Water on floor of the mid-cabin sleeping berth - 280 Sundancer (2002)

[Traveler643]

We recently purchased a 280 Sundancer (2002) and have been correcting all of the punchlist items that were identified during the survey ... and a few that weren't. One issue we found, was that the drain hose on the step going down into the cabin (which goes out the starboard side hull) had become disconnected from the drain itself, and the water that was going down into that drain like rain water / washing the deck off / etc., was ending up in the mid-cabin sleeping berth (and possibly other places). We got rid of the old mattress pads, and were able to reconnect the hose to the drain properly and correct that situation (not easy). We dried up all of the water that was evident in that cabin area and sprayed it to kill any mold.

The boat has been raised up out of the water on a lift for the past week, and when we went back to put the new mattress in, the area looked dry. However, as soon as we climbed into the berth and put weight on the floor, about a half inch of water started to migrate out in one corner where the floor meets the wall. I'm not sure if this is water that was left over from previous leaks that was trapped either behind the wall or under the floorboard, or if this is something new (rainwater?). After we had soaked up the new water in that corner, we went up and washed the main deck & water-tested the new drain assembly we had recently fixed - and there are no leaks there.

I'm not sure what to check next, or how to dry out any remaining water that might either be trapped behind the walls or under the floor (not sure of how it was constructed). I'd be grateful for any suggestions that any of you might have! Thanks.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Was the cover on?

The floor construction is pretty straight forward - the floor is solid. However there IS space behind the port and stbd walls of the mid-cabin.

It's "possible" that water leaking in through the head window could end up there. There is space between the head wall and the outer hull. Not saying that's the issue - but it's worthwhile to check.

 

[Little Ducky]

If you are keeping it plugged into shore power I'd keep the AC on or switch it to the Dehumidifier function to assist in drying the boat out. Along with opening up all the cupboards and other storage areas.

 

[Woody]

It is possible for water to get into the aft berth due to windshield mount screw leaks. Pull the rubber cover at the base of the windshield, back out each screw, caulk the hole and re-insert the screw.

 

[Traveler643]

Thank you Woody - I would have never thought of that. Thanks to everyone else for their advice as well. Keep it coming, I'm all ears.