1989 390 Sundancer leak after water tank replaced

[Melissa Turner]

Hello all,
We have a SEARAY 390 Sundancer and we’ve had water in our storage where the water tank is located. We’ve replaced the tank, as it was original, but still have water. Ugh. Ideas? Advice? Anything you guys have is much appreciated, my hubby and I are going nuts trying to figure this out.

 

[K-DUB]

Since you’ve eliminated the tank as the issue, you need to determine if it’s freshwater, rain water or lake water. I’m not sure where the tank is on the 39. Check the shower sumps and make sure they are functioning and all Hose fittings. If your fresh water pump is not cycling that eliminates a water line leak. It could be a leak in the hull to deck joint or a deck fitting, if it shows up after a rain or wash down. Water leaks are frustrating.

 

[Ricochet]

Like K-DUB said check the shower sump overflow connection it runs right through past the water tank, I had water in that space from an overflowed shower sump when I bought the boat 20 years ago. Have you cut access holes in the subfloor that the tank sits on if not there is probably water in there.

Rick

 

[390x]

depending on how long it was leaking, I've seen it re-appear in the storage area through a crack in the floor. What I mean is that the water from the saturated foam and wood would come back up through the floor and into the storage area.

I'd start checking water lines, shower sump, etc. I don't think it can make it from rubrails to the center section of the boat. It might be able to make it from the anchor rope locker though.

 

[DaveKamp]

Welcome, Melissa!

You're gonna need to go to the grocery store.

Get a package of food coloring... as many different colors as you can get.
Get a gallon milk-jug for each color.

Pump out the bilge, get it down as dry as you can.
Empty out the freshwater tank completely.

Pour a bunch'a food coloring in each jug, fill it with water.
Pour one color in the shower drains.
Pour another into the sinks
Pour another into any scuppers, any deck hatchway drains...

Then check the color of water in the bilge.

If no water appears, clear out everything, fill up the water tank, and dose it heavily with food coloring... and run the sinks, shower, and toilet a bit, then check the bilge.

If the water in the bilge isn't colored, it is probably coming from the outside of the hull.

On inboards, the shaft log bearing SHOULD drip a certain amount (this is how they lubricate). Improper adjustment or worn-out packing will cause leaks (easy fix) There is PROBABLY a flexible portion of the shaft log setup to allow the shaft to 'float' a bit. IF you have a loose or worn engine mount, the engine could be hanging low, putting sideways force on it's propshaft, and wearing out the setup and causing leaks.

Anything ELSE coming through the hull may be suspect too... rudder shaft bearings, depthfinder/knot-log instruments, cooling water inlets (seacocks) for main engines, generator, and the Air Conditioning unit...

And for the bigger item... a rotten transom... waterlogged... leaking through any screw hole on the inside of the transom... means the transom inside needs to be cut out, the rotten wood carved out, and new piece glassed in. This frequently occurs as a result of screws located below the waterline (like supports for swim platforms, trim-tabs, depthfinder transducers, etc) not being properly sealed, or not being corrosion-resistant enough to assure a good seal.