perplexing water leak

Dave G · Post by **Dave G** » Sat Jul 11, 2020 6:20 pm

Hi,

New to the forum with a puzzler. I have a 1995 220 bowrider. Recently after a heavy rains, there is water in the back starboard corner on the carpet. (on each side of the engine, there is a flat carpeted area on which the batteries sit. It is at the same level as the cabin floor). Carpet get soggy along the back and the carpet gets drier as you get further from the transom. On the port side mostly dry with a bit of dampness. Here is what I have ruled out (I hope).
1. It does not get wet when the boat is operating or sitting at the dock in dry weather.
2. I thought maybe the bilge pump and or hose was spraying water when it came on as it empties through the starboard side. I tried pouring water into the bilge to activate the pump. When it operates there is no water leaking or spraying.
3. I thought perhaps water was getting through the boat cover. I put towels under the cover in the back corner, and they were completely dry after a heavy rain.
4. I tried covering the bilge fan vents, and it did not help after the last rain. I would estimate about 2 cups of water are getting on the carpet in that area and it is very squishy.

I am running out of ideas. Any thoughts?

Thanks

Big Block Power · Post by **Big Block Power** » Sat Jul 11, 2020 6:24 pm

Water coming through the rub rail!

Dave G · Post by **Dave G** » Sat Jul 11, 2020 6:36 pm

I just checked and at the back starboard corner, sure enough there is a slight crack at the rub rail where I can slide my fingernail into. I would have thought I would have seen the water coming down on the inside of the hull, but I know water is tricky to follow. I will put some sealer on it tomorrow. Thank you for the idea to look there.

Big Block Power · Post by **Big Block Power** » Sat Jul 11, 2020 6:40 pm

Dave G wrote: Sat Jul 11, 2020 6:36 pm I just checked and at the back starboard corner, sure enough there is a slight crack at the rub rail where I can slide my fingernail into. I would have thought I would have seen the water coming down on the inside of the hull, but I know water is tricky to follow. I will put some sealer on it tomorrow. Thank you for the idea to look there.

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AsLan7 · Post by **AsLan7** » Sat Jul 11, 2020 7:11 pm

.
Hey DG. Welcome to the Cobaltchat forum. So glad you found us!

Nice find on the rub rail bbp.

Any pics of this crack DG??....and maybe a 220 picture?

Again welcome aboard mate!

.

Dave G · Post by **Dave G** » Sun Jul 12, 2020 2:02 pm

Here are some pics. The gap I see is at the corner near the screw. Not sure that is big enough to allow water to enter, but it is right above the inside corner where the carpet is the wettest. I will pour some water on it and check the inside to see if I see it seeping.

Big Block Power · Post by **Big Block Power** » Sun Jul 12, 2020 3:46 pm

What is all that black crap. Wow.

Any small crack is big enough!!
Lots of time the screws come loose and goes past the screws. There are screws behind that rail too but they mostly hold the 2 hulls together. Alot of water goes into that area.

SAB220 · Post by **SAB220** » Sun Jul 12, 2020 4:32 pm

Is that that rug wet? Where the hull and the sidewall seam looks wet and by the battery. Is dry above that seam?

Dave G · Post by **Dave G** » Sun Jul 12, 2020 6:07 pm

The black stuff is mold? It was there when I bought the boat used 6 years ago. Really hard to get back in that corner and I am sure the constant wetness is making it worse.

Think I found the leak. We poured water over the back corner of the boat (not sure why I did not do this last week) and water was pouring around the gas filler plate into the back corner. Never thought of that. I put sealer around the plate and will see if that solves the problem.

AsLan7 · Post by **AsLan7** » Sun Jul 12, 2020 6:15 pm

Dave G wrote: Sun Jul 12, 2020 6:07 pm The black stuff is mold? It was there when I bought the boat used 6 years ago. Really hard to get back in that corner and I am sure the constant wetness is making it worse.

Think I found the leak. We poured water over the back corner of the boat (not sure why I did not do this last week) and water was pouring around the gas filler plate into the back corner. Never thought of that. I put sealer around the plate and will see if that solves the problem.

.
Nice find. Post a pic of the sealer for others. Great site resource.

NWABoater · Post by **NWABoater** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 7:14 am

Would 3M 4200 be the recommended sealant for general purposes such as these?

Big Block Power · Post by **Big Block Power** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 7:48 am

NWABoater wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2020 7:14 am Would 3M 4200 be the recommended sealant for general purposes such as these?

Akro recommended that on another thread. I say yes.

NWABoater · Post by **NWABoater** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:26 am

Thanks BBP..

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