Water in my bow storage locker

T

temptress

New Member
Dec 8, 2009
151
League City
Boat Info
270 Sundancer wide beam
Engines
single 454 Merc w/ Bravo III
Howdy!

I have a 1998 270 Sundancer and I keep discovering water in my bow storage locker under my v-berth table storage. it is usually collected in the well at the lowest point in the locker. Is this normal?? I want to store things in there but I don't want them to get wet! I also noticed that I have a few faint water trail marks on the vinal bulkhead liner leading from the the deck above into the locker! I wonder if the water is leaking from the cleat thru deck bolts. Any one else have this problem and what do I do to stop it? :smt100
 
I was having problems with water leaking from my Anchor Storage locker in to the V-Berth under the front bed cushion. Turns out it was leaking from the anchor storage locker drain hole in the bottom of the locker. Since I have two drain holes in the bottom of the locker, I caulked closed the one hole that was leaking and that solved the problem. Not sure if this is the same problem you are having but I thought I would let you know.

Here is the thread that helped me solve my problem.

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11985
 
There could be any number of causes for the water to collect there.

First off I assume you have a storage locker on the foredeck for your anchor rope or chain. On my locker, there are drains thru the hull so any water that gets in there will drain out. But if the anchor locker is not sealed properly against the bulkhead and/or the drains are plugged you could get water in your interior V-Berth which is the area I think you are speaking of. But water could also be leaking thru the bow rail stanchions as well where they connect to the upper deck The cleats are also a possibility but I would suspect the stanchions first. On mine there are covers over the stanchions inside the cabin like this one.

DSC03456.jpg


These covers just pull off and expose the nuts on the bottom of the screws.

DSC03445.jpg


You can pull a few of the covers off (assumming your set up is similar) and have someone spray that area above with a hose while you check for leaks inside. If you have leaks then it is probably time to re-bed those stanchions.

Those are the two things I would check first to see if you can up with something. Water can travel a long way until it finds it lowest point so water leaks are not always easy to find. Almost two years ago I chased water leaks on my 260DA which turned out to be a combination of a stanchion leak and port hole windows which needed adjustment to seal better.

If you check these out first and they don't seem to be the culprit then let us know and we'll see if we can help out further.

Dave
 
Thank you both for the great advice! I hope the prolem is as simple as caulking the anchor locker drains!! it is funny that this problem is related to the reason why I joined this website! I have a 270 Dancer and the anchor line is secured to a cleat and then passes thru a piece of hardware that looks like a tall gass cap with a notch that can me rotated to take a bite on the line as it passes thru the deck into the anchor locker. I have been unable to figure out how to adjust this thing so that I can use my anchor. right now the notch in the top piece is missaligned to the right of the bottom piece and is pinching the line. I can open the clam shell but and see the line but I can not figure out how to adjust and lossenthe thru deck fixture off the line.
 
temptress said:
Thank you both for the great advice! I hope the prolem is as simple as caulking the anchor locker drains!! it is funny that this problem is related to the reason why I joined this website! I have a 270 Dancer and the anchor line is secured to a cleat and then passes thru a piece of hardware that looks like a tall gass cap with a notch that can me rotated to take a bite on the line as it passes thru the deck into the anchor locker. I have been unable to figure out how to adjust this thing so that I can use my anchor. right now the notch in the top piece is missaligned to the right of the bottom piece and is pinching the line. I can open the clam shell but and see the line but I can not figure out how to adjust and lossenthe thru deck fixture off the line.
Click to expand...

I apologize if you already know these terms, but do you have a Windlass or a Hawse Pipe? I saw your other post on this matter and if you are unsure then by all means post up a picture. A windlass looks like this

31304.gif

while a Hawse Pipe looks something like this.

99735F-p.jpg

The Hause Pipe simply allows the line to come out of or go into the storage area. My boat does not have a Windlass (power operated anchor line) so I also have an external cleat that my anchor line gets tied to. You didn't mention the cleat so I am wondering if you have a Windlass on your 270?

Dave
 
Last edited:
Dave,

Thanks so much for the pictures and the terms. I have a Hawse pipe that is cyllendrical not like the picture you posted. an I do not see a hinge on it. I work in Austin durring the week and live in houston so I will have to take a picture this weekend to show you. Your postings have been extremely informative and I really appreciate your guidance! ps how do you post pics to your post?
 
temptress said:
Dave,

ps how do you post pics to your post?
Click to expand...

The best way to post pictures is to first download them to a free hosting site such as photobucket.com. When you download them to photobucket click on "more options" and select a size that is suitable for posting (I use 640x480). You can then copy the URL for the picture and click on this icon in the CSR post
insertimage.gif
and paste that URL into the field shown and the picture will appear in your post.

Dave
 
chriswinnek
This is what my hawse pipe looks like

Jeff,

IT sounds like the anchor locker drains may be the culprit. I am headed back to houston tonight so I am going to head out to the marina this weekend to check them out.

Dave,

THanks agian for the help on posting pics! I think I found the hawse pipe that my 270 has on a web site. and it looks like the top just fits over the deck fitting like a sleave.
 
Sorry! I too me a few tris to post the pic! it looks like the cap just slips over the bottom piece. Mine it frozen in place I am guessing it got stepped on or something.
 
I would remove the screws around the base to take it off and then put it on a bench where you can tap the bottom of that cap from the underside to see if it will come loose. Either that or just buy a new replacement.

Dave
 
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