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Another water in the bilge question
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Author:  bndfishing [ Sun Jan 10, 2010 8:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Another water in the bilge question
I didn't want to hijack the other thread. I am also experiencing a problem with bilge water. Mine seems to be coming from the port side behind the water heater/batteries. I only get water in the bilge after it rains hard, but the strange thing is I am under covered moorage. The swim platform sticks out of the cover and does get alto of rain and the roof run off on it. The port side stringer area has water and so does the bilge area, but the starboard stringer area is dry. Any ideas??
Author:  drballard33 [ Sun Jan 10, 2010 9:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another water in the bilge question
Does the 268 have the storage area in the back? Is it possible there is a leak there? Or possibly where the swim platform bolts to the boat?
Author:  298VISTA2000 [ Mon Jan 11, 2010 9:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Another water in the bilge question
I have a 2000 298 Vista so the stern setup is similar to the 268's. I have my boat slipped stern in so I don't have the rain exposure issue but I have noticed that when I wash my boat, water infiltrates the transom storage unit where I keep my fenders (I tend to get a lot of mildew in there as well). Have you thought about slipping her stern in? Also, why do you (and so many others) slip bow in as opposed to stern in? Just curious.
Author:  Sierra [ Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Another water in the bilge question
298VISTA2000 wrote:
why do you (and so many others) slip bow in as opposed to stern in? Just curious.

The view and privacy for me. When you are sterned in, everybody walking the docks is looking right into your cockpit. And in my marina, there is nothing but nature opposite the docks so it's a lot more appealing to sit in the cockpit or on the swim platform facing the water. It's also easier to deploy the dinghy off the swim platform when bow-in.
Author:  bndfishing [ Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another water in the bilge question
There is a white drain hose in the forward port bilge area below the battery charger, it dumps the water into the port stringer area does anyone know what that drains? The hose goes forward with the electrical and water lines. This seems to be the most logical place the water is coming from.

I go into my slip bow first because with the current of the Columbia River, the winds, and that my slip is orientated in a cross current way, there is no way I could get in stern first. Also my slip isn't large enough to stern in I would loose 5' of slip and my bow would stick way out.
Author:  Cap'n Morgan [ Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another water in the bilge question
I have the exact same boat as you. I have never noticed a drain hose like you mention. Not sure where your water is coming from either. I wish I could be of more help. Our boat has never had any water in the bilge whatsoever. 6 years of slipping the boat, it's sits in the elements for six months , never a drop of water in the bilge. I manually flip the float switch a couple times per season, just to make sure it works, because it has never came on by itself due to water in the bilge.
Author:  bndfishing [ Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another water in the bilge question
The drain hose is really easy to overlook. I have been in the bilge dozens of times and never noticed it. Take a look next time you are in there, the hose it right there secured to the boat and it just peaks over the edge of the ledge. I'll try to get a picture tomorrow.
Author:  wkearney99 [ Mon Jan 11, 2010 9:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another water in the bilge question
Where does the AC condensate tray dump into? If you leave the AC running and it's really humid I've seen a fair bit of water drain from it.

For the sake of testing it might be worth watching the weather reports and reversing your docking position. See when it's going to rain again and switch it around. If the water level's the same then it's unlikely to be from rain.

Are you sure it's not an overflow line from the water heater? I actually had to add one to ours as the one on there was too short and just dribbled into the outermost bilge. I ran a longer one over to the center bilge instead. Otherwise it'd have to fill the uppermost stringer bilge, drain into the stbd bilge and then into the center. Each time leaving just enough water to pool up and get a bit funky.

