Bilge water under the trash can

[Mike-S]

I just emptied the trash can on my 2004 280 Sundancer and found about 3” deep water around the sump pump. The box is completely dry inside. There is no water in the fresh tank and shore water is not connected. Maybe its been down there for a while and I just never checked. How do I troubleshoot what is leaking?

 

[Lazy Daze]

Is the boat in the water? Salt water? Is the water you found salt or fresh?

How long has it been since you've been at the boat?

Have you been running the boat since you last checked the area (when it was dry)?

But, assuming it's fresh water and assuming it's rainwater... although there can be multiple reasons, the most common is a leaking portlight. Cabin portlights would also meanthe wall and floor below them would be wet - at least for a little while until they dried. The head portlight could ALSO drain between the head wall and the hull and then travel underneath the head floor to the sump area.

 

[Mike-S]

The boat is in salt water. It was brown when I bailed it out but didn’t check if it was salty or not. There were a few cleaning products under the sink that were wet as well so I’m thinking it could have come from above, meaning the head portlight. I will check that.

 

[Lazy Daze]

You can have someone use a hose while you observe. If it's leaking INTO the head, then that's most likely because the rubber seal for the portlight is old. You can try to rejuvinate it by a good cleaning and using 303 protectant... and try tightening the latching dogs a bit.

BUT... leaking INTO the head shouldn't cause this issue unless the floor drain is compromised. Unless there's just THAT much water running into the undersink cabinet - but that's low on the likely list.

You can remove the carpeted toe kick underneath the head door to get a better idea of what's going on. Feel for scsrew heads buried in the carpet.

 

[Mike-S]

Thanks! I will give it a try!

 

[Little Ducky]

I'm not sure how your boat is configured but is your AC condensate tray near by?

I had my 260 DA AC condenser drain line plug up and it over flowed around the sump under the steps.

 

[brewster16]

And once you've completely dried the foor you can strategically lay some paper towel down to see where water is entering

 

[dan313]

I had the same issue on my 270AJ. The port running light was leaking. I know of at least 3 other 280 with the same issue. Good Luck.