Water in Bilge after heavy rain

H

hangingout

New Member
Mar 26, 2009
2
I have a 99 Sundancer, kept in an uncovered slip, and when it rains, there is a significant amount of water in the rear bilge (and in the sump bilge also).

I have also noticed that water accumulates in the front storage locker underneath the v-berth cushion (it looks to be coming from the anchor locker)

Does anyone know how to determine where exactly the water is coming from, and what steps could be taken to fix the leak(s).

I know it's from the rain, because when I had it under covered storage, all the bilges were bone dry.

It usually only happens after a heavy rain.

Thanks,
 
It can come from numerous places. First check/tighten all of the port windows, also make sure the gasket is good. Then bow rail screws, then rub rail screws, cleats etc... You can pretty much spend the whole day making sure everything is tightened down. I would start with that.
 
What Size and year Sundancer do you have? Diffrent models have different ways to leak.

Turtle, do you only have windows on the left of your boat?
 
If the source isn't obvious, I'd suggest camping out in the bilge during a heavy rain with a flashlight.

Suggest posting your year/model and others with the same may offer specific advice about the anchor locker problem. Perhaps it's not properly sealed to the bulkhead, or the overboard drain may be clogged.
 
Zorba said:
What Size and year Sundancer do you have? Diffrent models have different ways to leak.

Turtle, do you only have windows on the left of your boat?
Click to expand...

two on each side.
 
this is prob. an obvious one, but make sure your scuppers (drains that clear the water on the cockpit floor) are not clogged. Mine will flood the bilge if they aren't clear.
 
Which 1999 Sundancer? They made sundancers from 24 to 46 feet in 1999. The various models were somewhat different.
 
Thanks for the help. It's a 99 260 sundancer. I went up to the boat today right after a heavy rain, and checked around for where the water might be leaking.

In the engine compartment, I noticed that there was evidence of water coming down inside the port stern corner (this is where it accumulates also, not just in the bottom of the bilge, but in this raised area on the port side - no accumulation on the starboard side).

when I checked further, I noticed there is a small gap where it looks like the top of the cruiser body was joined to the fiberglass hull. It looks to be about where the rub rail goes around the outside of the hull. I reached in their with a finger, and there was water accumulated in that area.

My thoughts is that either the rubrail is not sealed properly, and water is getting in there, or the water is seeping through the fiberglass somehow.

This is also the area that is behind the hatch in the stern that has the water connection (not hooked up) and the power connection. I have not checked behind there yet.

Question: To fix this, would it be OK to put caulk in that gap area, could there be a bigger problem that this represents (fiberglass cracks?)

Thanks
 
I have a 2000 240DA. Similar Issue. After a good washing or heavy rain i get water in the back corner of my aft cabin in the starboard side. It happens even if the boat is covered... so it can't be from the deck or the cup holders etc.... I suspect the same issue/cause. Is it common to leak around the rub rail? Also, as Hangin' asked... can I just caulk the area or should I remove, caulk and replace?
 
Hangin out:

When you totally figure it out, let me know. I get water under the step in the cabin - haven't figured it out, yet.

Ideally, you take the rub rail off and re-caulk. You could just try running some thin beads on the outside. You're going to probably want to do the whole rubrail - water is tricky.

As others have stated, re-caulk your port (and starboard:grin:) lights/windows.

Re-caulk your windshield wiper post.

Check your anchor locker drains for blockage. Pull out your anchor rode and look for cracks.

Put a hose on various places, one at a time, and look for water entry - might help to narrow it down.
 
I had a leak in to my front storage locker underneath the v-berth cushion in my 280DA that was coming from my anchor locker. Turns out that the factory drilled one of the drain holes incorrectly and water was leaking inside the boat when it rained. A couple people on here suggested either placing a copper tube inside the the drain hole or just caulk closed the hole that was leaking. I tried the tube route but could not get the tube fished down inside the hole. Since my boat is primary under cover and doesnt get much rain, I opted to caulk closed the one drain hole that was leaking. This solved my problem.
 
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