water in hull

[AT-EEZ]

I have a major problem on my 420 Sedan Bridge. I am getting salt water trapped between my hull and subfloor - not into bilge areas that is being pumped out. My stringers are about half full of water. I have pulled the boat for maintenance and I was hoping to see the water coming out of the hull but the bottom looked good (no blisters or soft spots) as did all thru hulls.

The amount of water is so significant that the boat was listing to the starboard bow. The starboard bow was sitting down about 2" and the stern (both sides) was sitting up about 2". The port bow was sitting at its normal water line.

I drilled holes in the transom that lines up with all four stringers and a significant amount of water drained out.

Earliar, I drilled a hole in the subfloor of the emergency bilge and water shot up about 4" for hours. Once the water level in that void area went below the subfloor, it stop shooting out but it still has water in it. I also cut two 6" access panel in subfloor compartments under the staircase and under the kitchen floor. Both of which were full of trapped salt water.

I need advise on how to find the leak, how to find all the water and how to remove the water.

Thanks, Dan

 

[fwebster]

If I were guessing, I'd say you may have a void in one of the bilge sumps where water collects and is then pumped put. Once water gets under the false floor, it can migrate along and inside the hull to other places. One way to check this is to haul the boat, then vacuum all the water out of the sumps and dry them with acetone on a rag. Watch the sump, and if one is leaking, water will weep back into the sump.

The other thing to do is let the hull completely dro and examine it carefully for any wet spots after you are sure it is dry. THe hudraulic pressure of a pin hole 3+ ft under water will force sea water into smoe really small places, but they will stay wet after the hull is dry.

But, the above are just guesses..........

Because of the potentially high costs of a repair like this, what you need to do is get the boat to a Sea Ray dealer and get him to determine the source of the intrusion. With this much water in the boat, you likely have a fiberglass void allowing water into a place where it shouldn't be. The dealer is necessary because that is how the Sea Ray system works. Sea Ray will most likely help you with this, provided there is a defect, the boat has been properly maintained and there are no signs of damage or alteration, but it must be thru a dealer.


Good luck with it.........

 

[AT-EEZ]

I have pulled the boat and the bottom is completely dry, however there is water under the subfloor. I have evidently sucked enough water out to get the water level below the drilled hole in the floor of the emergency bilge as that is not weeping into the bilge. I see no water at all in my bilges. If I put an air hose to the holes I have drilled in the subfloor, I hear water gurgling.

I wish I could find the source of the water intrusion.