www.iFourWinns.com

Hi all, I am the new owner of a 2003 268 Vista.

Only having owned the boat for a week I am not sure what to expect during a typical rain event, however we recently had prolonged periods of heavy rains resulting in wet carpets and a small amount of water in the bilge. Being a "bit" of a neat freak, I find this troubling and will have to track down a solution.

The previous owner kept the camper enclosure up at all times and had success keeping the boat dry. I believe this to be true due to the condition of the interior and the bilge. I on the other hand, do not want to use the camper top when moored for the week because our dock not sheltered, and we are exposed to some pretty strong winds. I feel as though I want to keep the boat as low as possible when moored.

When the mooring cover is installed on the boat, I have to say the fitment all around is good, except at the back side of the radar arch. There is an add shape to the cover at the back of the arch that results in a large opening between the boat and the cover. It is my assumption that this is where the water is coming in.

Has anyone noticed this gap before, or had water issues with the mooring cover? Please let me know what you have experienced and if you where able to solve the problem.

Thanks,

I too had an '03 268 with an arch. I had the exact same problem. I took the boat (I had a trailer) to a local canvas guy and he added some sunbrella material to close that what I would call a good size hole. It still wasnt perfect just do to the way the rain runs down the inside of the arch, but it was lots better.

I also got in the habit of folding the carpet back in the walkway area so any water that did leak in would run to the engine hatch and into the bilge, and not soak the carpet everytime.

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

Welcome to the forum Alex8q4!!
I have the same problem here and I've gotten to the point I just roll up the carpet when the mooring cover is on. It does stay dry when the camper canvas is on so looks like I'll need to get a similar repair as Jsimon did.
Ps. The water in your bilge can also be from water running down into you're rear storage locker. If you look into the rear of storage area you'll notice it's possible for it to drain backwards through that half round channel and ito the bilge. Someone on the forum made a block for this passage out of starboard and caulked it in place....can't remember who it was though?

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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"

Thanks for your responses. I have pulled the carpets out of the boat to dry/ drain. It is amazing how much water they can hold. I will be rolling them up from now on like you have suggested. I am also going to bring the boat to a canvas shop to modify the mooring cover.

Thanks for the tip on the back locker drain. I recently washed the locker out with a hose.

I am seriously considering changing out the carpets for Deckadance Marine Flooring. I ordered samples last year and was really impressed with product and price. This could help keep the boat dry and clean, after all the leaky cover is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the abuse the flooring will see. Snack time with a pair of little boys, after climbing out of the water at the beach, now there is a scary scene!

Alex

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

Well a full season later I am back to report on the progress I have made on my quest to keep my boat dry.

Each time it rained I noticed I was getting water in the bilge in two spots. One spot on top of the water heater and the other on the fresh water tank. The water was getting in through the sloppy screw holes that secure the smaller engine hatch. I filled the holes with 3m sealant... Problem solved, and I now have a bone dry bilge.

Next was the channel in the fender locker. As mentioned by others, there is a channel that runs from the cockpit through the locker to the swim platform. When it rains water runs down the cover, into the locker and into the cockpit. The fix was a piece of starboard cut to the shape of the channel in the locker and 3m'd into place. This blocks the water from free flowing into the cockpit, but does not totally plug the drainage port. 100% solved.

To figure out the leaks in the mooring cover I put it on, climbed inside the boat and had my wife hose the boat down. I have actually done this a few times now in an attempt to get the entire story.
1) water entered the 4 cutouts, 2 port and 2 starboard, that accommodate the forward Bimini. There was no collar sewn around these cutouts to stop the water from flowing in. New collars installed... 95% solved. Some water still flows down the Bimini poles but insignificant.

2) The collar that prevents water from flowing down the cover towards the arch, and into the boat at the arch was lazy and would not stand up properly. My canvas guy folded some seat belt strap looking stuff in half, and sewed it to the inside of the collar. It now stands up firmly and does a much better job.

3) water flows down the inside of the radar arch and directly into the boat. I looked high and low for a way to channel the water overboard Rather than onto the floor. No luck until today . I just ordered vinyl stick on drip rail that will solve this problem. It's a white J shape and just what I was looking for. When the camper top is up I also get water comming in at the front top side of the arch. I ordered extra drip rail and suspect I will be able to stop this leak as well.

http://www.jtsoutdoorfabrics.com/produc ... nd=0&page=

Water that gets in via the arch on the port side ends flowing down into the area where the cooler sits. Did you know the ball at either end of the cooler bungee is to stop water from entering the bilge? When the cooler is out of the boat, be sure press the bungee firmly into its hole to keep the water out of the bilge.

The last place I stopped water from entering was through the drain hole under the wind shield. I temporarily stopped these holes with balled up cling wrap. Solved.

Hope this helps someone some day.

Cheers

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

Alex8q4 - Any chance of getting a few snapshots of your solutions. Not owning your model, I "think" I understand what you did, but a few picture would help me see it in action and also let me verify if it would apply to my boat as well. Sounds like you have the problem under control. Merry Christmas.

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Ernie Follis
It'll Do II
Four Winns 348 (2005)

The issue I have is with rain water that either flows from the Bimini onto the arch, and/or water that simply lands on the arch flowing down the arch and into the boat. There is no channel to direct the water overboard rather than onto my floor.... Until now...

Below is a sample piece of the stick on vinyl drip rail that I will be installing in the spring. I am very excited and optimistic that it's going to work well. I was at the boat on Boxing Day to fix some wind damage caused by a nasty Christmas Eve wind storm and snapped the one pic. I am now wishing I spent a bit more time looking at the down stream side to see how I will direct it overboard.... But I am sure it will work out.

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP