360DA Issues - Chronic?

S

Straykatts

Member
Jan 2, 2009
36
Great Lakes
Boat Info
2006 44 Sundancer
Engines
QSC Cummins V-Drives
All you 360DA owners, I want to ask around if you, too, have these same issues. I think they are fundamental design related, but would like to hear from you.

1. Fuel gages - erratic readings and inaccurate. This one may be answered by the ultrasonic retro fits my dealer installed. So far so good, but did you have the same problem?
2. Windshield leaks - when I'm running in the rain or a lot of side spray, I get small streams of water running into my cockpit, coming from the joint between the windshield sides and the front, curved panels. I think the joint is located too far rearward relative to the "drain notch" in the fiberglass. I can send pictures if this isn't clear. The dealer doesn't know what to do.
3. Condensation, coming from the freezer in the salon, collects and actually has mildewed the drawer below the freezer. I think this is due to inadequate insulation in the freezer, coupled with not enough space between the freezer and refrigerator. Dealer installed a fan between the two units which helped but didn't eliminate the issue. Dealer doesn't know what else to do.

Overall I really like my boat, but these little items are bothering me. I have some ideas to fix items 2 and 3 but would like to compare notes.

Thanks!
 
I have a friend who owns a 2005 360 and experiences problem 2 but not the rest of the issues. He chalked it up to saying that hes never had a boat that didn't leak around a windshield or canvas.
 
Carver370 said:
I have a friend who owns a 2005 360 and experiences problem 2 but not the rest of the issues. He chalked it up to saying that hes never had a boat that didn't leak around a windshield or canvas.
Click to expand...

I've been in many that didn't leak and even owned one - My 330 leaked like crazy but they're slowly chasing down the culprit misfits in the canvas and uncaulked joints to get it dry.

If the canvas leaks, it should be fixed.
 
Last edited:
Item one has to do with the original gauge installation and MarineMax fixed my problem. The original parts did not work - I think they were too long? I only had the problem in the port tank. Item 2 sounds like a chaulking issue. I have never had a leak issue like you describe. Item 3 do not worry the freezer will quit on you in a couple of years like mine and we use it for dry storage now. A new freezer is $1400+ and I figure we can buy a lot of ice for that.
 
Straykatts said:
All you 360DA owners, I want to ask around if you, too, have these same issues. I think they are fundamental design related, but would like to hear from you.

1. Fuel gages - erratic readings and inaccurate. This one may be answered by the ultrasonic retro fits my dealer installed. So far so good, but did you have the same problem?
2. Windshield leaks - when I'm running in the rain or a lot of side spray, I get small streams of water running into my cockpit, coming from the joint between the windshield sides and the front, curved panels. I think the joint is located too far rearward relative to the "drain notch" in the fiberglass. I can send pictures if this isn't clear. The dealer doesn't know what to do.
3. Condensation, coming from the freezer in the salon, collects and actually has mildewed the drawer below the freezer. I think this is due to inadequate insulation in the freezer, coupled with not enough space between the freezer and refrigerator. Dealer installed a fan between the two units which helped but didn't eliminate the issue. Dealer doesn't know what else to do.

Overall I really like my boat, but these little items are bothering me. I have some ideas to fix items 2 and 3 but would like to compare notes.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Same 3 problems on my 360...

NR 1, I post already here: http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13409&highlight=fuel+gauge

NR 2, I'm thinking about putting kit in between the windshield sides.

NR 3, Same problem, no solution jet....

Peter.
 
Thanks for the replies.

This is not a canvas leak. My canvas is actually pretty good. Only time I get leaks is when water is really forced at the front, as in stuffing the bow or running on plane into the rain.

This leak is at the base of the windshield. Water collects in the frame's channel (where the attachments to the deck are), runs aft and leaks out at the joint. See photo attached. I think this water has to be there and has to go somewhere, but should be directed out of the cockpit. You can see that little trough, molded into the fiberglass. Seems to me like that trough ought to be below or behind the joint, such the it would catch the water and direct it outward.

Hence, my belief this is a fundamental design flaw (the trough is in the wrong place, or the windshield joint is in the wrong place). Just wondering if others are experiencing this. I may add some kind of drain hole to the windshield frame to relieve the water farther forward, but that's a permanent thing, and don't want to do that without some good forethought.

115_1558.jpg
 
I don't think the water runs in the frame channel.
If you think so, where do you think the water enters?
I think the water simply comes through the space between the two window sides.
I think simply kit this space between the windows there and problem is gone.

Peter
 
I think the water enters the channel by running around the black vinyl filler strip. It doesn't fit so tight as to keep water out. I've pulled the black filler strip out during a rain, and found lots of water in there.

I've even thought of replacing that black filler strip with something that WOULD be water tight, but can't think of a way to do that, while still having the mounting bolts accessible.
 
Can u email a picture of the condensation on the refrig/ freezer. And if u know the model of the culprit. There are frame heaters that should eliminate any condensation issues. post model and ill see what i can find should be simple fix.

