Water intrusion on 2005 22' cruiser

Dan McNally · Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:05 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the replies and information. I have tried to eliminate all the on board water to isolate the source. The fresh water tank has been drained and the porti-pot has been removed. I can wipe the area dry and within a couple of minutes there is water showing up at the grommet in the floor under where the porti-pot would sit. I pull the grommet and poke the foam and it releases more water, the problem is coming from from the hull or anchor drain hole. I did not see a tube at this area just a small hole going to the outside.

Thanks Dan.

Sealife · Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:14 pm Post subject:

Dan,

Mark has probably given you the best guess.......the screws afixing the bronze stem to the bow were drilled too long, and breached the hollow area within the hull containing the foam flotation. This was a problem just after the change of C-Dory owners a few years ago. The foam flotation material absorbs alot of water and continues to weep for quite a while. Roger (Fishtales) had this problem which he cured by cutting an inspection port in the bulkhead just behind the porta-potti, then drying the area out with a blower, and afixing a cover over the hole. Of course, remove the stem screws and reseal the holes well before reattaching.

Sea Wolf

Dan- Didn't you say in your first post you had already checked the screws on the bow strip for leakage?

Joe.

DaveS · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:15 pm Post subject:

colobear · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 8:19 pm Post subject:

My 2006 has a small bilge well at the rear of the cabin just under the door. It is approx (guessing here, not at boat) 6"x14"x6" and is a hand laid fiberglass "bucket" that contains a Rule bilge pump. Water comes into the well through a slot at the base of the cabin bulkhead and there is normally an inch or two in that well. I think most of the water is rain/wash water. The bilge is covered by a plywood cover extending the width of the cockpit between the two storage areas (under rear seat and under stove/heater). When finished it looks like a step at the rear of the cockpit with a hinged door used to get at the bilge. I think the 2006 was the last model to have this setup. The molded in floor raises the cockpit floor as Sea Wolf said and eliminates the water access.

Dan McNally · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:03 pm Post subject:

Brats,
Thanks for the information to date, I have e-mailed the factory but have not had a reply as of yet. Just an update, I recently went to the boat and removed two plus gallons from the porta-pot area. the porta-pot is not the problem as it was not in the area at the time, the possibility of rain water is out because the boat is completely under a covered garage and there is no fresh water in the tank. This is saltwater that has entered the hull from some outside source. I wonder if it could be from the raw water wash-down pick up that goes thru the hull at the rear of the boat? Is there a double hull or void space at this location? I see no standing water in the area by the drain but if there is a double hull at this area the water then could travel to the bow and be released thru the grommet as this is the only release point that I can find.

I'll keep you posted and thanks for the information so far.

Dan.

DaveS · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:08 pm Post subject:

Barry,
My '04 has the same set up as yours with the bilge pump in the same location.

However, the water in the bow (under the inspection port ie: beneath where the porta potti goes) is a different issue. It is water that is held in the foam under the v-berth until it starts leaking upwards through the edges of the inspection port and probably only becomes visible after the foam becomes so saturated that if will no longer hold the water. The entry point of this water is through the space between the outside hull and the anchor locker. Water either gains entry in this space through the outside "clam" or if your anchor locker gained enough water from the retreival of a saturated anchor rode.

(The bilge pump you are referring to catches it's water from the cockpit. After all trips I inspect it and if there is any water in it, I sponge out what the bilge pump does not remove so as to keep moisture down in the boats interior).

Most likely anyone who has a vessel that has that "space" between the hull and anchor locker, has water intrusion under the v-berth......it just hasn't escaped through the inspection port yet as it has a fairly tight seal. Once the inspection port is removed and some of the foam is removed you'll see standing water!

DaveS · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:17 pm Post subject:

DaveS · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:04 am Post subject:

Since I started this "project" this afternoon, the water impregnated foam has been "giving up" about 60 to 90 cc's of water each hour.

With water weighing in at 8.345 lbs. per gallon, if this keeps up, I'll soon be able to pick up the front end of the boat without having to eat my spinach Wink

Alana Kai · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:15 am Post subject: Water Leak

In my 2004 22 Cruiser I have a bulkhead fitting that is to the right of the cabin door just below the floorboards. It is a plastic fitting with an O ring seal that threads into the female portion of the fitting.

The only time I ever had water in the cabin is when this fitting loosened up a little. Now I check it every so often to make sure it is tight.

I did not know it was there until one day I noticed some water on the cabin floor. I called my dealer (Cutter Marine) and they knew what it was right away.

Captains Cat · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:24 am Post subject:

I've got one of those too but don't have the plug. I get water in the cabin every time it rains. The only bilge pump on a '94 is at the transom between the gas tanks. I usually keep my bimini up to help or put the cockpit cover over the whole shebang. I need one of those plugs!!

Charlie

Moxieabs · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:37 am Post subject:

My "plastic" fitting leaked around the mounting flange and through the mounting screws that penetrated the bulkhead wall. Took several tries to figure out it wasn't just a loose plug.

Jazzmanic · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:11 pm Post subject: Re: Water Leak

Dan McNally · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 8:38 am Post subject:

Just an up-date, as of yet no contact from the factory. I e-mailed them again and pointed out that as a consumer I had expectations and to have no response in a weeks time I felt was below my expectations. I hope this is not going to be a battle. You may question why I do not just call them on the phone, well the simple answer is I work long hours and I am far from a phone. To get a hold of the factory by phone would be great but so far I can not get them to e-mail me, or leave a message on my answering machine.

Regards,

Dan

DaveS · Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 2:33 am Post subject:

One week ago today, I started this project and I'm STILL extracting water with a syringe from the inspection port. That foam doesn't give up that water at any "breakneck" speed!

So far, I've extracted two and a half gallons of water!