500/520 DB official thread

Two more done. Now, the entire boat has been updated.

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Forward sump issue.

Yesterday, I was out for a sunset cruise and there were a fair amount of waves and I noticed that the Sea Ray monitor alarm went off a few times. I think I have actually heard this sound faintly for the past few weeks, but it only occurred in wavy situations.

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I searched the forum and found out that this alarm relates to the forward backup pump (below).

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When evaluating my sump, I opened the round hatch and noticed water in here (below), so this is likely the issue.

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My question is: how could this water have gotten down here? I put my detective hat on and determined that the bulkhead in front of the engines will not allow water to move from back to front. Could this be a leaky hose? Or a leak in my boat? A few people have hypothesized that it could involve the fresh water tank as well. Everything else seems dry though.

I wanted to ask you guys before vacuuming it up. I want to solve the issue correctly.
 
tshannoz said:
Forward sump issue.

Yesterday, I was out for a sunset cruise and there were a fair amount of waves and I noticed that the Sea Ray monitor alarm went off a few times. I think I have actually heard this sound faintly for the past few weeks, but it only occurred in wavy situations.

View attachment 151200

I searched the forum and found out that this alarm relates to the forward backup pump (below).

View attachment 151201

When evaluating my sump, I opened the round hatch and noticed water in here (below), so this is likely the issue.

View attachment 151202

My question is: how could this water have gotten down here? I put my detective hat on and determined that the bulkhead in front of the engines will not allow water to move from back to front. Could this be a leaky hose? Or a leak in my boat? A few people have hypothesized that it could involve the fresh water tank as well. Everything else seems dry though.

I wanted to ask you guys before vacuuming it up. I want to solve the issue correctly.
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It is hard to tell from the pics, do you have water inside that inspection port? I didn't notice a port like that on my boat. Is it just forward of the FWD water sump? As far as water getting into that sump, I have had water in it a few times and it has always been a fresh water leak of some sort in the water manifold system or one of the water line connections.
 
Jeremygavin said:
It is hard to tell from the pics, do you have water inside that inspection port? I didn't notice a port like that on my boat. Is it just forward of the FWD water sump? As far as water getting into that sump, I have had water in it a few times and it has always been a fresh water leak of some sort in the water manifold system or one of the water line connections.
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Jeremy,

Yes, there is water inside the inspection port. It looks like I have 2 inspection ports as well - this one (which is just aft of the main sump) and one aft, just anterior to the emergency pump and the bulkhead.

The water looks super clean and has no odor (thank goodness). I want to find the source of this water. Any ideas where I should start? I am going to crawl back to the forward sump soon too.
 
Jeremygavin said:
It is hard to tell from the pics, do you have water inside that inspection port? I didn't notice a port like that on my boat. Is it just forward of the FWD water sump? As far as water getting into that sump, I have had water in it a few times and it has always been a fresh water leak of some sort in the water manifold system or one of the water line connections.
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I would think it would be from a fresh water leak somewhere but who knows where. I have not seen that inspection port in my boat but it may be there. If you didn't know already you can get to that FWD sump by removing the plywood bulkhead to the right of the washing machine. ?It is just a couple of angle brackets and then remove the plywood and the sump is down on the right. Much easier than sliding down under the floor..
 
tshannoz said:
Jeremy,

Yes, there is water inside the inspection port. It looks super clean and has no odor. I want to find the source of this water. Any ideas where I should start. I am going to crawl back to the forward sump soon too.
Click to expand...
To confirm, this access port. Where exactly is this in the boat? Taste the water, is it salty like sea water or fresh water.
 
rlynch03 said:
To confirm, this access port. Where exactly is this in the boat? Taste the water, is it salty like sea water or fresh water.
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This port is just aft of the main sump.

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Also, it looks like there could have been water in the past at this level, looking at the dust “waves” on the right side. Very interesting. Oh and the water is fresh with no odor or taste.
 
tshannoz said:
This port is just aft of the main sump.