Rob
 
Straykatts said:
All you 360DA owners, I want to ask around if you, too, have these same issues. I think they are fundamental design related, but would like to hear from you.

1. Fuel gages - erratic readings and inaccurate. This one may be answered by the ultrasonic retro fits my dealer installed. So far so good, but did you have the same problem?
2. Windshield leaks - when I'm running in the rain or a lot of side spray, I get small streams of water running into my cockpit, coming from the joint between the windshield sides and the front, curved panels. I think the joint is located too far rearward relative to the "drain notch" in the fiberglass. I can send pictures if this isn't clear. The dealer doesn't know what to do.
3. Condensation, coming from the freezer in the salon, collects and actually has mildewed the drawer below the freezer. I think this is due to inadequate insulation in the freezer, coupled with not enough space between the freezer and refrigerator. Dealer installed a fan between the two units which helped but didn't eliminate the issue. Dealer doesn't know what else to do.

Overall I really like my boat, but these little items are bothering me. I have some ideas to fix items 2 and 3 but would like to compare notes.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I haven't noticed a problem as you did in 1 and 2 but I definitely have the problem with the freezer condensation. Any fix that someone finds I would like to know about it. It has really mildewed the drawer below the freezer and makes it pretty useless to store anything in.
 
Robski97 said:
Can u email a picture of the condensation on the refrig/ freezer. And if u know the model of the culprit. There are frame heaters that should eliminate any condensation issues. post model and ill see what i can find should be simple fix.

Rob
Click to expand...

Hello Rob,

"Cool" that you try to help here.
The Freezer is a Waeco Coolmatic RPF50.
I don't have a picture from the condensation now.
But here is a photo from the freezer.

coolmatic_rpf_50.jpg

The condensation water comes from the underside of the door.
And than drips into the drawer.
For this reason I use the freezer very Little.

Thanks Peter.
 
Thanks for the additional input on the freezer condensation issue. I will be really curious to hear what the manufacturer comes up with.

My dealer installed a fan, similar to what you would see cooling a desktop PC, underneath the galley counter. It blows air between the refrigerator and freezer. I'm sure the thinking is that it would keep warmer air in the area and therefore would not allow the condensation to form. It helps, but doesn't eliminate the problem. When I'm on the boat for a week or weekend, using the A/C or heat (either of which keeps the air drier in the cabin), I don't get condensation. If I leave the boat for the week with the freezer running, but not the A/C, then I still get condensation. My solution so far is to simply turn the freezer off when I'm away, but that's inconvenient.

It's just my guess, but I think the root cause is inadequate insulation, coupled with the stainless steel freezer liner, which allows the outside edges of the freezer opening to be too cold.
 
Straykatts said:
Thanks for the additional input on the freezer condensation issue. I will be really curious to hear what the manufacturer comes up with.

My dealer installed a fan, similar to what you would see cooling a desktop PC, underneath the galley counter. It blows air between the refrigerator and freezer. I'm sure the thinking is that it would keep warmer air in the area and therefore would not allow the condensation to form. It helps, but doesn't eliminate the problem. When I'm on the boat for a week or weekend, using the A/C or heat (either of which keeps the air drier in the cabin), I don't get condensation. If I leave the boat for the week with the freezer running, but not the A/C, then I still get condensation. My solution so far is to simply turn the freezer off when I'm away, but that's inconvenient.

It's just my guess, but I think the root cause is inadequate insulation, coupled with the stainless steel freezer liner, which allows the outside edges of the freezer opening to be too cold.
Click to expand...

We keep our AC on the Dehumidify mode when away from the boat, this helps keeps the air dry. If you have this mode on your AC you could give it a try.
 
Guys, is the condensation around the door frame or more on the side of the freezer...

Need to know exactly where the water is forming not where its dripping from.... ( ie middle of the side, more towards the front near the door or more so around the edge )

Thanx....

Rob
 
Condensation on mine is seems to be coming on the sides right around the door opening. Most of it is on the opening side (not the hinged side). That happens to be the aft edge, which is a bit lower than the fore edge, so I guess it's possible that it's condensing all around but then running down to that corner.

Hope that helps.
 
Robski97 said:
Guys, is the condensation around the door frame or more on the side of the freezer...

Need to know exactly where the water is forming not where its dripping from.... ( ie middle of the side, more towards the front near the door or more so around the edge )

Thanx....

Rob
Click to expand...

Hello Rob,

I think the condensation is coming from the front underside of the freezer.
And than leaking through the door frame on the underside.

Peter.
 
Ill need a picture of the issue. Waeco tech serivce sux...

Im sorry .. they dont return calls and im not a dealer so they could give 2 cr@ps

Rob
 
I don't have a picture, and my boat is tucked away for the winter. So I won't be able to take any photos anytime soon. I'll try to get some when I get out to the storage place and start spring prepping.
 
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