82 260SRV Sundancer, Step down pump

[charlesk16]

I'am in the process in restoring, Boat has been sitting uncovered for a couple of years. My questions are, is the pump supposed to be auto/manual like the bilge pump is ?

after i got battery power up , i was able to pump out the step area.Does this step area overflow into the bilge?If I left the boat unattended in a heavy rain, will water run into the cabin and flood?

Also is there supposed to be some sort of gasket/seal on the stock cabin deck hatch. there IS NOT one the now. Heavy /thick plastic hatch has a grooved area that covers the opening when closed, but NO seal, and I has water leak onto v-berh cushions.

Thanks, Charlie

 

[MoDean]

I would recommend a rule full auto pump for the stepdown, I installed one in my '78 240, and it worked like a charm all season. As for the hatch, yes there should be a gasket in the groove that, when the hatch is dogged shut, makes it reasonably waterproof.

 

[charlesk16]

Thanks for your reply. I like the Auto bilge pump in step down area idea also. I think that It was a bad original idea to put a "manual" pump there.Any rain water has to pile up there.

I thought there was supposed to be some sort of gasket on the hatch. I can get several different width foam weatherstrips from my work. I will install a flat weatherstrip in "groove" and see how it works.

Also, I see that MY 260DA was built WITHOUT the AFT cabin option which seems to be on quite afew other boats I see. Mine has TWO back to back seats in the cockpit. ALOT of "EMPTY" space below deck

Thanks for your help.