Water In Bilge

[Smokeio]

I am trying to troubleshoot and resolve water in my bilge (the boat is relatively new to me). In the forward section of my engine room, I have a bilge pump and switch that are not mounted and do not work. In an attempt to clean up my bilge I found water seeping from these screw holes.

I have been told there is a void in the keel of the boat where water can collect. This boat has had numerous fresh water leaks plus the rudder packings leaked so I can only assume the bilge has always had water in it thus filling this void over the years. Any suggestions on what I should do to address this?

Thanks

Mike

 

[Strecker25]

I am trying to troubleshoot and resolve water in my bilge (the boat is relatively new to me). In the forward section of my engine room, I have a bilge pump and switch that are not mounted and do not work. In an attempt to clean up my bilge I found water seeping from these screw holes.

View attachment 107068

I have been told there is a void in the keel of the boat where water can collect. This boat has had numerous fresh water leaks plus the rudder packings leaked so I can only assume the bilge has always had water in it thus filling this void over the years. Any suggestions on what I should do to address this?

Thanks

Mike

I’ve fixed it in both of my SR’s now. The fix is relatively simple in terms of steps.

- cut old “shelf” out by cutting along where the wood meets the V of the hull. They glassed in 3/4” plywood to create it. An oscillating multitool is the best for this, once you find where the two meet you get through it really quickly.

-clean up the mess underneath, usually pukey wood and stagnant water.

-glass in new pieces of marine plywood and cover with gelcoat. Spectrum has the SR bilge colors to match.


One thing you can do without totally ripping it out is to cut a large hole so you can get a shop vac in there. Do it at whichever end the water slopes to, usually aft, and get it all out. Then, leave it open for a while to see if the area dries out. I started with that but found the wood to be black and wanted it out of the boat since it stinks. We also sleep on it 60+ nights a year and I wasn’t crazy about that being near our beds

 

[Strecker25]

here’s an example on our 410. This is the cabin bilge but same idea

 

[Fill Ess]

I suspect I have the same issue (water in the keel seeping through screw holes). As much as I'd like to, it's a big leap of faith to drill a hole in this flat section to pump out the water below

 

[Wanderer 290]

Before doing any cutting consider sucking a small diameter probe, skinny wire or nail, in the hole to determine that the hole doesn’t go all the way through the hull.

 

[Strecker25]

Before doing any cutting consider sucking a small diameter probe, skinny wire or nail, in the hole to determine that the hole doesn’t go all the way through the hull.

Yes, sorry and good point. Two ways to do this - pucker factor much different depending on your path

- Drill a small hole while in the water. Keep an eye on the shavings as they come out and you'll know you're in the wood vs fiberglass. When you break through the 'shelf' you'll know it as the drill goes right through into the void.

- wait till you're on the hard and cut away without worry.


I also have the SR design drawings for both boats so I was confident I knew exactly what was below and where I was working, no blind cutting or drilling. You can call sea ray and ask nicely with your HIN and they might send them to you

 

[Smokeio]

Thanks for all your feedback. I have an email into Sea Ray to see if they can provide the drawings so I know where I can start cutting. I can't image doing this without those or with the boat being in the water!

Mike

 

[Morgan Jane]

I am trying to troubleshoot and resolve water in my bilge (the boat is relatively new to me). In the forward section of my engine room, I have a bilge pump and switch that are not mounted and do not work. In an attempt to clean up my bilge I found water seeping from these screw holes.

View attachment 107068

I have been told there is a void in the keel of the boat where water can collect. This boat has had numerous fresh water leaks plus the rudder packings leaked so I can only assume the bilge has always had water in it thus filling this void over the years. Any suggestions on what I should do to address this?

Thanks

Mike

Something to keep in mind is that if you have a section of the Bilge that has a lot of standing water in it, even after you remove all the water from that section, small holes like you show in your pic could continue to weep for an extended period of time. But at some time, they may stop weeping. The point is that the water weeping from those holes might not be from water making it's way thru the hull. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[Fill Ess]

Something to keep in mind is that if you have a section of the Bilge that has a lot of standing water in it, even after you remove all the water from that section, small holes like you show in your pic could continue to weep for an extended period of time. But at some time, they may stop weeping. The point is that the water weeping from those holes might not be from water making it's way thru the hull. Just something to keep in mind.

Good point. I had water in the bilge compartment outside the shower sump. I got it out as best I could. I wanted it to be totally dry so I could watch for further leaks. I think there was still a little bit left, like under the sump box for example, which weeps out over time.

 

[MrsTintSquad]

I’ve fixed it in both of my SR’s now. The fix is relatively simple in terms of steps.

- cut old “shelf” out by cutting along where the wood meets the V of the hull. They glassed in 3/4” plywood to create it. An oscillating multitool is the best for this, once you find where the two meet you get through it really quickly.

-clean up the mess underneath, usually pukey wood and stagnant water.

-glass in new pieces of marine plywood and cover with gelcoat. Spectrum has the SR bilge colors to match.


One thing you can do without totally ripping it out is to cut a large hole so you can get a shop vac in there. Do it at whichever end the water slopes to, usually aft, and get it all out. Then, leave it open for a while to see if the area dries out. I started with that but found the wood to be black and wanted it out of the boat since it stinks. We also sleep on it 60+ nights a year and I wasn’t crazy about that being near our beds

Where exactly is this shelf located that you cut out? Sounds like we are having the same issue.

Also- we are in Syracuse, NY i see your profile says Rochester, NY.

 

[Strecker25]

Where exactly is this shelf located that you cut out? Sounds like we are having the same issue.

Also- we are in Syracuse, NY i see your profile says Rochester, NY.

yup we’re in rochester, we keep our 410 on the Genesee river at the port of rochester.

the shelf in the Bilge is right between the engines.

 

[Jrub215]

here’s an example on our 410. This is the cabin bilge but same idea
View attachment 107108

Hi I know this post is from a while ago, but were you able to determine where the water is coming from and if it was salt or freshwater? I am having an issue with fresh water coming up through the screw holes holding down the float switch in the cabin. I'm guessing it's all along the keel