I am the proud new owner of Thisaway (2006 22’ Cruiser). Battery left on 2. Both bilge pumps on Auto. When we have a downpour (3.4”/hr.) by the time I get to the boat (at the dock)the water in the cockpit is lower than the floorboards but there is 3” of water in the cabin. What am I doing wrong?
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Water in Cabin
- Thread starter Lipidman
- Start date
Check your bilge pump hose that pumps water out from mid boat. These cheap plastic crappy hoses get cracks and when you think your pump is pumping water out of the boat, the bilge is pumping it in. Happened to me. Bought a reinforced hose at the hardware store. Problem solved. Also, make sure your bilge pump float is working properly. Had to replace mine twice, electronic float bad but manual worked. Junk!
Good place to start anyway.
John
Swee Pea
Good place to start anyway.
John
Swee Pea
I didn't have that problem--so something may have changed. When you say 3" of water in the cabin--do you mean in the sump which is under the cabin step? If so, this is where the water is supposed to go, and be pumped out. If it is not pumping out, I would suspect that the automatic switch has failed, or something caught under it. That sump is connected to the area under the removable floor boards. There is a hole under the removable floorboards--which allows the water at the low point, when boat is on the trailer or in the water to drain into the sump. The aft bilge pump is only going to be active when the boat is underway. I added that pump when I bought the boat about 2011.
If it was in the cabin floor--the only time I found some water on the galley counter and had run a few drops onto the floor, was a leak around the aft hand rail on the starboard side of the cabin aft bulkhead. That was repaired and sealed several years ago--and no leak. Another possibility is the water tank or its hose system had a leak. To have that much water on the floor, the door or a window would have to be open--or come from the cockpit..
For 3" of water to be in the main cabin floor--there would have to be failure of the sump walls under the step going into the cabin, or delimitation of the tabbing holding the cabin aft bulkhead to the cabin floor. Both of these were intact when I sold the boat about 15 months ago.
If it was in the cabin floor--the only time I found some water on the galley counter and had run a few drops onto the floor, was a leak around the aft hand rail on the starboard side of the cabin aft bulkhead. That was repaired and sealed several years ago--and no leak. Another possibility is the water tank or its hose system had a leak. To have that much water on the floor, the door or a window would have to be open--or come from the cockpit..
For 3" of water to be in the main cabin floor--there would have to be failure of the sump walls under the step going into the cabin, or delimitation of the tabbing holding the cabin aft bulkhead to the cabin floor. Both of these were intact when I sold the boat about 15 months ago.
Gerhard, have you put food dye into the water--and put it in the sump?
That way you often can find a dye trail. Another more sophisticated way is to use a fluorescent dye, and UV flashlight after dark.--this can even find smaller traces.
I have heard of some folks pressurizing the cabin of RV or boat--using a vacuum, so the pressure is about 1 PSI--and then using soap bubbles to see where the air is leaking out. Problem with the C Dory is that there are some bigholes--anchor locker, and the area under the gunnels on both sides of the after bulkhead.
That way you often can find a dye trail. Another more sophisticated way is to use a fluorescent dye, and UV flashlight after dark.--this can even find smaller traces.
I have heard of some folks pressurizing the cabin of RV or boat--using a vacuum, so the pressure is about 1 PSI--and then using soap bubbles to see where the air is leaking out. Problem with the C Dory is that there are some bigholes--anchor locker, and the area under the gunnels on both sides of the after bulkhead.
Lipidman":2kdcckci said:I am the proud new owner of Thisaway (2006 22’ Cruiser). Battery left on 2. Both bilge pumps on Auto. When we have a downpour (3.4”/hr.) by the time I get to the boat (at the dock)the water in the cockpit is lower than the floorboards but there is 3” of water in the cabin. What am I doing wrong?
I'm having smaller issues, related to bilge pump not working automatically. Do you have an external float switch or is the integrated automatic rule bilge pump? I'm thinking of switching to the external float switch, my pumps are not working automatically and should be wired directly to the battery/bypassing the battery switch in my humble opinion.
"Gerhard, have you put food dye into the water--and put it in the sump? "
I have not done that yet, but I was thinking of it. I just didn't want to stain anything, but maybe that isn't a problem. It looks like it is just coming in under that board, but I just don't see how that is possible anymore with the fiberglass. Guess I'll go rummage around the kitchen!
I have not done that yet, but I was thinking of it. I just didn't want to stain anything, but maybe that isn't a problem. It looks like it is just coming in under that board, but I just don't see how that is possible anymore with the fiberglass. Guess I'll go rummage around the kitchen!
. My experience with food dye and fiberglass is that any stains will come right out, with soap and water, if not then one of the fiberglass stain removers.I just didn't want to stain anything, but maybe that isn't a problem
First Draft
New member
Perhaps it's coming in through the bilge pump itself?gstraub":30g7hsdo said:I have had a less severe but similar problem. Water appears to be seeping into the cabin from the little compartment where the bilge pump is. I have fiberglassed all three sides around the bilge pump area and I am still getting water seeping in. I am about at my wits end!