Water under the cabin step in my 311
 

I know this has been talked about a couple of times but I can not find the threads. I have water under the step that leads down into the cabin. First is there a drain that gets clogged up, and second what is the most likely location that the water is coming from?

Jon

Hey Jon,

It is more then likely coming from your windshield as crazy as it sounds.
I have a '88 311 and mine was leaking as well then I realized my gasket around the windshield was shot. I replaced it and bingo problem solved.
Mop up the water with towels first ..... get it nice and dry in there then put on your cockpit cover and apply a lot of water over the windshield area. If your cover isn't waterproof you should end up having quite a bit of water in there.
I first figured it out when I used my convertible top which attaches to the top of the windshield as opposed to the deck around the windshield. I was caught in a rain storm and all of a sudden I noticed the water pouring into the cockpit from the bottom of the windshield. Hence the area underneath the steps was wet as well.
Once I got it re-sealed ... no more water under the steps and a dry cockpit.
I had never noticed it before because I have a full mooring cover over the boat of which is waterproof and I don't usually make a habit of boating in the rain.

Good Luck !!!!

Jeff

What Jeff said.

I had to wet vac out my stairwell a few times on the 292. Windshield is the problem. Replace seals and your done.

Is there a drain that is clogged holding the water in or do you have to wet vac it out?

Nope , you need some good old lying down and "moping" or a wet vac will work.

Jeff

On my 292 there was a drain hole through the bulkhead under the step, but it didn't drain back to the bilge. I used a wet vac, and you'll see more water come through from the drain, keep using the vac until its all out. Once dry, its easier to keep it that way.

As Jeff said earlier, more likely than not coming from the windshield to deck mating surfaces as well as the black plastic trim around the windshiled itself. Once you get this sealed up, the water issue should be gone.

On these boats it is essential you keep it as dry as possible in there. If you don't, the water will end up in the foam around the fuel tank and eventually slowly rot the stringers.

Nick

Does the windsheild screw in from above (behind the rubber gasket) or from underneith?

Obviously, lots of folks have had windshield leaks, but that's not the only source. Mine came from my detail guy not realizing the cabin door doesn't seal watertight. :( So if it sits outdoors and the cover isn't totally waterproof it could just as well get in that way.

Also, THERE IS A DRAIN under the step and most likely there's a plug in it. If it's full of water you have to reach in and find it. It was "designed" to drain back into the bilge, which also means the bilge could move water forward if there isn't a plug. Over time, there's no telling what could plug up or grow in there reducing the ability of water to drain back. Not a bad idea to try and snake it if you're up to it.

WetVac is best way if water won't drain at all. Since the drain opening isn't exactly on the bottom, you'll need it anyways, or a bunch of towels. I wish I could attach pics easily since I have a couple good ones of the area. Let me know if I can email to you. handfulz28 at gmail dot com

So now you've got two, running boats. Do I dare ask what will become of the 302? :party-smiley-004:

There's no plug in my 311.

There was in mine .....I leave it out ......m

No plug in the drain, or no drain at all?

This place sucks for not being able to upload pics anymore without paying.

No drain at all.

I've been in there several times. My windshield does leak. Funny thing is, I never see any signs of it in the head liner, or anywhere else for that matter. I sop it up and wonder where the water comes from. My boat is always covered completely when not in use so it's not just "coming" in.

I do think it's the windshield-to-deck seal though. Water intrusion is most prevelant when we're in the boat in the rain with the bimini/enclosure up. That setup does not cover the bottom of the windshield frame.

Just can't find signs of water seepage.

If there were a drain hole, I'd be worried that the water would get under the tank as suggested by spazboz. I'm not certain that the drain, were it there, would be plummed to the engine bay bilge through a tube of some sort. It may be just be running along the keel thereby sucking up into the tank foam.

This would be one of life's little mysteries I guess.

And here when I was damn near convinced that leaks only happened on Fountains :eek:.

Only a major problem when it comes thru the bottom of the boat. I had a Sea Ray that did that once .................. shortly after running it over a big rock! As Bird would say .... "Not Good!".

Now, now,,,,,,,, we're talking 20 frickin' year old boats here Ragged. Hell, 20 year old Fountains are lucky to float!!!:p

Now, back to our regularly scheduled FORMULA program, if we call TAG, we'll be able to answer this question. They'll send a layout of how the old hulls were built. They did it for me when I was considering a 34 PC that drew more water than designed. You know which one I'm speaking of Ragged.

I've seen a lot of 20 year old Fountains that still float. Hell I'd bet if you threw Reggie in the drink he'd float! And he's way over 20 years old! :D Can you say the same for those little Porter fellows?


As far as that 34PC goes, the water in the cabin was only ankle deep. :eek: It dried out, I think.

Yeah, that's what I said intially...... "heck, it's only river water"!!

Not!!!! Glad I didn't go any further. The meager offer I made was all I was prepared to risk on that deal. We saw it a few times over the summer, still going strong eveidently. Remember that little ***** getting all uppity when we tried to talk to him at the dock? He's like "I'm tired of all these people asking about this boat". 'Scuse the fock outta me azzwipe!!
Hope his stingers turn to mush,,,,,,,, shmuck.

Yes I do remember, though I can't understand why :eek:. That was just a little while before we met up with the Jack Daniels commando crew upstairs(nothing says you're safe like a big jug of Jack and a couple 50 cals) and for sure before the titties on the dock show! We need to do that again! Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest!!! :drink:

You and I can figure out the Dumb and Dumber deal, we both know who Dumbest was.

Yes we do!!!!:drink:

Off topic but Formula related, anyone know if AXA got out of Cancun? Nasty Pig Flu drivin everyone out of Mexico.

Haven't heard from him yet. They'll need to stick him in an incubation chamber at the airport to see if he pops a curly tail.

Haven't heard a thing either, I don't think Samantha has talked to Gail in a while. Hard to believe they would lock someone up for a little tail.