Water leaking into cabin, 22 ft. crusier

Captain Hopatcong

I have 2000 22 ft. cruiser. This is my second season of ownership.
The floor of the cabin collects water when it rains but otherwise remains dry when boating or docked. I did not have this problem last year. Can not figure source of water. Water is easily sponged but I have to roll up rug when expecting rain. Any suggestions where to look?

Appreciate any help,
Captain Hopatcong,
Lake Hopatcong, NJ

dotnmarty · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 10:16 am Post subject:

If you bilge pump is in the cockpit just outside the door, check and clean the intake filter. Lake Hopatcong! Spent many fun times at Bertrand Island about 60 years ago!

easternshore22 · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 10:17 am Post subject:

I had the same issue in my 1996 22' Angler during big downpours (if it is a long steady soaking rain, no problems). I checked windows, through hull fittings, anchor well, etc and could not find any trace of water. Once when it was raining hard I stayed in the boat to check the source of the water. Apparently the bilge pump pumps water faster than it can get into the well. This causes the pump to stop while there is still water in the cockpit outside. The consequence of this is that the bilge well fills and water gets into the cabin through a bad joint on the starboard side of the bilge well. I sealed it and problem solved.

When it rains try to stay in the boat and check for the source of water.

Franco

starcrafttom · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 12:44 pm Post subject:

check that pump and add a one way valve so it does not back flow when it shuts off. this can fill your drain and over run it. also check around the inside of the rub rail. These some times leak. also the thru hull on the side of the cabin where you fill you water tank. sometimes those will loosen and leak.

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 1:44 pm Post subject:

Another place to look is along the rub rail in the cabin. The rivets are covered by glass/resin, but have been known to leak. You might see streaks down the inside of the hull.

The anchor well is another place that has had issues.

If you have a mooring cover or camperback, leaving that on during a rain should tell you if it is coming from the cockpit or bilge pump.

Nainu · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 3:59 pm Post subject:

I had this problem. Significant water on rare occasions after a rain. Ultimately discovered that water entering from rubrail at aft cabin bulkhead. There was a gap at hull joint there that was supposed to be filed with putty before hull seam was fiberglassed, since this spot could not be taped and fiberglassed. Water got into wood in bulkhead, then froze and cracked the fiberglass at the joint inside of my cabinets. When it rained and the boat was at the right angle on the trailer, water ran down inside the rubrail to the bulkhead then into the cabinet through the crack. Was perplexed for some time about this until I noticed a small spot of mildew and identified the crack.

rogerbum · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 7:00 pm Post subject:

I had a similar problem with my 22 early on. I discovered that water was coming in under the fill port for the freshwater tank. That sits right in front of a fiberglass "dam" that is designed to keep water that runs down the side of the boat from entering the cockpit. If the fill hole isn't sealed well, water can come in there.

As for installing a one way valve in the bilge pump line as Tom recommended, I'd advise against that. One way valves not only obstruct the flow of water a little, they occasionally stick and obstruct the flow of water a lot. A bilge pump is an important safety feature and you want it to operate at its best when you really need it. Nearly all bilge pump manufacturers specifically advise against installing a one-way valve in a bilge pump line due to their tendency to stick.

See for example -
http://www.docksidereports.com/bilge_water_blues.htm or
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/bilge_pumps.htm or the manual that comes with any Rule bilge pump.

McDory · Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 2:05 pm Post subject:

On my 2001 22' C-Dory there is a plastic removable plug directly under the door. I had a problems with a very small leak from the plastic fitting that the plug screws into. I removed the fitting, cleaned it, caulked it and remounted it. I also put some teflon tape on the plug itself. I haven't had a problem since then.