260DA.......water in the bilge

D

Dave S

Well-Known Member
TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 3, 2006
6,014
Upstate South Carolina
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When just my wife and I use our boat the bilge stays bone dry. But when we have 4 or more on board it seems like the bilge always picks up some water. This has been going on since the boat was brand new. After checking out just about everything I could think of, the obvious suspect would seem to be water comming into the bilge thru the hose for the bilge pump. I have checked all the hose clamps for the other thru hulls and they are all tight. After reading the post on the water intrusion issues on the 410DA, I am wondering if we newer 260DA owners (2005 thru 2007) have a similar type of problem here. :smt017

I will probably go ahead and install one of the Whale Water System valves Frank Webster mentioned in that 410DA post http://www.byowneryachts.com/forums/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3693&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15 and see if that eliminates the problem.

Just out of coriousity, does anyone else have the same water intrusion problems I am having?
 
Hey Dave - it's almost more interesting to me that your bilge is ever "bone dry." In the new 260, my old Sundeck and my Formula before that, I have always had an inconsequential amount of water in the bilge. No more or less with the new boat. I always run the pump manually as part of my pre-departure routine but, as you know, the pump will never quite get that bottom layer of fluid. In any event, I don't think it's anything to be concerned about :cool:
 
My 2000 - 260 was always bone dry in the bilge.
 
Dave,

Ever since I started keeping my boat in a lsip for the season this also happened to be a new descovery for me. There's always some water in the bildge. I have a feeling that the main contributor is the rain. When it's raining heavy and for some time there's no way to prevent for some water to enter the boat (at least form me). Nothing major, but drops here and there. Also, when you fill you water tank, there could be some minor leaks. One of the very minor contributor could be the bildge plug.
My real scenario/test was when I prep the boat for the summer season while it's at my house on the trailer. The bildge is dry since the plug was out for the winter. I prep the boat and put the plug in. The boat is sitting until we're ready to launch it (week, two or so). For the time beaing there was few rain showers. Next thing I know the bilge has some (not a lot) water. Then, I look at the plug and it has a small drop hanging. Thus, my conclusion is that rain leaks produce enough to fill the bildge and the plug (I've used also typhlon tape) is not 100% sealed.

The bottom line in my case (I guess the same for many others) is that when the pump kicks off it can never make the bildge bone dry. When it shutts off the remaining water in the tube runs back and sits until level goes up again to kick off the pump.

Is this a problem? I don't think so, since the amount of exchanged water is very low. I could be in the slip for hours and never hear the pump go off (yes, it's in working condition :) ). So, it's more of inconvenience, IMO, which would be nice to avoid. The only issue I can see is that level of moisture is always there and I've noticed few meldew spots.

I was going to post a new topic "How to keep moisture level lower in the bildge to prevent meldew". But, may be we'll have some good advise under your post.

My 2cents.

Thx,
Alex.
 
Hey Dave. I was having the same problem. It was fine last year never any water then this year I heard the pump kick on once. It was a very choppy day and I discovered that my blower hose had come loose and I was catching following wakes at my rear quarter entering the vent area. Repaired and as good as new. :thumbsup:
 
I get a little water in after rough days. calm days and it's dry. So my guess is that water is coming in from the back somehow. either through the pump hose or over the swim platform.
 
I want my bilge to be dry all the time. There is really no good reason not to expect that. The only exception might be if you are caught in a rainstorm and even then the bilge, in theory, should stay dry because of the way the boat is designed.

In the case of the newer 260DA, I think the location of the bilge outlet is too low and too close to the waterline so when the extra weight of passengers is added to the boat water can back wash thru the outlet port back into the bilge under certain conditions. I really don't understand why they don't put bilge outlet ports as high as possible to begin with. :huh:
 
Ok, I think I've found where my water is coming from. It's never much but sometimes it's there and other times it's not and it drives me crazy, anyway, water is backing up through the drain holes above the swim platform and somehow soaking into the foam padding on the engine hatch. it's only on one side so i'm trying to figure out it the rubber doodad thingy is not doing it's job back there and allowing water it.
 
I have a 2005, 260DA and my bilge is always dry. My boat is wet-docked exposed to rain etc. Not a drop
 
Maybe around the rub rail on the swim platform? Water washing back in while coming off plane - maybe it is not sealed well?
 
Our bilge is bone dry this summer Dave, with 2 adults and 2 children on board most weekends. My boat is stored in a covered slip. Last year when we were on the river during a big rain storm, I noticed a small amount of water in the bilge after the adventure. The only other time I've had water in the bilge is when I drain water from the engine during the winter months (the bilge pump won't lift all the water out).

Oh yes, and then there was the time the dealer (and I) forgot to close the generator strainer before splashing the boat after it was serviced. :smt001
 
I still haven't put in the one way valve but I am convinced more than ever that water comes back in the boat thru the bilge hose fitting but only when I have a bunch of people on board. It happened again this weekend both Saturday and Sunday when we had guests on board. We had been dry for quite awhile prior to that when only my wife and I were using the boat. And my boat also sits in a covered slip so I know it's not rain water.
 
Ok, finally nailed down where my water was coming from. it's coming in from the drain channels under the locker. coming off plane and water coming over the platform and backup into those channels. I put the dinghy on the back and it blocks the water from coming back. not a drop of water since i've had the dinghy.
 
why would you accept water in the bilge under any circumstances? water belongs outside the boat, not in it! i never have water inside even with heavy downpour. the drainage system works perfectly. 04 260 sd
 
I noticed one of my cockpit drains was loose. Upon inspection there was no silicon or anything behind it so whenever it was below the water line some water was getting in. Not a lot, but some. I've added some silicone to both and tightened them up. I get a lot less water in the bilge now.
 
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