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I have a Four Winns 2005 Vista 248. The mid-berth storage compartment fills up with water over time. Does anyone know where this water is coming from and how to fix it?

If you are talking about the compartment under the mid berth bed and floor, that compartment should drain in to the bilge. Do you have water in the bilge and engine compartment? If so, it could be from the out drive or engine cooling system. Is the port (window) above there in good shape and sealing well? Otherwise, it may be a leak in the fresh water plumbing system. The only other source I can think of would be from rain, but there should be a "trail" or an indication for that. Can you provide more info? What options are installed? Is the boat slipped, trailered, or rack stored?

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Surface Interval: A scuba diving term for that time between dives to relax and prepare for life's next great adventure.

Current boat: '02 FW 268 Vista
Previous boat: '95 FW 190 Horizon

The boat is slipped. All accessories except winch and generator. Good seal on the port window- no leaking. Very little water ever in the bilge. Guessing the water comes in through the drain hole, and can be higher than the drain hole. But from where?

Check your shower sump box to see if it is leaking or cracked which is usually discovered this time of year after a winter storage. Another thing to check is the hose connection at both sink drains as I had the one in the head dripping every time I used the sink last year and collecting in the mid bilge. Try pulling out your toilet paper holder and watching the connection while running the sink.

Thought of a couple more: The cockpit floor drain right in front of the cabin entry can break it's seal and leak straight down into the area you're referring too. Just fixed that one a couple weeks ago on our boat. Also not sure of your location but if it's warm enough for A/C then the evap water drain might be plugged and over flowing out of the catch pan. Is the carpet wet anywhere above that storage compartment in your mid cabin?

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Our Boating Blog: http://ben-dana.blogspot.com/

2005 268 Vista "Sea Pickle II"
1979 AMF Alcort Puffer
Previous:
2003 FW190 Horizon
1973 Startcraft 18ft "Sea Pickle"

Mine gets damp sometimes but never fills up. Make sure the drain hole isn't plugged up. I notice the hull sweats when the water is cold at the beginning of the season and causes this. I only keep spare fenders in there because of it and try a keep it opened up when we are not on the boat.

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2004 248 Vista "Amante"
MC 5.0MPI/B3

Hello. I had the same problem. The water came from the joint of the evacuation situated in front of the door of the cabin; she(it) infiltrated into the storage cabinet quoted(esteemed) walking(steps) and flowed(sank) into the safe(chest) under the bed; good day. Meaulens

Have had a similar issue with my 248. If you have ruled out a leak in the closed shower sump pumps have a look at the following:

The sump area in front of the head should drain aft and into the engine bay bilge. If it is not you may have some debris obstructing the flow channel in/along the keel. Shop vac or compressed air should clear it. What I found was that water was coming in via the anchor locker after heavy rain or washing down the the fore deck. The reason would appear to be two fold; first the anchor locker drain appears to be located about 2 inches above the locker floor allowing for some standing water, and second the locker may have some porosity in that area that allows water to flow aft along the keel and in your case deposits in the shower sump area and doesn't move aft to be evacuated by the bilge pump . I would try to get what water is in the sump flowing aft and when you get that done you can fill the anchor locker with water and a tracer (toilet dye etc.) and watch for it to appear in sump. If it does you have found your problem. There are numerous threads where owners have used fiberglass/epoxy in the locker to build up the floor and seal and possible cracks etc.

Good luck

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2005 Four Winns Vista 248, Volvo Penta 5.0 GXi dual prop

The fresh water tank and pump should be beneath your forward berth (it is on my 318). If there is a leak there, it will fill up that compartment. Aside from that, maybe an anchor locker not sealed up right.

My shower sump is in the mid berth storage compartment, but my aft one (I have two under the galley/settee floor). So I doubt its that as water will not flow up towards the bow.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225