water under my cabin floor 77 300 weekender

[77300weekender]

my 77 300 weekender has water in the foam filled small bilge area under the cabin floor. this area is normally sealed with no acess but istepped down 1 day onto a squishy carpet? I cut aan acess hole and the foam is saoked and heavy i think it has been wet a long time but dont know where it could b comin from? i pump it out with a hand pump but it always comes back> could b draining out of foam? also when i remove all the drenched foam do i need to replace it? i was going to replace the floor and sand and coat the area under leaving an acess port to keep an eye on it or maybe install a bilge pump. dont know if water is still entering or not.

 

[25thmustang]

Under the floor of this boat there is no access to the bilge? There is no true bilge down there? Is this under the whole cabin of the boat? Interesting, I would assume there would be a bilge, with a bilge pump and other hardware (seacocks, etc.) in that area.

I'm not sure if you need to put the foam back, but your idea of turning this area into a bilge sounds like a good solution. No matter how much we try water will always get into the boat, one way or another. I think its better having access to where this water may end up, to keep and eye on, and remove as needed.

Have you been able to check the boats stringers? Is there water in the engine bilge, or just appears below the floor?

 

[JBJ]

I had a 77 30' Weekender withe tha same problem. I had two surveyors look at the boat and they both said "that they do that." Their answer was to dig out some of the foam and install a small bilge pump. I dug out the foam in front of the steps as you come into the cabin. I ran the hose through the bulkhead into the engine compartment and out to the side of the hull. I used a small pump/float switch combo. It seemed to take care of the problem
They are filled with foam under the floor boards in the cabin!

 

[dave 1750]

i have a 76 300 weekender , had same wet spot . drain my fresh water sys an wet spot never appear again ! so i fig. i have break some where in fresh wtr sys . i would check your water lines before you start ripping things up .

 

[moparlvr4406]

My 78 240 weekender has a small sump pocket under the steps into the cabin with a bilge pump in it
I assume it is for the refrigerator condensation to go into.:huh:
it doesn't seem to have any connection to the bilge area

 

[velooce]

i have a 76 300 weekender , had same wet spot . drain my fresh water sys an wet spot never appear again ! so i fig. i have break some where in fresh wtr sys . i would check your water lines before you start ripping things up .

On Our Weekender the waterlines for the bath and kitchen run behind the refer thru the bath cabinet and behind the head into the engine compartment right under the cabin exterior entry door threshold. These lines are able to be inspected except behind the head unless unconnected or replaced. However the shower drain trap or hose is below floor level. Has the shower been used? If I remember correctly this accessible by a side panel under interior entry step.