www.iFourWinns.com

Hello. I have been getting water in the bilge in my 2004 Four Winns 268 and have been since I bought it in '07 with 38 hours. Quite frankly, I tolerated it for a few years, but now I want to see if anyone has definitively determined how it's getting in. It is not the bellows or any thru-hulls. I have hauled the boat mid-season, drained it, and left it in my slip, un-used, for several days in good weather and there was no water intrusion. The boat is always covered and no water is getting in from anywhere under canvas. I posted on a general boating message board a while back and the best I can determine from their answers is that it is coming in through the air scoops on the side while underway. With a heavy load and some side to side rocking, I can see how they might be able to scoop up water. Has anyone had the same experience? I plan to add another bilge pump back near the drain plug so I can at least get all of the water out. I can't stand that it sloshes around and it's starting to leave marks. I would love to know if there is a way to prevent it in the first place. By the way, it's FWC and I have not ever seen any leaks in the cooling system. Thanks for any input.

This happened to me on one occasion...took a bit of time to figure it out. If water gets into your aft storage locker, it will most likely drain directly overboard. If it doesn't drain out the back and over the swim platform, it will drain into the channel that surrounds the engine compartment hatch. It is designed to go to the forward section of that and then drain overboard. On mine, it was hitting the rear hatch, and dripping down into the engine compartment.

Thats the only time I ever had any water in my bilge...and it took a while to figure out how it got in there.

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

Thanks for the advice. Now I'm really confused because that means that you have probably NOT taken any water in through your air intakes like I was predicting. Installing a second bilge pump in the rear will help to isolate the problem. Right now, once it gets in there, it sloshes around all season until I yank the boat, usually once mid-season and then at the end. This is driving me berserk. I am going to put dye in my fresh water system to eliminate that. There is no corrosion whatsoever, so my first instict was that it was rain or grey water (I have a grey and black tank). Grrrrr.

I don't see how it could be getting into the air intakes...they are pretty well covered. It could be from a leaking fresh water system. Turn on your fresh water pump and leave it on...listen to see if it starts up again without using it. That would indicate a leak somewhere in the system causing it to re pressurize the system.

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

It's not that, but there may be a leak on the drainage side (not pressurized) in the pipes or the discharge hose for the grey tank. I'm thinking as the water level rises in the grey tank, it may be leaking out somewhere or one of the drain lines cracked due to poor winterization. I'm going to put the drain plug in and run a bunch of tests while it's on the trailer. In April, of course.

I was thinking under a heavy load and a beam sea, the boat could roll and cause the air intakes to scoop up water. You've never had that problem?

I have not, and do not have a grey water tank so no help there.

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

Check the pressure release valve on water heater for a leak, also where does your air conditioner drain?

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2001 328 Vista

Previous Boats:
2004 Sea Ray 220 Select

Tx vista: No A/C, but I think you may be on to something with the relief valve. When the boat is in my driveway, it pitches forward. The bilge was empty when I got off the boat in the yard, but when I got back in it the next day, there was crystal clear water built up in that little section next to the heater (could not drain because it was pitched forward). I don't remember if the red tube from the relief valve was stuck in there or if it went over the top into the center bilge, but I will certainly add that to my battery of tests. Thanks. AL

Seems to me if it were gray water you would have some soap suds in the bilge. When i had mine on the trailer, the cockpit cover would leak on the port side by the arch. the way they sealed the cover to the arch wasn't very good and water would leak in and run down the side and into the trough of the engine hatch. The scuppers on that trough are notorious to getting plugged with lint and not draining properly causing the water to overflow into the bilge. I some similar issues with the camper enclosure where it sealed to the arch, in certain situations water would leak in around the arch and down the gunwale and into the bilge the same way when it was on the trailer.

if you leave the boat pitched to far nose down you may help your rear bilge pump, but you will not be helping your forward bilge do its job.

Does anyone know if the forward and rear bilge are connected? You would think that there is a separation that's why they have the 2 bilge pumps. Never thought about it before?

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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)

also check your shower sump, if the bildge pump is not working or clogged the water can flow leak out from under the lid.

Ah yes. The shower sump did leak once before and that went to the front bilge (two seperate jackets to answer the earlier question). The front jacket is dry. As I said earlier, it seems to be fresh water; I think the relief valve is a real possibility. Thanks to all of your for your help. AL

If the vent covers are fitted anything like the ones on my 2004 Sundowner were, they have no chance of keeping water out. The seals on mine were fitted such that they were inboard of the holes in the boat for the securing studs, so rain water got in very easily through those holes!

Graham

I had the same issue. Mine was the fresh water tank. I kept it full of water. It leaked out of the top where sensor inserts then trickled down to the bilge.

You need to get a general direction of where the leak is coming from or you'll drive yourself bonkers. Try taping down some paper in the bilge. Check the paper often for wetness to see what direction it's coming from. From that point, it's process of elimination.

Litmus paper works great if you can find it. If not, printer paper will suffice.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

Great idea as well Craig. I was thinking of grabbing my pillow and sleeping on the engine until I figured it out.