. I used 1" Starboard I had left over from a different project. Cut it into a square shape roughly 2" bigger that the bundle, cut a round hole in the center that would just fit around the bundle, and then cut that square into two equal halves. I put each half around the bundle, caulking it to the floor and each piece together at the joint, then caulked the perimeter to the floor. Walla, no more leaks. ANY penetration in the floor of the flybridge is an interior leak looking for a time to happen. This bundle was way up underneath the console and required a circus performer to get to! Good luck, when you do find this solution, it will feel like a major accomplishment that you can pat yourself on the back for and have a cocktail to celebrate.

 

[Tpow]

Thanks for the reply. I’ll try and work something.