water intrustion

[dtthefish]

I just picked up a 2008 23 Venture. It has been sitting in a covered marina since 2016. When I looked at it for the first time it was dirty, mussels everywhere, bird poop etc. In the cab I noticed water stains here and there. Finally got everything cleaned up and out on the water this weekend. I notice water pooling under the door in the cab. It was coming from a pin hole between the aft bulkhead and the bulkhead next to to the water tank. The boat also rides nose high. Has anyone had this issure and or installed 4" inspection covers on the aft raised deck just aft of the cabin bulkhead?

 

[dtthefish]

 

[NORO LIM]

I installed inspection plates in my 2006 23 Venture. Pretty easy to do. I had several pictures and some narrative about the project in my photo album. The transition to the new C-Brats website has scrambled my photo albums to the point that I don't have a clue as to where the pictures are now or how to find them.

I installed four inspection ports. The only moisture I found was a little bit under the cabin sole. The moisture appeared to have been the result of condensation on the inside of the hull that ran down to the low point of the hull. The moisture would appear after longer outings in colder conditions, and was easily sponged out. The area stayed dry when the boat was in its slip. (The cabin sole on the 2006, at least, was not sealed against the hull sides, and water running down the inside of the hull went strait to the keel.)

Both inspection ports in the cockpit sole (one just aft of the cabin door, and one just forward of the bilge pump) showed no water.

It sounds like you may have some water intrusion under the cockpit sole. Good luck.

 

[NORO LIM]

I found this older thread on the topic of inspection ports. https://www.c-brats.com/threads/cape-cruiser-inspecton-port-install.25368/

I hope that link works. It did for me.

Unfortunately, another link within that thread does not work, and that link was to the photos and descriptions I referenced in my first reply. I tried looking for the pictures myself, but had no luck. They are either gone completely or hiding somewhere I can't find.

 

[dtthefish]

I’m about to drill a hole. Hate doing it. Can not get the same color. I was thinking something like this

 

[thataway]

I have not owned a 23, but I have done surveys on a couple of 23's and 26's. The tabbing on the aft cabin bulkhead to the bottom of the boat had a defect, and that is the small hole which the water finds its way through. I like to seal it from the deck of the cockpit, since there are a few places where the water can get under the cockpit floor. If you can repair the tabbing then the issue will be fixed. There is not only the agrivation of the water in the cocpit, but also the added weight in the boat, and the possilbe wickwing in the cored aft cabin bulkhead.

Cut the two inspection ports just outside of the cabin door, and use a inspection scope (borescope) to view this tabbing and find out where the leak is occuring. Then using a flexible shaft Dremel tool (or flexble shaft in a larger motor, or even a portable drill press. grind down a good section of the area, so you can lay another layer of cloth and roving over the entire aft edge of the aft cabin bulkead. Again that should have been repaired long ago.

You can use fresh water and food dye to differentate where the water is comming from.

 

[dtthefish]

M

I have not owned a 23, but I have done surveys on a couple of 23's and 26's. The tabbing on the aft cabin bulkhead to the bottom of the boat had a defect, and that is the small hole which the water finds its way through. I like to seal it from the deck of the cockpit, since there are a few places where the water can get under the cockpit floor. If you can repair the tabbing then the issue will be fixed. There is not only the agrivation of the water in the cocpit, but also the added weight in the boat, and the possilbe wickwing in the cored aft cabin bulkhead.

Cut the two inspection ports just outside of the cabin door, and use a inspection scope (borescope) to view this tabbing and find out where the leak is occuring. Then using a flexible shaft Dremel tool (or flexble shaft in a larger motor, or even a portable drill press. grind down a good section of the area, so you can lay another layer of cloth and roving over the entire aft edge of the aft cabin bulkead. Again that should have been repaired long ago.

You can use fresh water and food dye to differentate where the water is comming from.

thank you for the info. This is where I should put the ports?