Sundancer 280 (315) and fresh water in the engine room

[oysteinhermansen]

Hello all

I have a Sundancer 315 (European version of the 280) and for some reason I get water in the engine room (under the engine). The water is fresh water (I have tasted it, the best way to be sure). I can dry up everything. But after 3-4 weeks, especially if there has been a lot of rain, there might be 3-5 liter (a gallon) of water in the engine room. It is not from the engine itself, because this happens even if the boat has not been used for a month or two.

Have anyone else had the same experience/problem ? I mean how can rain water enter the engine room ?

/Oystein (Norway)

 

[Lazy Daze]

Hello all

I have a Sundancer 315 (European version of the 280) and for some reason I get water in the engine room (under the engine). The water is fresh water (I have tasted it, the best way to be sure). I can dry up everything. But after 3-4 weeks, especially if there has been a lot of rain, there might be 3-5 liter (a gallon) of water in the engine room. It is not from the engine itself, because this happens even if the boat has not been used for a month or two.

Have anyone else had the same experience/problem ? I mean how can rain water enter the engine room ?

/Oystein (Norway)

Obviously things like cockpit drains could leak, but aside from leaks (which you'd have to trace), it's normal to get some water in through your bilge vents.

 

[JimT]

If you do a search here you will find sseveral threads addressing this issue. The problem is most likely the rub rail screws. They need to be revealed.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Hello all

I have a Sundancer 315 (European version of the 280) and for some reason I get water in the engine room (under the engine). The water is fresh water (I have tasted it, the best way to be sure). I can dry up everything. But after 3-4 weeks, especially if there has been a lot of rain, there might be 3-5 liter (a gallon) of water in the engine room. It is not from the engine itself, because this happens even if the boat has not been used for a month or two.

Have anyone else had the same experience/problem ? I mean how can rain water enter the engine room ?

/Oystein (Norway)

Rainwater can get into the engine compartment if the caulking on the blower vent covers is bad. The water runs down the hull, goes under the cover and directly into the blower hose. If there is a low spot in either the blower hose, of the vent hoses check for water.

Henry

 

[melida]

Hello all

I have a Sundancer 315 (European version of the 280) and for some reason I get water in the engine room (under the engine). The water is fresh water (I have tasted it, the best way to be sure). I can dry up everything. But after 3-4 weeks, especially if there has been a lot of rain, there might be 3-5 liter (a gallon) of water in the engine room. It is not from the engine itself, because this happens even if the boat has not been used for a month or two.

Have anyone else had the same experience/problem ? I mean how can rain water enter the engine room ?

/Oystein (Norway)

Hi Oystein

It's great to hear from you again, it's been too long since we last chatted on fathers day of 2012.

I received the notification about you sent me a pm and my inbox was full, so cleared my inbox and you can reach me now.

As we have the exact same boat, I had the same issue and both sides were leaking when I bought the boat 5 years ago nowadays.

As you know we have the extra side vents which the gas powered 280DAs don't have it.



The inside of the vent is a manifold and have 3 or 4 hoses. My manifolds are placed hoses looking downward and carried the rain and cleaning water over the batteries and battery charger. First I did a pvc long cable box to carry the water far from the electrical components thru water heater floor and then dumping to bilge.

BUT, since our boat's is single engine powered we have the bilge pumps placed in front of the engine and there is still remaining water at the transom.

What I did to 100% cure this problem is I disassembled both manifolds then changed their position, downward ducts/hoses looked to upward, also attached same size hoses to the existing short hoses and did it long like a "bell curve"/"camel neck" and caulked thoroughly.

So there is no wave/rain/cleaning water coming anymore and my bilge is bone dry and have no ventilation problem of my engine/engine room.

When I get to the boat at the weekend I'll take photos and post them or can email you.

Hope this helps.

Take care my friend.

PS: Also check the aft/standart side vents as Henry Boyd mentioned. The port side have the blowers connected and if port side is leaking you must check the wirings and blowers too.

 

[oysteinhermansen]

The problem is most likely the rub rail screws.

Since I am not fluid in all english expressions, where are this screws ?

 

[oysteinhermansen]

Thank you very much. If this also is the case for my boat I will be very glad. I will check this myself as soon as I have the time. Any photos you have/take will be appreciated

 

[melida]

Thank you very much. If this also is the case for my boat I will be very glad. I will check this myself as soon as I have the time. Any photos you have/take will be appreciated

My wet bilge caused by this.
I'll be onboard on friday,so will post photos then.

 

[melida]

Oystein hi again.

As promised here are the photos.

The side vents have each three hose manifolds. As I posted earlier the hoses were looking downward, I changed their position upside down and the "black" original hoses now looking upward and added extensions "gray" hoses are looking downward, so no water is entering anymore.

Starboard side manifold/hoses are fixed in the wetbar locker and a bit pain to reach them, but my daughter was 2,5 years old then and she entered easily into the locker and pulled the hoses :lol: .

Below is seen from engine room starboard side.



Inside wiev of wetbar locker





Port side vent/hoses







And the photos of my home made water canal moved the water coming from the vent through water heater floor.







Hope this helps.

 

[oysteinhermansen]

Thank you very much for the pictures. If this also is the case in my boat (most likely it is) I will have do to the same.

 

[melida]

Thank you very much for the pictures. If this also is the case in my boat (most likely it is) I will have do to the same.

You welcome.

To be sure of which vent(s) is leaking, have someone spray water with garden hose to the vents from outside while you are in the engine room and you can see the leaks.