Water pooling in cabin 1989 Amberjack 270

rx8blu

rx8blu

New Member
May 17, 2021
27
Hampton Roads, VA
Boat Info
270 Amberjack 1989
Engines
Dual 4.3LX 205HP Mercruiser/Alpha 1 Gen 1 Drives
Recently purchased this boat. Boat has been up on hard for a couple of years. Running through all the checks. Started to sanitize the freshwater system. Went to fill the water port and the water is leaking in the cabin. Got the shop vac out and cleaned up. Thought I saw a thread on here with the same issue, but lost it. Every other search on internet just comes up with boats for sale. Looking for advice and/or parts manual technical diagram (The user manual is very basic) of how I can troubleshoot this or if I have to take it to a repair marina....

Also looking to find the switch type breakers for the 12v panel and location of fuses (dash lights work, gauges are inop)

I can read a tech manual, and am good with wrench, etc., but the information is hard to come by...Thanks!
 
Does the water keep leaking after your done filling? Or is it only while filling? That might help you zero in on where to start looking, ie. the water fill line.

I think most of us have fuse panels in the cabin, in the cockpit (under the helm) and many times also in the engine room on the bulkhead.

Check out the owners section on searay.com to see if they have manuals available for download.
 
I'm not sure about about during vs after filling. I was running a hose in the freshwater fill and stepped down into a pool. Not sure if it increased after I cut the water, but i could smell the bleach I had added to sanitize. My understanding is the freshwater tank is towards the bow under the berth cushion, but I do not see a way to access it.
I do have the AC panel in the cabin. Those breakers "seem" to be working properly (no oxidation, etc.) I haven't pulled the helm panel yet, and I do see the bilge fuse panel in the engine compartment forward near the batteries.

I'll check the site for those manuals. I'm retired navy so I can understand how marine tech manuals work...;-)

Thanks!
 
unfortunately, you will have a hard time with pre-mid 90's data. The technology wasn't great, nor was the ability to capture it digitally. Other owners of your vintage boat will be very helpful. Best bet is to look at your boat as a jigsaw puzzle. There will be accessibility to the water tank. You may have to unscrew some panels to get to it. Think in reverse of how the cabinetry got to what it is now.
liquids always flow with gravity. In a boat, sometimes that is sideways instead of down because of the horizontal pitch of the vessel while in the water. Best of luck. your carpets are nice and clean now (hopefully the bleach didn't mess em up)
 
370Dancer said:
unfortunately, you will have a hard time with pre-mid 90's data. The technology wasn't great, nor was the ability to capture it digitally. Other owners of your vintage boat will be very helpful. Best bet is to look at your boat as a jigsaw puzzle. There will be accessibility to the water tank. You may have to unscrew some panels to get to it. Think in reverse of how the cabinetry got to what it is now.
liquids always flow with gravity. In a boat, sometimes that is sideways instead of down because of the horizontal pitch of the vessel while in the water. Best of luck. your carpets are nice and clean now (hopefully the bleach didn't mess em up)
Click to expand...

I WAS able to find the owner and parts manual for the boat it was close as the searay website specifically said it had nothing beyond 1990 models, but I lucked out and found the 1989 manuals I was looking for. I will be troubleshooting my leak issue tonight with my 1st mate (wife)...lol
 
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Stee6043 said:
Does the water keep leaking after your done filling? Or is it only while filling? That might help you zero in on where to start looking, ie. the water fill line.

I think most of us have fuse panels in the cabin, in the cockpit (under the helm) and many times also in the engine room on the bulkhead.

Check out the owners section on searay.com to see if they have manuals available for download.
Click to expand...

thanks! Your advice was spot on! Please read a few items down. I found the correct manuals...
 
rx8blu said:
I WAS able to find the owner and parts manual for the boat it was close as the searay website specifically said it had nothing beyond 1990 models, but I lucked out and found the 1989 manuals I was looking for. I will be troubleshooting my leak issue tonight with my 1st mate (wife)...lol
Click to expand...
Well done.
 
rx8blu said:
thanks! Your advice was spot on! Please read a few items down. I found the correct manuals...
Click to expand...
Just saw your thread. I have a 1989 270 AJ. Water tank and pump are in the forward hatch between captain and first mate seats on my boat. I'm looking for the 12v fuse panel. Filled my tank, but can't figure why pump not working. Had water in my cabin, but it was from clogged drain in anchor locker.
 
