www.iFourWinns.com

I'm also thinking about drilling a hole in the panel between the forward bilge compartment and the compartment under the main cabin. That would allow the water to drain quickly into the forward bilge and then get pumped out. I think the water that ends up in the forward bilge is coming from there somehow, so I may as well let it move freely.

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1994 Vista 258
454 OMC/King Cobra Outdrive

I have an 07 V258, but I bought it new from the dealer last year. I too found water in the forward bilge. I think it is from the shower. My piont is, if you look at the newer boats. They have added a pump next too the sump pump. I saw this at the N.E. Boat Show. I asked the dealer, "why". He said that the water has no way to make it back to the engine compartment. I lot of boaters don't take care of the sump, so it over flows, So FW added the 2nd pump. I did question him on this, but got no more details.

I did add a 2nd pump forward, but it has it's own hose & outlel. I did not want to add a check valve & it was short work to install.

My 1994 has a bilge pump with a seperate hose to bilge pump. Don't really see the need for it. The only water that is suppose to go into the forward bilge is water from above the floor and if the shower sump box was to over flow. All the compartments are sealed up front. Seems crazy to me to have sealed compartments with no way to have water escape. My water is coming from areas that shouldn't have water in it. Right now my boat looks like a disaster with all the stripping I have done to identify the leaks.
I don't know where it all originated from but I am thinking it started under the table mounts thru the foam into the sealed compartments filling them and then finally seeping thru the wood in all the compartments.

A good start probably will to be drilling a hole in the panel of the forward bilge. Thats where it started with me. Pull your aluminum table mounts and see what the foam looks like? Mine was full up to the floor.

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1994 vista 258 Cobra cone Clutch with a 454 (Weekender)
1989 Chapparal 198 V8/Alpha1 cuddy (Play boat)
Aluminum Load Master trailer (bunks)
2002 F-150 5.4L extended cab

As much as we all believe we will never have water trapped inside the boat, it is a reality. I added a small siphon pump to extract the trapped water between the forward bilge area and the actual hull. The observations are correct, the low point is forward of the forward bilge and it never gets to the front or rear bilge pumps. It never really gets that high so it is trapped.

The water we trap is mainly from a heavy rain that works its way through nooks and crannies (I continue to find them). Since the forward bilge pump is inside the liner, it never makes it way to that area unless we have an issue.

A $60.00 siphon pump, 10' of 1/2" hose and a 1/2" thru hull solved my issues.

When we owned our 258, I found most water came from the anchor locker. It would get into the locker area and trickle down, making it finally into the forward bilge.

The idea of removing the table stand works great to get an idea how much water is there.

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Jnizi

2007 Vista 338 "Better Yet"
Previously:
2007 Vista 258 " Just Right"
2005 Horizon 230

That is a great idea. I wish I would have done the sump idea. Instead I got over zelous and ripped floor out. I think I could have used your idea and it would have eventually dried the foam out completly. Now I have to replace flooring and panels that didn't need replacing. I do go a little over board with things sometimes.

Things to consider when looking for water in the 258 vista. Their is two seperate compartments forward of the forward bilge. The area with the table is sealed from the lower floor area. In order to get all the water out you will need to poke a hole in the aft table mount hole and suck from the middle farthest aft area. I had 3-5 inches of water here. In the lower floor area, my floor wood was saturated because the water completely filled the cavity. Foam was completly saturated also. I think if I could have kept draining this area it would have eventually dried out completly. The only issue I see with just draining the cavities is I am not sure the wood will dry completly. The wood is fiberglassed over and I don't think the moisture will evaporate. I could see these things because my carpet was removed. With carpet you wouldn't be able to tell.

As another note the flooring is only 1/2 inch plywood not 3/4. The 1/2 inch floor does give a little bit wich made me think it was soft. Like I said I went a little wild tearing stuff out. I hope my ADD helps other fellow boaters.

Jnizi - Are you kidding me with the Vista 338. I hope my next boat is a 338 that thing is awesome. Im jealous... :=)

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1994 vista 258 Cobra cone Clutch with a 454 (Weekender)
1989 Chapparal 198 V8/Alpha1 cuddy (Play boat)
Aluminum Load Master trailer (bunks)
2002 F-150 5.4L extended cab

You would have to get a slip at Elk Rapids if you get a 338.. $$$$$$$$$$$

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

This may be the first thing I do to the 318...

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

That will be a real "THRILL"

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Not gonna happen for a while. Rent is too damn high... LOL

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1994 vista 258 Cobra cone Clutch with a 454 (Weekender)
1989 Chapparal 198 V8/Alpha1 cuddy (Play boat)
Aluminum Load Master trailer (bunks)
2002 F-150 5.4L extended cab

The rent is too damn high.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4o-TeMHys0

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2006 Vista 258
2007 Yukon Denali

Hello to all, as like many owners I have the same problem , mine is a 278 2007 vista, last year I had sealed the anchor locker as read on the forum but I still found salt water in forward bilge. Shower sump was replaced and definitely not leaking. I have asked Four Winns about the problem and they gave me some info. I have checked all the hoses of the thru hull fittings and they are perfect. I asked Four winns if a toilet inlet seacock leak can travel to forward bilge and they replied yes. Any one did checked this? I am going to check it over the next days since boat is still on the hard. The problem is to test it have to put the boat in water so if it is not fixed have to wait after summer.

I ve tried to drill a hole in the bilge at the exact same point that people in this discussion already have drilled.Ive done it very slowly and i have managed to remove the wooden part of the floor.But i have encountered a bluish structure.I havent seen any cables like the ones shown in a video posted above.Has anyone encountered this structure? and if yes should I drill it? I am afraid that it might be enclosing the cables.