Another idea might be to use an air compressor on low pressure (or an inflatable toy pump) to pump air back into it. Then, with everything else quiet, go listen for it. Don't know if there's any sort of one-way valve in there so you'd want to be careful to avoid pressurizing the line. But if it's a clear drain from somewhere else then you'd hear the air whistling back up it.
Author:  bndfishing [ Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another water in the bilge question
Thought about using air to find it, don't have A/C, definitely not from the water heater. The hose goes along the bulkhead then forward. The manual states

Quote:
Certain bulkhead areas of Four Winns® boats are sealed
in accordance with U.S. Coast Guard regulations effective
at the date of manufacture. Drainage is provided
and water can be removed with the bilge pump.


wondering what those areas are and if this might be a drain for them. It can't drain anything too far forward, is has to be a deck level or higher I would assume.
Author:  Panacea [ Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Another water in the bilge question
The rain thing is weird…My water pump leaked into my bilge, with a new O-ring and 5200 I was able to stop it—quick vacation fix. Maybe….
I also have to stick my boat nose in, sometimes. My marina is tight and is subject to a direct cross wind. Although surrounded by a cement wall eliminating current, the crosswind gets in excess of 15 knots. The most conservative answer is nosing it. All the express cruisers in my Marina follow the same rule--all water, engines, generator weight aft, no real weight in the bow, makes for some “high adventure” pivot point physics when a heavy cross wind is involved.
Author:  bndfishing [ Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another water in the bilge question
Think I figured out the water problem. I am pretty sure the water is coming in through the deck drain. Water is coming off the moorage roof, dumping onto the swim deck and transom. Water is getting into the drain opening in the rear next to the transom door, following the engine compartment deck lid lip to where the removable and fixed lids meet. At this point there is a dip in the lip and the water is cascading down onto the shelf, holding the water heater and batteries, and down into the bilge.

Under normal circumstances this would not happen, but when you get .25"-2" of rain the drains can't handle that much water, the boat is sitting a little bow heavy allowing the water to flow forward instead of draining our the back of the boat.

My solution is simple cover the drain on the back of the boat so water can't get in :idea: and loosen the front tie downs so the bow comes up a bit. Our slip is only really a 25' slip so it is a little short and narrow, I have to keep it tied pretty tight to keep it from hitting the dock. I also moved it forward 10" (makes the bow pulpit stick about 1/2 way across the walk way) and that changed where the roof runoff spills onto the boat.

I spoke to Fourwinns today, they have no idea what the drain hose is for and suggested tearing the boat apart to find out where it goes :?: :?: They think maybe it got a A/C drain by mistake, either way the inside of the hose is dry so that's not where the water is coming from. It's supposed to rain like hell so I should know if it worked.
Author:  wkearney99 [ Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Another water in the bilge question
I would not want to leave the boat tied so tight as to pull the hull downward. That's putting a lot of constant stress on the cleats, and I'd imagine the line rubs the gelcoat. This is a floating dock, right? I would NEVER do this on a fixed dock. If the tide dropped more than expected it's possible the lines would cause damage to the cleats.

Of course then you're faced with using some sort of fenders or cushions between the boat and the dock. There's lots of choices for that sort of thing. I think I'd trade the intermittent bumping against a fender instead of overly tight lines.

There may be a way to add a hose to the deck drain to better route the water. It's better to control the water instead of letting it drip and splash. Eventually the splashing might contribute to corrosion in places that wouldn't otherwise have problems.

But it sounds more like you need to be in a properly sized slip.
Author:  bndfishing [ Fri Jan 15, 2010 12:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another water in the bilge question
Ya a larger slip would be nice but covered moorage in this area is pretty hard to come by, it's still better than having 14" of rain on the boat during the winter. The dock does float up and down with the tide change. The lines are not as tight as I might have indicated and we use fender in the rear, we just control how much the boat can move to limit it to about 6" and the lines have shock absorbers in them. Now that I know where the water was coming from I think I have a solution to keep it out. Will post the solution when I'm done.
Author:  AlexJ [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another water in the bilge question
I have the exact problem on my 238. I found that the way my boat cover was positioned at the transom that rain water flowed along the port side stern edge and flowed over the transom shower insert. I took the shower transom assembly out and it did not have a gasket to seal the assembly causing the water to dribble down in the water heater area and batteries and fill up the stringer port side at the water heater and batteries. I pulled the water heater also just in case of a leak in its assembly. I tested the water system without the heater in place to see if any of the hose connections were leaking and could not find a leak. So, I still need to see if I have a water heater leak. I'll be testing it soon.
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