David Bell said:
Just saw your thread. I have a 1989 270 AJ. Water tank and pump are in the forward hatch between captain and first mate seats on my boat. I'm looking for the 12v fuse panel. Filled my tank, but can't figure why pump not working. Had water in my cabin, but it was from clogged drain in anchor locker.
Click to expand...

The switches starboard by your knee when in the captains chair are actually 10A 12V switch breakers. One should be labeled for the water system. I'm in the process of replacing all of mine, they were rusted out. Water heater is on the 120A/AC board in your cabin. I'm actually waiting on an inline strainer (the housing on mine was cracked and pouring into the area by the water heater then into cabin, rather than the bilge due to a slight list)
 
rx8blu said:
The switches starboard by your knee when in the captains chair are actually 10A 12V switch breakers. One should be labeled for the water system. I'm in the process of replacing all of mine, they were rusted out. Water heater is on the 120A/AC board in your cabin. I'm actually waiting on an inline strainer (the housing on mine was cracked and pouring into the area by the water heater then into cabin, rather than the bilge due to a slight list)
Click to expand...
I've flipped those on. Still nothing. Next step is to put a multimeter on it to see if the breaker is hot I guess.
 
David Bell said:
I've flipped those on. Still nothing. Next step is to put a multimeter on it to see if the breaker is hot I guess.
Click to expand...

mine were in bad shape. Some still worked, but you could see rust inside the breaker. I’m replacing ALL of them rather than leave it to chance. Already replaced the ignition breakers and my gauges came right up. They were completely dead before.
 
Fresh water blues...Initially I thought water pooling in the cabin was due to a cracked water strainer. Replaced the water strainer...check!...Water pump trips the 12v breaker, and no flow...replaced water pump...check!...Good water flow and immediately water begins exiting from the bottom of the water heater!....Guess what is getting replaced next!...Welcome to new boat whack-a-mole!...lol...

On a side note...does anyone know where to find a good slotted (flathead) measuring 3/4", or a fitting similar to provide enough toque to dislodge the stubborn gear lube drain plug for an Alpha1 Gen1 stern drive?

Thanks all! The adventure continues!
 
Robert H Holmes said:
Are you still having water issues in the cabin? Took me awhile to figure mine out.
Click to expand...
Yes...actually...happens every time it rains...made sure no rain is getting in from cabin/cockpit area...No leaking from the forward hatches, or portholes...No heavy amount of water in the bilge area as well...

The fresh water system is working well and no leaks. Replaced the strainer, pump and 6gal water heater...The leak is not coming from the freshwater system as I first suspected...

What did you find?
 
Last edited:
rx8blu said:
Yes...actually...happens every time it rains...made sure no rain is getting in from cabin/cockpit area...No leaking from the forward hatches, or portholes...No heavy amount of water in the bilge area as well...

The fresh water system is working well and no leaks. Replaced the strainer, pump and 6gal water heater...The leak is not coming from the freshwater system as I first suspected...

What did you find?
Click to expand...
Sounds like you may have a different problem than my 2005 270. I found that the shower sump was filling up with water because if you turn of the batteries it won't pump. When you pore and water in the sinks it will just over flow into the forward bilge under the step. Every boat I looked at had water damage to the floor.
I also had a small leak where you fill the water tank, I lifted it up and silicone it back down.
To find all this was time consuming, I had the hose out on the deck with the wife below telling me when it started to leak.
Just to be clear where is the water collecting?
 
The water is collecting on the cabin floor just as you step down in, but The boat is currently up on trailer and tilted slightly. I have noticed wet patch at the forward part of cabin floor and think the water is actually running down from there to pool in the lowest point.
 
I would try taking the hose and start up in the bow and slowly work your way back. concentrate around deck fittings. See if you can feel and moister on the carpet port or starboard. Start with where you fill the water tank. As I mentioned before that's where mine was leaking, it was a steady trickle. I also removed the navigation lights and re bedded them down but that wasn't it. Your boats a 89 it may be constructed different than mine. Could it be possible that the anchor locker is leaking into the cabin?
Hope you find it!
 
Hi rx8blu,
I just saw your thread, I know, I'm a year late, lol.
If, by chance, you're still having water leak issues on your Amberjack let me know, I had very similar problems and I was able to solve them.
There were many leaks when I got my Amberjack but the largest issue was coming from the helm area and running behind and under the head area and then onto the cabin floor.
Let me know if you want more info and good luck.
Steve.
 
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