View attachment 151203

Also, it looks like there could have been water in the past at this level, looking at the dust “waves” on the right side. Very interesting. Oh and the water is fresh with no odor or taste.
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Is that just behind the shower/sink sump tank or in from of the FWD sump at the rear of that under floor area?
 
Jeremygavin said:
Got it thanks. I don’t have an inspection port there. Looks like you have one down the tunnel in front of the FWD sump as well.
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Yes. I have 2. How would water get in there? Is it open in the aft, near the pump back there? I have been meaning to climb back there, but it is tight.

How do we service this pump? Is there a hatch in the engine room?
 
tshannoz said:
Yes. I have 2. How would water get in there? Is it open in the aft, near the pump back there? I have been meaning to climb back there, but it is tight
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I don’t think it is open to the sump hole. I know Searay had a habit of creating these false bilge floors with a void under them and no access. The previous owner of your boat may have added the access hand holes to check on it.
The 420DB owners have been dealing with a false floor like this in their engine bilges.
See my post above for access to the Rear bilge in that compartment. It isn’t hard to access from the laundry compartment.
 
Jeremygavin said:
I don’t think it is open to the sump hole. I know Searay had a habit of creating these false bilge floors with a void under them and no access. The previous owner of your boat may have added the access hand holes to check on it.
The 420DB owners have been dealing with a false floor like this in their engine bilges.
See my post above for access to the Rear bilge in that compartment. It isn’t hard to access from the laundry compartment.
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Oh yeah! The laundry compartment. I’m embarrassed I didn’t think of that. Haha!

I’m still curious how water got in here. Time to put on my detective hat, I guess. I love that we have the benefit of 15-18 years with the 500/520. And I’m so many ways, our fixes are a ton better than what was OEM.
 
No inspection hatches on mine either. Access to the forward bilge pump is next to the Washer/Dryer. Kind of a pain but it's there.
 
ttmott said:
No inspection hatches on mine either. Access to the forward bilge pump is next to the Washer/Dryer. Kind of a pain but it's there.
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Ok, I’ll vacuum and dry it out. And keep an eye out for the culprit. I’m so glad it’s fresh water.

As a related question, have any of you added an access to the shower/sink tank to clean it more easily. Mine is all sealed up.
 
I do not have any inspection hatches either. I do get water into that bilge area at the far aft bulkhead adjacent the laundry room. Have not been able to confirm the source.

I plugged the drain from the shower sump box temporarily to confirm it wasn’t coming from that overflow and I still get a little water in the bilge.

I now wonder if we should all be cutting an access hole in the false floor.
 
tshannoz said:
Ok, I’ll vacuum and dry it out. And keep an eye out for the culprit. I’m so glad it’s fresh water.

As a related question, have any of you added an access to the shower/sink tank to clean it more easily. Mine is all sealed up.
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It is interesting that some 52’s have it and some don’t.

The mid sump in the 58 is in the master, and it’s a 12” X 6” carpeted panel that easily lifts up to reveal the aft fwd sump bilge pump.

Also they put a large inspection door on the shower sump, which makes it a breeze to clean out.
 
rlynch03 said:
I do not have any inspection hatches either. I do get water into that bilge area at the far aft bulkhead adjacent the laundry room. Have not been able to confirm the source.

I plugged the drain from the shower sump box temporarily to confirm it wasn’t coming from that overflow and I still get a little water in the bilge.

I now wonder if we should all be cutting an access hole in the false floor.
Click to expand...
The previous owner of my boat owned a Sea Ray dealer, so I have a few things that were added. I agree, this hatch is the only way I would have found this water. Thanks for all of your help guys.
 
tshannoz said:
The previous owner of my boat owned a Sea Ray dealer, so I have a few things that were added. I agree, this hatch is the only way I would have found this water. Thanks for all of your help guys.
Click to expand...
My shower sump has a large access door in the top plexi glass panel for a quick access.
 
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