Water Intrusion in foward cabin under floor storage area....

[pfineberg]

I have had a "rainwater" intrusion into the storage area, under the floor (deck) in the cabin. This is the storage area in the middle of the cabin, adjacent to the sink. You lift up the access hatch and its a single compartment that in itself is water tight. Only thing that passes through it is the condensate drain from the A/C. When it rains heavily and usually during cold weather months, I get water in this compartment. Sometimes as much as a gallon. Constantly have to vacuum out. Have tried endless times with hoses, etc, to find leak (stanchions, hatches, rub rail, etc, etc.) and can't get water in their if I tried. Have discovered that during the warm months it stops, probably because of expansion of materials, sealing up where the leak is coming in. In the cold months, things contract and it leaks almost every rain, and I have to inspect and pump out. Can't look for leak in winter months, while still in the water, because marina cuts off the water.

Anyone have this same type of leak into this storage compartment in the cabin? Any ideas of where it could be coming from. Seems to come in from the port side... I know its not the condesate hose from the A/C drip pan, because I have filled that area with red dye, and nothing. Goes right through the compartment and stays in the drain hose and goes into the shower sump and overboard.

Help please....

 

[Lawnman TX]

I was having a leak on my 92.

Took the bolts out of the bow rails and scraped the old sealant off, put new marine silicon under the stanchions and in the bolt holes and on the bolts and did the bow cleats as well and no more leaks.

 

[ZZ13]

It's quite possible it's condensation on the inside of the boat draining to those areas. I have been through a huge learning experience with that both in the engine room and on the cabin. I found the solution to the condensation is try to keep the cabin air temp above the dew point. We just chatted about that here:
http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php?t=70952

 

[NaughtyDog]

Have you tried running a dehumidifier on board? Drain it into the galley sink?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[pfineberg]

All: It is defenitely, 100% not condensation. It only happens when we have a heavy rain. If it doesn't rain for two weeks then no water intrusion. A heavy rain, and water is there witin hours. I believe as other have stated, that it is direct water intrusion from rain water through bolt holes, stanchions, rub rail, windshield wiper seals, etc, etc. My cabin is bone dry with no mildew or condensation of any kind on any surface. Thanks to all for the inputs, and if there is anyone else that has found where "intrusion" is happening and not a condensation issue, I would appreciate your input. I plan to recaulk everything this spring,

 

[pfineberg]

Thanks for the input, but that is not the case here. I have no condensation issues. Its a direct result from "rain water". Condensation would be a continual issue and raise its head in man vaired temperature scenarios, and none of them have ever happened in this case. Huge temp swings, etc, and nothing, not even a drop of water...if it hasn't rained. One heavy rain, and a gallon of water. That isn not condensation. This is a water instrusion problem and I'm trying to determine who else with the same style boat is having problems. A couple of folks seem to have had the exact same problem and they have pointed out problem areas I now have to address. It cured there problem and hopefully will cure mine. But nothing to do with condensation.

 

[pfineberg]

Thanks for the input. That seems to be my problem exactly and I have not taken it to that level as of yet. I did find a few places where caulk was worn and replaced those areas, but not each bolt and each stanchion. That will be my next chore in the spring. Someone else also mention the wiper arm posts and where they protrude into the hull, that the seal there often leaks. That could be the most obvious place, because massive amounts of water run down the windshield, and could enter there, and come down right where it seems my leak is originating from. A path then being taken, right to that center storage compartment. If it was condensation, it would be a continual problem and not only during a heavy rain Not this amount of water in such a short period of time. You seem to have hit it and I appreciate the input and now I have a path to follow to correct.

 

[Bateau Ivre]

I have a 2005 340 DA. Love it by the way!!

I had a similar but different problem(s). After heavy rains the carpet was wet on the deck near the sink/step to bed on the port side. I also had wet carpet in the salon area near the vacuum. Underdeck storage had water in it as well. I made sure I was on the boat during a storm and what I noticed was there was wetness along the port side carpeting just under the cabinets in the forward birth area. Over time, few weeks, I noticed that the forward berth molded area against the top began to separate by about 1/4 inch or so. When it was raining I was able to get to the outboard through the closets via the fabric zippers and see the water coming in.

Separate from that, I also had another problem that water was running down the the bulkhead near the starboard skylight and ac vent. So this is what I found to correct those two problems.

The issue with the port side leak was that under the rub-rail, just forward of the port side navigation light, the manufacturer had drilled (or mis-drilled I should say) two holes that were open and not filled by screws holding the rub-rail in tact. The caulking over time allowed for the water to enter through the rub-rail and into the holes that were mis-drilled. I couldn't get the manufacture to consider this a defect although it certainly was but the local Sea Ray dealer worked with me on the repair costs. Filled the holes and reinstalled the rub-rail with caulking as well. Not an easy job because we cracked the forward birth mirror on inspection and removal. Be carefull of the speaker and light wires that run in that area.

The other problem with the starboard leak was the hand rail on the bow near the skylight had come loose from vibration and created a space for water to enter into the overhead and trickily down near the ac vent on the starboard side. You have to remove the overhead to secure the locking nut. When repairing I had to ensure that caulking was applied from both sides. Might be excess but I haven't had a problem since.

Both of these repairs have kept rain water out of my interior for the past three years and I haven't had any other water intrusion issues since. Fingers are crossed, double crossed.

 

[Shtmetal]

I had the same problem and found it to be a leak behind my starboard cabin Window. It was only partially sealed from the factory

 

[pfineberg]

BI,

Thanks for the detailed explanation. My task this spring, will be to inspect, remove all bow rail mounting screws and re-seal with marine silicone. Will check them all.....I thought I had found mine last year with a screw missing entirely. Caulked that, but something else must of come loose. Funny in my case, in that it only leaks when very cool or cold outside. Structures do shrink when cold, and expand when warm, so in the summer...most times, no matter how hard it is raining, I don't have a leak, but heavy rain in fall and winter (my boat stays in the water all winter, winterized but with water bubblers to prevent water from freezing) the water comes right in from somewhere. I'm very confident now where to look, inspect, and seal. Several folks mentioned condensation, but it is "definitely" not a condensation issue. Enjoy your winter, and good boating in the spring.