320 water in vacuum compartment

[Vince_nj1]

Just took possession of a 2006 320 just last week. I had 2 problems in the cabin that needed to be addressed. The 110v outlets were not working and the rug in the aft cabin was wet.

The GFI outlet in the bathroom was tripped and it wouldnt let me reset it. So if figured the outlet went bad over the winter. I replaced the GFI switch, but it still wouldnt let me re-set it. Hmmm... :smt017I must have a bigger issue somewhere.

I moved on to the wet carpet issue. I thought the bilge pump for the shower was not working so I started poking around in that area. Everything seemed fine, the bilge under the rug had very little water and the float switches were working.

So then I started pulling cushions out of the aft cabin and WOW.. The central vacuum was sitting in 4 inches of water! There was nice ring around the compartment and there was mold on the bottom of the cushion. The compartment had been wet for quite some time. I unplugged the vacuum and then went back to the GFI and reset it.. Outlets started working again.. (I also discovered a nice big closet behind the cushions at the head of the bed that I didnt know was there..)

I bailed the water out vacuum compartment and did my best to dry it with a towel and let it sit overnight with the cushions off. The next morning it still tripped the GFI. I'll have to wait a few days to see if the vacuum will work again.

I had to go to the Searay dealer to buy keys ($13/per key) and asked "How much for a replacement vacuum?" Answer: $650. :wow::lol: I busted out laughing.. Geez.. $650 for an electic motor with an impeller attached to the shaft. I dont know how they survive on such slim profit margins. I then when over and took a look at a new 330 on the floor.. $310,000 and it still had crappy TV's in it.. I am a little worried about the boating industry.. They cant just keep increasing prices to offset low volume.. I see alot of consolidation coming in the future.

So I took advice from this board and tightend up the screws on the bathroom window, and next I will check to see what happens when I leave the hose running while filling the water tank. ( I did the 2x in the past week) Not too happy about the water, but at least I know where the problem is and now I can address it.

Now if I can only get the Raymarine Radome to work... Raymarine tells me that there is wire inside the white conduit for the vide .. I'm just not seeing it..

 

[daddyox]

Vince-- I have the same problem on my 2004 320. Water is getting in somewhere around the port head window. If you go into the med cabinet in the head, and take off the access panel, you'll find it wet in that general area. I tightened the window all up and caulked it, and i'm still getting rain water-- appears to be from somewhere else, possibly the wiper? . This appears to be a fairly common fault on the 320-- I called Sea Ray and no service bulletin-- but we're not alone in this. If you stop in I'll be very curious how! My vac had about 3 inches of water when I discovered it.

 

[jg300da]

There have been 3-4 threads on this already. The likely culprit is the fresh water tank which is located in the same bulkhead as the central vac unit. Check the connection between the tank and the fresh water fill tube.

 

[Rocket]

We had the same problem and thought it was rain water. It wasnt. We found the toilet exhaust vent, next to the toilet bowl not sealed properly. When we showered, we had water in the same compartment which travelled down under the shower basin. Sealed it with silicone and we are dry.

 

[Alex F]

....Now if I can only get the Raymarine Radome to work... Raymarine tells me that there is wire inside the white conduit for the vide .. I'm just not seeing it..

Vince,
I'm not sure if this will help you with the radar, but here's a piture I took when taking my radar down in prep for transportation. The connections were very simple, there's a plug (where you see multiple wires) and two other wires (+ and -) red and black. I don't remember 100% but I think manual has clear diagram of the same wires. I was able to hook it back, when my boat arrived, with no issues.

Good luck with the rest of the repairs.

Alex.

 

[Vince_nj1]

Great advice on the water problem... I suspect the shower vent, because when I smelled the water on the rug it had a perfume smell, like soap... I did shower on the boat and the there was evidence of the previous owner showering as well.. I will check on all of these and report back if I find something...

 

[Vince_nj1]

Alex

Thanks for the picture of the Radome. That is very close to what I have, but my cable seems to be a little different. First I have 2 black wires and 2 reds for the power, (I reconnected them successfully) . The other (and main) issue that I have is that your wire shows a thick black coaxial cable that gets coverted to a white wire... That is exactly what the manual shows and exactly what Raymarine Tech support tells me that I should be seeing.. But that is not what I am seeing. The person that removed the radar pulled all of the wires out of the little black plug. I bought a replacement plug from Raymare (Part R126") I plugged in 6 of the 8 wires and I was left with a bare braided wire, which I assumed was the black (port 7) and a white wire with only 2 strands of wire sticking out of it. I cut the 2 strands and restripped the white conduit, but now I can see any wire inside the conduit.. It looks like it turned into a fiber optic cable.. Raymarine tells me that it is not fiber optic and that I need to re-strip it again.. I havent had an opportunity to play with it again.. Too much rain over the weekend.. I am going to try again tomorrow morning.

