480 DB Owners Club

[jeffrey vargas]

Hi everyone,

My salon freezer ice maker water line started leaking today. The leaking water ran aft outboard or perhaps under the stbd side cabinets until the water dripped down the forward stbd lazarette bulkhead.

I found an isolation valve in the water maker water line tucked back in the aft outboard corner under the salon sink. Thought I'd let everyone know it's there.

Next step is to pull up floor boards so I can slide the freezer out to repair the water line.

I pulled all of the access covers in the stbd cabinets and didn't find any water so I don't know how I'm going to dry the areas that got wet.

Sea Ray tech assist was very helpful. They sent me a very detailed power point presentation with photos of all the potable water lines. It's too large to attach here, but I'll email it to anyone who wants it.

Steve

What is Sea Ray tech assist? I have a Sundancer 48 and I could use some help and advice as I need to pull my starboard after-cooler from my Cummins QSC for maintenance. Pulling the after-cooler doesn't seem that difficult but there has to be some secret to getting myself in a position to do it. It looks like I may have to remove the Exhaust tube just so I have room for my body.

 

[TNT8808]

What is Sea Ray tech assist? I have a Sundancer 48 and I could use some help and advice as I need to pull my starboard after-cooler from my Cummins QSC for maintenance. Pulling the after-cooler doesn't seem that difficult but there has to be some secret to getting myself in a position to do it. It looks like I may have to remove the Exhaust tube just so I have room for my body.

I hope I'm not jumping all over this thread, but how did you determine you needed to service your after-cooler?

 

[steve4566]

What is Sea Ray tech assist? I have a Sundancer 48 and I could use some help and advice as I need to pull my starboard after-cooler from my Cummins QSC for maintenance. Pulling the after-cooler doesn't seem that difficult but there has to be some secret to getting myself in a position to do it. It looks like I may have to remove the Exhaust tube just so I have room for my body.

The Sea Ray Technical Support phone number is 865-971-6415. They're very helpful with questions about how the boat was designed/built, but I don't know that they'll be able to answer specific questions on engine maintenance. Give Sea Ray a call. If they can't help you maybe one of the other Cummins owners here can.

 

[jeffrey vargas]

I hope I'm not jumping all over this thread, but how did you determine you needed to service your after-cooler?

Based on all the nightmares I've seen on unmaintained aftercoolers. It's probably as easy as removing one of the end covers to see how much corrosion there is but it would be nice to get them cleaned. Since I just bought the boat and it has 500 hours on it and it came from saltwater, the recommendations I've seen are to pull them, clean cores and check housings and than pressure test them. The previous owner had records on doing an acid flush but at 500 hours and for my own baseline, I'd like to get them done. The Port engine should be pretty easy but it's the access to the starboard side that is the challenge. Great info here on aftercooler maintenance https://www.sbmar.com/category/articles/marine-aftercoolers/

 

[TNT8808]

Based on all the nightmares I've seen on unmaintained aftercoolers. It's probably as easy as removing one of the end covers to see how much corrosion there is but it would be nice to get them cleaned. Since I just bought the boat and it has 500 hours on it and it came from saltwater, the recommendations I've seen are to pull them, clean cores and check housings and than pressure test them. The previous owner had records on doing an acid flush but at 500 hours and for my own baseline, I'd like to get them done. The Port engine should be pretty easy but it's the access to the starboard side that is the challenge. Great info here on aftercooler maintenance https://www.sbmar.com/category/articles/marine-aftercoolers/

Got it, and makes perfect sense. For some reason I was thinking you bought a freshwater LOTO boat, and not a saltwater boat. I'm an absolute nut about pre-maintenance items as well, and then there's my upgrading issue but we can save that for another day. For now I'll get off the 480DB thread.

-Tom

 

[Take a sip]

Tell me about the seal leak. How did you notice it was leaking?

I noticed spots of oil laying in the bottom of the tube under the unit. It turned out to be a leaky seal from the drain plug, so we had the fluid drained out a d new put in. Marine Max was very knowledgable with the unit and did the work. Ed

 

[The crime scene]

I noticed spots of oil laying in the bottom of the tube under the unit. It turned out to be a leaky seal from the drain plug, so we had the fluid drained out a d new put in. Marine Max was very knowledgable with the unit and did the work. Ed

I was thinking you had a water leak inside the boat. Was the boat on the hard or in the water when you discovered the leak?

Keith

 

[Take a sip]

I was thinking you had a water leak inside the boat. Was the boat on the hard or in the water when you discovered the leak?

Keith

 

[Take a sip]

We are blocked up in a heated storage facility and I noticed fluid laying in the bottom of the tube that runs through the hull

 

[The crime scene]

We are blocked up in a heated storage facility and I noticed fluid laying in the bottom of the tube that runs through the hullView attachment 69008

Yep, that is a leak. Thanks for the picture. My boat stays in the water year round and was not sure how you detected the leak.
Keith

 

[quality time]

You should upgrade to the 6 blade version if you ever need to replace your thruster prop.

 

[Steve Barrett]

Just took delivery of a 1999 480 sedan bridge. Wow, what an incredible boat. My first issue is the gray water sump discharge line seems to be clogged. Back flow valve is not clogged and is working properly. When I remove the hose after the valve water comes gushing out. I understand this line goes to the common drain system which is not clogged as water is exiting from other systems that use this drain. Are there any valves in line that may need to be opened?

 

[quality time]

No valves, I would use water pressure from a garden hose to try to clear it out. The common drain's a nice feature until you need to get to the hose connections.

 

[dcpringle]

Just took delivery of a 1999 480 sedan bridge. Wow, what an incredible boat. My first issue is the gray water sump discharge line seems to be clogged. Back flow valve is not clogged and is working properly. When I remove the hose after the valve water comes gushing out. I understand this line goes to the common drain system which is not clogged as water is exiting from other systems that use this drain. Are there any valves in line that may need to be opened?

