water on carpet in cabin of 260

[Marc]

I own a 2007 260 Sundancer. After a torrential rainstorm, I noticed that the carpet in the cabin was wet. This is the small carpet in the lowest part of the boat between the head and the galley. All hatches and port windows were tightly and properly closed at the time. After the storm, marina personnel tested the boat by hosing it with water. They also checked the mid cabin bildge area and sump. Everything checked out ok - no leaks. However, also after the storm, the marina found several snaps open over the driver's side windshield. The marina suggested that rain water leaked in as a result of these open snaps. They say that because it was a very heavy downpour, that water ran down the driver side windshield and found its way over to the entryway area, which became "overwhelmed" with water, thus the intrusion of water onto the carpet floor. I was wondering if anyone else with this model has experienced a similar problem? Also, it is my understanding that the interior cabin should stay dry regardless of whether or not the canvas is completely snapped in place. Am I wrong? The marina seems to suggest that the canvas, when all snaps are in place, acts to deflect water away from the interior cabin. I don't disagree with this theory, but shouldn't the cabin be watertight regardless of whether the canvass is in place. Your thougths?

 

[Presentation]

Not to argue with the marina staff, but if it were my boat I would grab a hose and do some checking of my own until I found it. Try all the obvious places. All hatches, portholes, windshield, etc.

added:

Oh, the anchor locker. Spray water down there too. See if the carpet gets wet then.

 

[RiverRat]

During a "normal" rain, I would say yes it should stay dry... A torrential rain storm??? Thats almost like saying that a boat should be air tight and not leak under any conditions. We all know thats not a reasonable expectation. Theory sounds plausable if somehow the entryway drain was partially blocked IMO... Thats a 1" drain. Possible though I suppose... but anything is possible.

 

[Dave S]

I don't agree with your dealers asessment of the problem either. They didn't offer you any real reason and unless you were not using the mooring cover their explanation makes no sense to me either.

I am very familiar where water will normally come in on the 260DA with the mooring cover in place. The only areas that will let any water in the cockpit are around the spoiler and around the bimini poles. The water that could come in around these areas should be confined to the cockpit or bilge and shouldn't find it's way into the cabin. Even the base of the windsheild is covered by the mooring cover so I wouldn't suspect a leak there either unless the snaps that weren't fastened left the base of the windsheild exposed. Even then there is no way the flow of water could "overwhelm" the channels around the cabin door. I would more likely suspect a leak around one of the cabin windows, the bow railing, or the rub rail. On the 260DA it is easy to check for leaks around the bow railing. Inside the cabin on the ceiling there are several raised covers you can remove and look for any water leaks around the fittings holding down the bow rail. Finding leaks in the other areas is a bit more challenging. Nonetheless, since your boat is still under warranty the dealer really needs to be the one that finds the leaks.

Go back to them and tell them and tell them you want them to find the leak and fix it.

 

[skolbe]

Could be a number of things. Could you have lost power during the storm and the refrigerator defrosted and leaked water on the carpet? Could be a fitting around the windshield.

 

[wickeral]

Also, Wind will travel rain water all over the place. Before you get into it too deep with the Dealer wait and see if it happens again. Did any of the cabinet spaces get wet? Sea Ray makes a very tight boat so it may be a difficult find. Al W.

 

[rbihn2]

Double check the shower sump under the step (under the trash can). Make sure the sump box manifold is not cracked or broken off and all hoses are connected. If the A/C was running, it also drains into this sump box and if there is a leak it fills up that area and overflows on to the carpet. My shower hose was strectched so tight at the factory that it actually snapped at the manifold - at first check it didn't even look out of place - until I took a shower. The drain at cockpit step going down into the cabin may also drain into this sump. You can get plumbing schematics on line from Searay.com to verify. Good Luck

 

[dpvandy01]

Could be a number of things. Could you have lost power during the storm and the refrigerator defrosted and leaked water on the carpet?

My guess would be the fridge. Check the carpet the the bottom of the fridge just below the door (vertical) Look for water marks on the vert surface. That would be my guess..

 

[estebanj]

Dave... just FYI, for 2007, the trash can was relocated to under the galley sink. The sump pump is in the same place, but no trash can there.

Esteban