Help! 1986 34' Sundancer unknown source of leak

[penni67]

We have water accumulating in the floor storage area under the carpet in the galley (the storage unit nearest the aft, but not in the floor storage area toward the bow). There's no drain in there and the floor around it is not wet. It's just getting in that storage compartment.

There's also water in the shower bilge area in the front of the aft.

My husband ran the faucets, shower, etc for 45 minutes thinking there might be a leak - but nothing was found.

Anyone have any tips as to what the source of the water might be?

Thanks :smt001

 

[Girlfriend III]

Look at the sump pump, if the pump in there is entangled with hair or dead the water the goes into the sump(s) will overflow into the bilge. Good luck !

 

[WiserTime]

Check your anchor locker drain. On my 1987 WE 300, the anchor locker drain get clogged and the water runs into and overflow drain that flows down into the middle bilge under the cabin floor. It usually flow toward the center bilge pump.

 

[Thomas Molin]

I am not quite sure what your boat looks like, but I had the same problem with my 330 and earlier the same in my 280 in the area next to the sump pump.
The top of the sump box has no gasket and when there are some water in the box it will splash around and find it´s way out. I just bought a tube of "floating gasket" and attached a string around the top. I haven´t had the problem since.

//Thomas

 

[Gaucho]

Another source may be the onboard water tank. On some models it is located under the salon setee. If the weld splits on the aluminum tank, your fresh water fill will over the tank well and collect in the shower sump under the cabin stairs.

 

[Mr.C]

We have had the same problem with our 36' Sundancer. Water is collecting in the storage compartment under the forward mattress as well as the middle compartment in the salon. It appears that the water is trickling in thru an eraser size hole just below the deck. You have to stick your head down in the compartment to see this but there is a definite water line showing evidence of a leak. We are still bewildered after 1 year of research. Any suggestions or ideas from my fellow Searay members would be welcomed!

 

[Jeff340]

I have an 87 sundancer that had the same problem. It was the fresh water tank leaking. My tank was located under the dinette on the port side. You may have the other floor plan with the galley on the port. Non the less it sounds like the same problem, the seam on the bottom of the take corroded and it had about a dozen small holes. Good luck

 

[hbass]

I have a 1985 DA300...my wet spot on the floor is port side under the step as you go down. The shower bilge works ok. Where is the sump pump? and the fresh water tank?
thanks

 

[Jeff340]

your shower sump should be under the drop down in the mid cabin. If you lift the carpet up there is a small access hole and the pump is under there. As for the fresh water tank , If your water fill is on the port side gunnel than it is probably buried under the galley. My fresh water pump is under the stairs leading down into the cabin, from there you can follow the water lines to the tank

 

[JVM225]

I have a 1985 DA300...my wet spot on the floor is port side under the step as you go down. The shower bilge works ok. Where is the sump pump? and the fresh water tank?
thanks

The fresh water tank on my 87 300 Sundancer is under the deck just outside the step down to enter the cabin. Could your fresh water tank be leaking?
I would think that of it were, the water would be more likely to leak in to the bilge under the tank rather than in to the cabin.
Is the floor wet in the closet just inside the cabin on the port side? The one at the top of those steps? If so, it could be the mounts for your bow rail that are leaking and need to be reset. It could also be the fill for the fresh water tank, or the pump out spot for the waste tank that are leaking and need to be re-bedded.

 

[Happy Hour IV]

88 340 DA. I have had three leaks over the years that caused wet carpet lining towards the aft end of the underfloor storage. The first was the aluminum fresh water tanks. The second was failed wiring at the shower sump pump. The third was a failed caulk joint where the shower drain hose goes into the shower sump in the underfloor storage (I probably caused this fixing the pump)