Multiple Water issues on my Tomcat 24.

[redbaronace]

We are the owners of a Tomcat24 and it has some issues pertaining to water which I cannot seem to figure out. Im hoping that someone here can provide some answers to the problems so I can address them.

Water is coming into the cabin from what I believe is through the front windshield when it rains. My boat has the front center sliding windshield. I see water in the head, on the floor near the birth, and in the storage compartment between the table and the bed. I'm trying to get this figured out quick so that I can avoid getting mold/mildew inside.

Another item which I cannot figure out is the port side corner near the transom fills up with about 1 inch of water when fishing with several (3-4) people in the cockpit. This is right where the scupper is at, but since it is apparently at the water level, the water does not drain out. Doesn't seem to be any danger, but the person standing there while fishing will get their shoes all wet Not really sure why its just on the port side since the weight at the back is pretty evenly distributed.

Lastly, can someone explain where the water that empties from the bilge is being removed from. When we returned to dock, the bilge pump emptied water for about 5 minutes straight. I was wondering if that water was what was weighing down the boat at the rear.

Anyone with answers to the questions, feel free to chime in.

[Discovery]

I have some ideas, but would like to know what year and if possible what HIN # your boat is.

[redbaronace]

[Discovery]

redbaronace,

I had major problems with a 2003 TomCat 24' that was built by the Reynolds owned factory. It was the first TC 24' that Reynolds built after buying the molds. The problems were due to a clueless workforce who had never laid-up a fiberglass boat before. Those problems won't apply to a boat built in 1999 by the Toland led workers. Check for leaks on all the fasteners drilled through the deck. IE railings cleats etc.

I had leaks into the forward sponsons due to lamination problems in the lay-up. Also the drain hole in the rear fishbox was drilled over size for the brass ferrule that was installed. This allowed water to be injected between the laminations at planing speeds. The water ended up in the rear of the sponsons. Mostly on the port side. Causing a pronounced list to port. The design of the scuppers is poor on all the TomCats, and water would run back onto the deck if the rear corners were overloaded. This is still a problem with the current TC 255, and I have solved it by putting in plumbing plugs. 2" rubber plugs that can be found in hardware stores. They have a bolt through the center to tighten them in place. I only take them out to wash the boat.

Just some thoughts based on owning both models of the TomCat. Reynolds took the TC 24' back and refunded everything I had paid. They built me the new TC 255 for $25,000 difference. I thought it was more than fair, and I salute Jeff Messmer for making it happen.

[Ted Osborne]

Re. The water in the bilge, I would take a hose or bucket of water and pour it thru the scupper and check if that causes water going into the bilge......maybe a hole or tear in one of the scupper tubes.

[redbaronace]

[redbaronace]

[Sasscom]

A good source for rubber stoppers is www.widgetco.com

Order a pair of #10 Rubber Stoppers, their part number 7-R10-S-EPDM-RS which cost $2.25 each.

I've found that if I have more than 4 people in the cockpit of my TC-255 I need to insert these in the scuppers to prevent flooding when sitting at the dock. I later ordered a pair with holes in the center, where I have attached a pull cord to easily remove them. (Part number 7-R10-1-EPDM-RS) This poor design is a nuisance at best and a potential safety issue. I think if I ever got "pooped" while offshore or running an inlet I'd try and open the fish boxes and turn on the pumps to help drain the cockpit. Not a great solution, but this is a design flaw that can't be fixed. I've just learned to stay aware of the situation and be extra cautious when loading the boat....keeping extra weight out of the aft end. This issue and the fishboxes that can't stay dry are two flaws in an otherwise great little cruising boat.

[redbaronace]

Found out one source of water entry which sometimes got the carpet runner wet. As I was working inside the boat it began to rain really hard. All of the sudden water started pouring in over the top of the closed door down the window and into the cabin onto the floor.

I was surprised that water would come in at that location because in looking at it, it would appear to be a tight seal. It was about 1/3 of a cup of water which entered. I can see how over time, water would keep coming in and making things damp. Perhaps my bimini top was collecting water on top until it overflowed and proceeded to dump a bunch at a time.

I installed an adhesive weatherstripping on the inside top of the door to create a seal there. Hopefully this will eliminate one source of water entry.

Also, it appears that my port side rear sponson is collecting water and that the tube for draining has come loose. Looks like there is a dedicated bilge pump in there, but I could not tell if it was operating or not. At any rate, there is about 5 inches of standing water inside there. Perhaps this is resulting in the port side listing due to collection of water there.

Going to the boat tomorrow with a fountain pump and some water stoppers. Hopefully I can get this fixed with hose clamps and plugs. With each fix, the boat gets one step closer to my desired cruiser.

[thataway]

A fountain pump to me implies a small impellor pump, which will not self prime. I would get a diaphragm pump, which will self prime and run dry to remove the water down in the hull of a TC 24.

As for the doors--none of them sealed well. First a Bimini top to keep water out of this area. You can also put a gutter just above the door, to keep water from running back off the cabin top. RV shops have a vinyl 3 M product in white which can be put onto the aft bulkhead over the door to direct any water away form the door seals.

[redbaronace]

[redbaronace]

An update to my port side rear taking on water in the bilge.

Turns out that not only was bilge pump hose tattered, the pump itself on the port side had faulty wiring.

Got everything put back together and will monitor it the next time out. As a preventative measure, we also changed out the starboard side hose.

Hopefully this will correct the lean and be another item crossed off the list of things to repair/replace.

[redbaronace]

Follow up post for future owners who may experience similar issues.

I changed out the tracks, and seals of my front windshield and it appears that my front window is now water tight. Complete disassembly of the window panes is requires, but once apart, it allowed me to clean everything up real good. Still some work to do on that front windshield to get my window operational (sliding and locking properly). At least it no longer leaks and the hard part of replacing parts is completed. The parts to fix the window came from Diamond Sea Glaze at a cost of around $70.

My recently installed bilge does not seem to cycle on automatically. Im not sure why, given that it should be automatic. I am going to monitor it to determine its behavior pattern.

The rear door seal seems to keep the water out of the cabin there.

I did also put a door weatherstripping around my fish box and that too has kept the water out of that compartment. I do not feel that this is a permanent solution as its just a matter of time before the adhesive gives way. For now, it has held up and I have a dry fish box for the first time.

My rear scupper cover is somehow missing and I am searching for a replacement part or alternative solution. Some have recommended the flow max ball scupper. Im not really sure how this works and how much of an improvement it will be for my application. Anybody chime in on these ball scuppers?

[redbaronace]

[haakebecks]

I recently had a similar problem with a bilge. The manual switch worked fine, but the float switch did not. Ended up being another inline fuse I wasn't aware of. Not sure if that is the case with yours or not, but worth a shot.