Wet/stained Carpet

D

drprunner

Member
Dec 31, 2008
77
SE Florida
Boat Info
1997 400 Sundancer
Engines
Caterpillar 3116 300hp
Has anyone who owns an older 400 Sundancer had problems with the carpet in the aft cabin getting wet/stained? I've had this problem for a while, and can not figure our where the moisture is coming from. I was just wondering if anyone else had experienced this and be able to trace where it's coming from.
carpet.jpg
 
You've definitely got a problem. That is not normal, nor is your boat "older" - she's in her prime :)

I'd imagine you have a leaking fresh water tank. Pretty common to our boats is cracking at the tops of the tank caused by keeping them full whilst underway. Many of us owners of this generation rarely fill our fresh water tanks above 1/2-3/4 to avoid this.

Though I've not gone looking for mine I believe you will find your L shaped fresh water tank behind the middle and port sections of that seating area. I'd bet she leaks around the top every time you fill it...and when it sloshes while underway.


upload_2023-3-8_12-17-26.png
 
Unfortunately that is exactly what mine looked like (only I had blue vertical carpet so it was as not as obvious)
While it could be the tank and or plumbing leaking. Mines was from above, the rear facing cockpit seat bracket and the helm seat/storage box mounting bolts. Water would enter and run down behind the foam backed vinyl and drip out into the tank space you never saw any water drip until the tank was out and I sprayed water everywhere. The brown color is not a good sign it means the wood is already breaking down (rot).


https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10208910640027820&type=3
The entire repair is documented there in various albums as well
https://www.facebook.com/HughesPat57/photos_albums
 
I agree, most likely the water tank. I would also make sure the condensate drain for the rear AC is not stopped up. Just have same issue on 370DA, was AC drain.
 
Not for nothing, but I had this same problem last summer in my 370 DA. It turned out to be a clogged drain to aft A/C unit so that collected condensation oveflowed the tray and ran onto the aft floor. I used a wet/dry vac to suck the line in the mid-cabin bilge sump to pull the clog out.
 
RubberDuckeeToo2 said:
Not for nothing, but I had this same problem last summer in my 370 DA. It turned out to be a clogged drain to aft A/C unit so that collected condensation oveflowed the tray and ran onto the aft floor. I used a wet/dry vac to suck the line in the mid-cabin bilge sump to pull the clog out.
Click to expand...
Good to see you around. Seems like it's been a while. Gene if I recall?
 
Yes. Haven't posted in a long while. Health issues, relocation, and impending retirement have kept me lurking.
 
I assume you guys with the 370's have the aft AC unit in the mid-berth? On the 400 it's under the couch in the salon. Water can travel in crazy ways but I'm not sure it would be possible for a clogged AC drain to cause this issue without seeing the damage further forward?

upload_2023-3-11_8-36-17.png
 
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Stee6043 said:
I assume you guys with the 370's have the aft AC unit in the mid-berth? On the 400 it's under the couch in the salon. Water can travel in crazy ways but I'm not sure it would be possible for a clogged AC drain to cause this issue without seeing the damage further forward?

View attachment 141160
Click to expand...


Two years ago I thought I broke my water tank in my 400 as described above. The aft floor was totally soaked.

It turns out it was exactly this.

The A/C condensate line was clogged and overflowing the pan into a small channel that runs along side of the aft head which ends up spilling into the floor area.

I took apart the entire area where the tank is and it was bone dry all around it.

The other telltale was I had a small amount of water in the mid bilge area. The water was running down along the outside of the condensate drain hose into the mid bilge area. Took a while to figure it out since both sump boxes were working perfectly and nowhere near full.
 
Carver370 said:
View attachment 141214


Two years ago I thought I broke my water tank in my 400 as described above. The aft floor was totally soaked.

It turns out it was exactly this.

The A/C condensate line was clogged and overflowing the pan into a small channel that runs along side of the aft head which ends up spilling into the floor area.

I took apart the entire area where the tank is and it was bone dry all around it.

The other telltale was I had a small amount of water in the mid bilge area. The water was running down along the outside of the condensate drain hose into the mid bilge area. Took a while to figure it out since both sump boxes were working perfectly and nowhere near full.
Click to expand...

Dang, thanks for sharing! I would have not imagined water could have made that trip.

Slick aftermarket air filter too :)
 
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