Water in the engine bilge

[RodNca]

Hello guys,

Lately, I happened to find a lot of water in my engine bilge after a week of heavy rain (around 20-25liters). It even made the carpeted floor wet in my 2007 240 sundancer.
I removed it and started to look for the reason of this.

No problem at all for a few weeks (sunny days without rain), it rained again and again I had water in the engine bilge.

It seems that when you look to the front there is a "pathway" from the engin bilge and cabin section, juste below the fuel tank and in front of the bilge pump. The water seems to be able to use that pathway to travel from the engine bilge to the cabin section and when there is heavy rain, water stands long enough to wet the carpeted floor and carpeted step.

Another issue, I took the boat on a ride to try to make all the water trapped in the boat to go to the engine bilge. I tilted the boat up as much as I could and at some point some water ( pretty dirty) even showed up ON TOP of the fuel tank!! not much but still some water was visible, slightly showing up as the tilt was increasing, however never was it possible for that water to flow from above the water tank to the bottom of the bilge.

Sincerely, I do not know where to start! any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you

 

[Brite Idea]

My last boat had a small leak I chased for a while, it turned out to be the port lite in the head. I had to rebed the window and that solved the problem. Shop vac the bilge dry then have someone spray the boat with a hose. Do small areas until you find your leak. I've read sometimes the fuel fill leaks and water follows the hose down into the bilge. Also check the hoses to your sump pump as they leak if the clamps are not tight.

 

[Golfman25]

Check your bilge pumps. Any water should be pumped out long before anything gets wet.

As for the leak, check your hull to deck joint real good.

 

[Lazy Daze]

The engine bilge and the "sump" area under the cabin steps should NOT be connected. The boat is purposefully built to isolate those areas. Did a previous owner change this by drilling a hole? Look in the sump area - it's easy to see.

You could be getting water into the bilge AND the cabin. You just have to put on your detective cap (and search the forums - there are tons of threads about this) and start tracking where the water is coming in. Look for tell tale signs. Check all portlights (the one in the bathroom can also leak BETWEEN the head wall and the hull). The anchor locker is another spot if the drain is clogged and the wall is cracked. The hull to deck seam. Blower vents. Really, just look around at any possible entry source. You can use a hose to verify.

 

[R-and-R]

Adding to what Lazy Daze said:

There are so many possible points of water intrusion that it could really take some time and detective work. Like you, I was getting water after rainstorms. Finally chased it down to the radar arch. Old grommets where antennae enter, and displaced caulk around the base. Windshield caulking is a common issue also and could explain why water enters both your cabin and your bilge.

Best of luck in your search.

 

[RodNca]

Thank you, I am getting prepared for a looooong adventure !

 

[RodNca]

Hello again guys, so I managed to find a small leak from the sink but nothing from the port lights, anchor...
Now I got access to the fuel tank from the cabin berth. It rained a lot the past few days...and there was water on the tank so between the tank and the floor...how come I can have water there?? I am getting desperate...

 

[Lazy Daze]

If it's not just condensation building up, it could be a leaking fuel fill deck plate and the water is following the fill and vent hose to the tank.

 

[RodNca]

sorry english is not my native language; What do you mean by a FUEL FILL DECK PLATE?
Also noticed that the small hatch below the throttle does not empty when filled with water...hum...strange!!!

Could that fuel fill deck plate leak also wet the cabin carpet??

 

[Lazy Daze]

Sure, no problem. It's the fitting on the deck of the boat where you put fuel/gas in.

No, it won't cause the cabin carpet to get wet.

"Hatch below throttle"... do you mean the little storage cubby? I guess it'd be kinda odd for water to get in there since the boat would have to be left uncovered. It's hard to say without seeing it in person, but can you drill a drain hole so water drains back into the cockpit?

Was the boat uncovered during that heavy rain? It's possible that with enough rain and wind that it's overcoming the drain channel around the cabin door - and/or the step-down drain (before you go into the cabin) is clogged enough so it can't handle huge amount of water and the water is overfilling the step-down area.

 

[RodNca]

Ok I will try to seal the fuel fill.
Yes this is the cubby, when I use water to clean the boat after a ride, water accumulates there.
I have water in the engine bilge even with the boat covered, however, front deck is uncovered. WHAT s crazy is the amount of water I can get in the bilge: sometimes 20 to 25 liters...and heavily soaked cabin carpet...

 

[RodNca]

Hello, back for some news about my issue. I had to leave town fr a while do did not have the chance to investigate a lot. However, it rained a lot the past few days and when I came back to the boat, I saw that the leather in the cabin near the right and left portholes was stained by water and and mold. I do not know if that is the reason but I will remove them and reseal them and see if there is an improvement. Carpet below the entry step was soaked by water, floor carpet was dry and again a lot of water in the bilge...I checked if there was a hole in that area where there is the AC and shower drain but nothing. I will probably spray it with a lot of water to see if it stagnates or not...