1987 300 WE --water in cabin

[WiserTime]

Had an issue with my 300 WE this weekend. I got to the marina on Saturday morning, and washed the boat. I washed the boat before opening it up or boarding so I could leave my canvas up. When I finished washing, I opened her up. Then I went into the cabin, and the cabin floor was wet. I have a plastic runner that covers the carpet, and it was only wet underneath. So, the water must have been coming in from below. Cabin did not smell bad, and the water seemed like fresh water, not lake water. After hours of investigation, i think I figured the problem. My anchor locker drains were clogged and the anchor locker was filling and flowing into the compartment under the v bunk. The middle compartment under the v bunk had about 6" of water. There a hole in that compartment that appears to lead to the center bilge, under the solon carpet. It seems to me, that this water would run to the forward bilge under the cabin stairs, but it seemed the water did not, and had no place to go but up thru the solon floor and soak the carpet. When I used the wet/dry vac to suck up the carpet, the water was clean and sudsy, so thus confirming my theory on where the water came from.

My question is: how come the water that ran into the center bilge never made it to a bigle pump? Anyone else had similar problems?

Matt

 

[JAndrewG]

I think I understand where the water came from and where it ended up. If so, the bulkhead below the cabin entry does not, nor should it, have a limber hole that would allow water to pass through and into the bilge. There is no way for the cabin water to get there.

I had an '86 300WE that I bought new in '87, and currently have an '86 340EC. I believe the 300 has an area below the companionway step like the 340 has. I installed a 2000 gph Rule pump in the low sump area here, and ran the smooth inside wall tubing to port side and out a through hull that I drilled about a foot above the water line. My biggest worry and reason for doing this is that the 340 has a shorewater connection that is always connected when in the boathouse. If a leak developed in the fresh water system and the shore water had been left on, there would be no limit to how much water could come in. If you were pulling off the fresh water tank, 52 gallons in my case, it would be a real mess, but wouldn't sink the boat.

Anyway, it's food for thought. Good luck. The 300 is one of my favorites!

John