 

[daddyox]

Just fyi-- My vac water problem is definitely rain. The shower, water tank, and the toilet are fine and dry (never used the shower..). It actually drains down to a small hole on the port side of the central vac compartment, and it is slightly wet near the port head window (inside at the fiberglass), so the leak is at the window or higher. My guess at this point is the wiper seal, or lack of, as Scott noted above -- that's my next try anyway. It doesn't get drenched even with the tropical storms lately I've had about 1/2 water at most in the compartment. The windows are tight.

 

[tawcat]

Haven't had any water problems yet (fingers crossed.) For the outlets, try resetting the outlet under the cockpit sink. I had the same problem and just by chance I noticed that outlet was tripped. Once I reset it, all the other outlets worked. Every now and then I trip it, not sure if it happens when I either shut off or turn on shore power. The surge could do it I guess.

 

[rbihn2]

Hi - I'm chasing a similar leak STBD side cabinet. My comments are here: http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1313 "official 320 sundancer thread". I too found a little water in my vac arear this summer - but only a single time - and I did over fill my H2O once this season. You mentioned the windows are tight - mine too - I'm concerned they may need completely pulled, sealed and re-set. I put the hose between the two windows (aimed at an angle rearward) - water definately got in somehow? I'll watch for your updates! Ray

 

[Rocket]

Vince - Very easy to duplicate this problem - Leave the toilet seat up and take the shower head. Point it at the black toilet vent and spray it down. The vent is on the vertical wall of the toilet area and it runs down the back side, travels under the toilet bowl cut out, drips down on to the deck below the shower stall and down into the compartment where the vac is. Remove your seat cover over the vac and you can use a flashlight to see in the cavity between the shower basin the lower deck, about a 4 inch gap.

 

[Vince_nj1]

Update.. I found something that definetely was causing water to leak into the compartment. The strainer in the bathroom sink was loose (very loose) and water was leaking down through the sink. (I went to use the toilet paper under the sink and it was totaly drenched with water.) I tightened up the strainer, but I'm not convinced that is my only problem. It did explain why the water smelled soapy..

I had my family with me and I didnt want to spend their first day on the boat watching me try to fix something. I will continue to monitor this problem and test some of these other theories and report back again if I find something else.

Now I have to try to get the $650 vacuum to fire up and stop tripping the GFI..

 

[hack4alivin]

I am curious, are you getting help from your dealer? When I bought my 06 320 from MM last year I had the same problem. I had it put on the punch list for items to fix before taking delivery. Sure it was a “used” boat, but I had at least 12 items on a punch list. All of which were fixed, no questions asked.

BTW the wet carpet in the aft cabin on my boat was coming from a loose window on the starboard side.

 

[Alex F]

Good point hack4alivin,

2006 320DA should still be under warranty.

 

[Vince_nj1]

The boat was a Bank Repo with 67 hours on it. I negotiated a an as-is price and got a very good deal. (I dont want to post the price, because it will probably depress some people) I am addressing all of my punch list issues my self.

This was my punch list:

Re-install the Radome (complete - needed a new plug $26)
Re-install the GPS antenna (complete)
Re-install the TV antenna (complete - needed a special tool..$25?)
Replace the missing Clarion CD case (complete $27)
Replace the missing keys for ignition and door (complete $56?)
Fix the dead genereator (in-progress and most likely covered under warranty)
Replace the missing stainless steel drink holder (open)
Fix the door latch under driver seat so it stays shut (open)
Fix the missing/broken snaps on the canvas (open - bought the kit for $34)
Remove the glue from the tape that was used all around the boat (complete -Laquer thinner is a wonderful solution!)
Replace all necessary coast guard equipment. (flares - $50?)
Buy new dock lines ($100)
Buy new fenders ($100?? The dealer gave me 2, but I may buy a few more)

I didnt discover the water in the vacuum compartment until after I tool deliver. So far that could me my most expensive problem if the vacuum motor is fried..