+1 with QT. Another thing you are going to want to do would be to convert the kitchen sink to direct overboard. Saves cleaning that box seems like every week. From the factory, your kitchen sink drains into it as well. There is a write up of how to do it on here...

 

[Steve Barrett]

Just took delivery of a 1999 480 sedan bridge. Wow, what an incredible boat. My first issue is the gray water sump discharge line seems to be clogged. Back flow valve is not clogged and is working properly. When I remove the hose after the valve water comes gushing out. I understand this line goes to the common drain system which is not clogged as water is exiting from other systems that use this drain. Are there any valves in line that may need to be opened?

Problem fixed. The line was not clogged. The bottom of the sump pump was falling apart and was not creating enough pressure to force the water out of the sump.

 

[Russ Calasant]

Has anyone had issue with water leaks from the wrap around window/wind deflector on the bridge? I can see water coming in but not exactly sure what is leaking. The P.O. ran a small bead of silicone around the frame edge so it appears to have been an issue. Any ideas? Rubber gaskets maybe? Source? Thanks~

 

[The crime scene]

I am getting some water in the forward bilge area (between the thruster batteries by the engine seacocks). Any guess on where it is coming from? I cleaned the bilge area up a couple weeks ago and when I made it back down this past weekend, the bilge had some water in it. The troughs that run down the middle of the boat on both sides of the aisle way had a small amount of water in them also. I have not ran the engines since cleaning the bilge reservoir. I have ran the air conditioners, turned on the fridge and freezer, and flushed both heads since cleaning.

We have has a lot of rain lately. My boat is under cover, but a good blowing rain gets the cockpit area soaked. Not sure if that caused the water to get into the engine room. Or.....could it be a sea cock leaking?

Anyone ever experience this problem. Tracing water leaks can be a pain.
Keith

 

[steve4566]

I am getting some water in the forward bilge area (between the thruster batteries by the engine seacocks). Any guess on where it is coming from? I cleaned the bilge area up a couple weeks ago and when I made it back down this past weekend, the bilge had some water in it. The troughs that run down the middle of the boat on both sides of the aisle way had a small amount of water in them also. I have not ran the engines since cleaning the bilge reservoir. I have ran the air conditioners, turned on the fridge and freezer, and flushed both heads since cleaning.

We have has a lot of rain lately. My boat is under cover, but a good blowing rain gets the cockpit area soaked. Not sure if that caused the water to get into the engine room. Or.....could it be a sea cock leaking?

Anyone ever experience this problem. Tracing water leaks can be a pain.
Keith

Hi Keith,

As you probably know, the port and stbd bilge pockets in the lazarette overflow into the two troughs which then flow forward into the engine room forward centerline bilge. If that's what's happening in your boat, then there are several potential sources of rain water intrusion. Most of them are caused by external caulk breaking down. Here are the rain water leaks I've fixed in the 10 years I've owned my 2001 480DB:

*Rod holder drain lines come loose
*Rod holder caulking
*Cablemaster penetration through the lazarette overhead
*The two vertical caulk seams joining the transom to the hull
*The port and stbd stern rub rail bullet caps screw penetrations though the hull
*The stern rub rail screw penetrations through the transom
*The joint where the port and stbd rub rails meet the transom
*The swim platform shower hose door

The stern rub rail and stern rub rail bullet leaks can be sea water from the wake as well.

I've also had a fouled common drain line which caused A/C unit raw water to back flow into the bilge past a malfunctioning bilge pump check valve.

My dripless shaft seals have also dripped a couple of times. They stopped leaking when I rotated the shaft by hand or ran the engines.

And my most recent adventure was a leaking galley ice maker line. The water somehow made its way aft under the salon floor all the way to the forward lazarette bulkhead.

Hope this helps.
Steve

 

[quality time]

Has anyone had issue with water leaks from the wrap around window/wind deflector on the bridge? I can see water coming in but not exactly sure what is leaking. The P.O. ran a small bead of silicone around the frame edge so it appears to have been an issue. Any ideas? Rubber gaskets maybe? Source? Thanks~

My port side windscreen was leaking so I pulled both sides, replaced all Taylormade gasketing and re-bedded it all last winter. Still have some minor leaks but mostly from wash water and the way my zippers are arranged.

 

[quality time]

I am getting some water in the forward bilge area (between the thruster batteries by the engine seacocks). Any guess on where it is coming from? I cleaned the bilge area up a couple weeks ago and when I made it back down this past weekend, the bilge had some water in it. The troughs that run down the middle of the boat on both sides of the aisle way had a small amount of water in them also. I have not ran the engines since cleaning the bilge reservoir. I have ran the air conditioners, turned on the fridge and freezer, and flushed both heads since cleaning.

We have has a lot of rain lately. My boat is under cover, but a good blowing rain gets the cockpit area soaked. Not sure if that caused the water to get into the engine room. Or.....could it be a sea cock leaking?

Anyone ever experience this problem. Tracing water leaks can be a pain.
Keith

Do you have water in the back bilge? When high enough, that water will migrate via the troughs under the walkway (water tank) forward all the way down to the front bilge. If the water is entering the troughs at the limber holes (near the shaft couplers) then your water is coming from somewhere outboard of the main stringers. Could be shaft struts, gen hoses, rudders or any number of things in the Port and STBD stern corners. Possibly stern rubrails.

Some rain water that runs down the side of the boat ends up passing over the upper stern corner rubrails/transom trunk intersection. I currently have a leak here and need to pull both corners and re-bed. Even though I'm also under a shed you'd be surprised what a little trickle can do.