Saverio
Well-Known Member
- Aug 31, 2010
- 1,506
- Boat Info
- 1995 450 DA
- Engines
- Cat 3126 420hp
900 hours Westerbeek Generator
did you ever find out was caused it???
Hello all,
Have owned a 1999 450DA for 12 yrs and she's been flawless (up until now). Bilges always dry, solid decks, no evidence of leaks, flawless engines, etc. Last survey (for reference) was done 5 yrs ago for insurance purposes and passed with flying colors. No issues until today.
Just put her on the hard for the winter and was busy cleaning her. Opened the large hatch in the cabin sole in order to clean out the gray water sump when I discovered the floor was cracked pretty severely. In addition, the section where the cracks were was raised (swollen). When I lifted a cracked section of the flooring, I found the underlying wood structure to be quite wet to the touch.
Trying to figure out what thee cause of this is. At first I thought a leaking sump, but the flooring in the whole area is dry to the touch, saw no evidence of standing water, water staining or the foul odor that accompanies a leaking sump. I even went as far as disabling the bilge pump and filling the sump with water, but I found it not to be leaking. Also no evidence of water on the stringers in that compartment (no stains, etc.).
I usually have miscellaneous stuff stored there that covers the floor so I can't really say how long this has been going on. Ironically, all the stuff stored there is also dry, which makes me wonder where the water is coming from. Its obviously coming from outside the compartment, probably the area between the stringers and hull.
Looking for advice from the collective hive to try and figure out what's causing this as I can't find any evidence that water has leaked into that space from above or from the sump. Also concerned as to how that wet floor will affect the integrity of the boat both short and long term.
UPDATE: Went back to the boat with a friend who has a skipper moisture meter. The floor as well as the stringers pegged the meter. The stringers in the compartment just forward also pegged the meter, although the floor there did not. Might be time to drill a few inspection holes in the stringers and see what shows up. Since there are no limber holes in either compartment, I can't check to see what, if anything, is between the stringers and the hull.
Your input is greatly appreciated.
Pic of the floor (looking down) showing the cracked flooring and a section of flooring that I pulled up which revealed the wet subfloor