Taking on Rain Water

[Anacapafish]

Hello Boaters, we got hit with a good "first storm" of the year. I have spent countless hours trying to figure out how I am accumulating water in the sump area (below the bottom step going into cabin area). It is trailered. The cockpit area is covered and it is parked in a position that even if there was water coming in from the cockpit area it will travel to the bilge area and drain out the back, so the water must be coming from the bow area or around the sides.It is a Sea Ray 225 Express cruiser 1980. I have taken many steps to remedy this "leak". Are there any Sea Ray owner who might steer me in the right direction on where to look. Bow rails? windshield? In these older Sea Rays are there problem areas I should be aware of? Is there a Sea ay owner who has discovered a leak in an uncommon area. Please help, any more of these and I'll be looking at some pretty expensive repairs.Thanks in advance.

 

[WillnLori]

Although mine is a 1978, I too have rainwater collecting in the step down sump. I think a lot of it comes in through the cabin side window frames--the bottom of the slide groove.

 

[ferguda]

I have a 1987 Sundancer 250. My top over the helm needs to be re-waterproofed. It allows water to drip onto the top of the dash, down the joint at the back and into the head where it finds the drain to the step down pump.

 

[JEMCO]

Hey guys,
You have all done a great job on your boats,
I have a 1981 SRV 245 Sundancer that I just purchased and noticed the same thing around the bilge pump...

 

[GoofyLeo3]

Although the canvas was off during the summer, I've found up to 2 gallons in my bilge after a couple of rainshowers and it baffles me! Shouldn't this all go down the deck scuppers? I always keep the cabin closed and don't have any water in the stepdown sump, but the water in the aft bilge irks me!

 

[Lazy Daze]

Ana - first, check the side windows as mentioned above. Use a hose set on a "heavy rain" setting. Get all of the water out, first. If you verify it's coming from there, look for drain holes in the tracking to be clogged. Look for worn/cracking silicone. There's also some special type of window caulking used in those windows. Don't remember what it's called, but try doing a search for key words using "akbassking" as the user name. There's others, his name is just one I happen to remember.

Anchor locker - check for drain holes to be blocked, look for cracks where water could seep in.

Bow rails? Doubtful as you'd see evidence of it on the headliner. Unless some of the stanchion mounting bolts are hidden behind something.

Windshield? Possibly, but same story as bow rails.

Winshield wiper?

Best bet is the side windows.

A friend and a hose are your tools. Give a blast for about 5 minutes, then wait about 5 to 10 minutes for the water to show up. May only take 30 seconds, but give it time just to be sure.

 

[irishfire]

i dont know if this will let in a great amount of water, ok picture this....you know how you can roll up the side windows of the camper top...and then snap the tie around the plastic to keep it up...well when they arent rolled up, the little hole in the snap will let water in and it will drip off the fabric tie...not alot of water but can add up...and i also found alot of water in my engine area the other day after a few days of rain....and water in the anchor storage infront of the engine area...

 

[Alpheus]

I just towed my 87 270 Sundancer home and it was dry when I started home but when I got home and looked inside the cabin the floor was soaked. I have know idea where it could have come from.I towed it 70 miles in very light rain but there were gallons on the floor. It has been sitting outside for over a year and never got wet before. My girlfriend followed me home and said when I went around a turn that water was coming out of the bilge holes.The headliner and window seals were all dry. Where do I look in the boat cabin area for water. I am stumped...

 

[DeBlasi]

I just towed my 87 270 Sundancer home and it was dry when I started home but when I got home and looked inside the cabin the floor was soaked. I have know idea where it could have come from.I towed it 70 miles in very light rain but there were gallons on the floor. It has been sitting outside for over a year and never got wet before. My girlfriend followed me home and said when I went around a turn that water was coming out of the bilge holes.The headliner and window seals were all dry. Where do I look in the boat cabin area for water. I am stumped...

In motion on a trailer, it would be impossible for light rain (while in motion covered) to accumulate into a moving boat and create gallons. Or even to the point of soaking the floor that much. Traveling on the ocean yes. But on land in a trailer, I cant see it happening.

I tend to think there's a leak either in the holding tank hose, or the water lines. Or something is blocked where the water travels from the front of the boat to the rear bilge. If the boat sits still dry docked and doesnt have that water buildup, something is causing water to leak when in motion. I am going simple here and thinking it could be this.

Was the water and holding tanks empty? If not, maybe when you stop and go, water is traveling into an area on the hose due to stop and go. And if its leaking, water is coming out freely. Or, water could have been building in the front and because it was just sitting, there was nothing to push it to the rear bilge. And when you went in motion, on route to the rear, its blocked and causing it to leak into the cabin area.

It may be stupid suggestions and again Im going simple here. But there's no way on a trailer, on a road in light rain, could cause gallons (as you called it) and yet the windows and seals were dry.

 

[Alpheus]

I was told the holding tanks were empty. This is the first time I got to mess with the boat since buying it in July. I had to wait till I got back into town to go pick it up. Where in the front would the water be sitting? The highest part that I found wet carpet was on the left side right behind the bed in the bow.It mostly accumulated in front of the fridge and counter area. The water coming from the bilge holes on the side of the boat when I went around corners tells me that there is water in there somewhere. The engine area was dry when I checked it right before I started hauling it home.

 

[berth control]

sounds like your side windows are leaking. mine used to and that is where the boat would get wet. do a search, there are a couple posts on the subject. You also may have your deck hatches leaking. Mine used to leak and they would drip on the floor without getting the headliner wet. Maybe new weather stripping is in order. PM me if you want more info, I have done quite a bit with my boat and may be able to help with your new project

 

[KC_Sundancer]

We own a 1985 270DA which had a similiar problem when we first purchased it.
Side windows were the cuplrit - a common problem with "sundancers" of the 80's.
The long side windows take much of the stress of loads on the deck (walking etc.) as there is no real support inside.

I removed and completely disassembled both window frames.
Used a plastic polish on the window inserts to get rid of most of the scratches.
Re-bed the windows using Dow Corning 795 Silicone Building Sealant - Black.
Replaced any damaged seals - which are still available from Taylor Made. They will send samples if needed to match.
The re-assembled frames were then installed using 3M 5200 to bond and seal them back in.
Just "snug" up the fasteners and allow the sealant to completely set. Then go back and tighten a bit more the next day. This keeps the sealant from squeezing out and creates a thin "gasket".
Note: The windows are a bit awkward so 3 people work best for re-installing.
Two to align and install from the outside and one to put the nuts on the inside fasteners.
The 3M 5200 is also tough to clean once it sets so get a nice clean bead around the perimeter ASAP.

You may be interested in other items addressed with our 270 DA. Heres a link to my restoration post that gets updated: http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23289

Best of Luck - leaks like that are tough to trace.