Need some ideas from the Formula experts!

About to start my 272 repower project and pulled the boat for the season tonight. While spending some time on the hook today, enjoying the last day out, went down to the cabin and found under the step to be SOAKED with water.

Additionally, over the last few weeks, noticed a slight listing to the starboard side while sitting at my dock.

It’s all starting to make sense now. Water has to be trapped somewhere between the rear cabin bulkhead/front of gas tank area. I know the windshields are problematic and could be the source of the leak, rub rail or??

I did confirm under the front v-berth and head area is bone dry. Rear bilge had minimal water present.

Thinking about pulling the fridge out and see if there is access to stringers to check for trapped water. Don’t see any access in the floor after removing the step. Any ideas?

My first concern is to locate and remove any water trapped before any damage occurs. Then I’ll chase the source. My rear bulkhead was rebuilt years ago, do not want those problems in the front of the boat now.

Thanks in advance!

https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/...t-353-fastech-
This thread might give you some things to look at

That link doesn't work

I have a 292, and if it's like that, or the 353, there's a tube of pex that runs from the bilge to the step in the cabin.
When on a trailer, or lift, storage, etc. the front step area is actually lower than the bilge, and water from the back, goes front.

the 292/353/etc sit ass heavy in the water.

you can fit a (I think) 1/2" drain plug in the hose hole under the front step, and I think it's a 3/4" in the rear.
By plugging both ends of the 'drain' hose, I went from flooding my cabin area, and racking my brain as to where is all this water coming from?!!
to bone dry now for years.

under the step, the hole should be obvious. on my 292, the hole in the bilge, I think was in the center beam area, under the port engine.

the only down side - if you do get water here, with it plugged, it won't drain to the back, but in several years now, I've not had water here now.

I think these came plugged from Formula in later model boats. My kids spilled water in the head and that drains into the area under the step.

My old F-302 had what appeared to be a 2" PVC (or similar) tube that ran from the the anchor locker in the very bow back to the forward wall if the engine compartment at the very bottom of the V.
We were always getting water under the step from sink spill, wet swimmers etc
When rebuilt the boat i pulled the carpet out of the cabin, gel coated the floor and installed a floor drain with drain tube down and into the main drain tube, installed a hand held sprayer at the sink and you could rinse off in the cabin. all water collection problems gone after installing drain with drain screen

Thanks for all the tips!

Looks like the source of the water entry is actually the windshield. Blew my mind, despite knowing about this problem, because of where the water is actually dripping down vs windshield placement…..It occurs in the very front corner, next to the door jamb, adjacent to the helm. The couple of inches between the refrigerator and jamb.

As someone else pointed out, if Turns out the windshield frame is bolted in an area between the deck and the cockpit dash. This allows the water to run down the forward side of the dash and into the cabin.

Still need to investigate further to see if water is trapped under the floor and verify entire structure. Repower project has officially started & motors should be pulled in the next week or so. Now is the time to fix anything found.

Fingers crossed. Thanks again everyone.

maybe around the windshield seal

Make sure it is not more obvious like a cracked transom assembly on your drive and simply letting water into the bilge. I don't know this particular boat but my nose has to be WAY up to get water to go to the back and out the drain plug. ON the trailer or lift just won't do it and if you don't have the plug under the step, its all going to run forward.

The windshield seal is a HUGE deal. Very easy to leak after some time in the sun and running through some rough water. When you fix this there should also be silicone used with each screw that is put back in. The screw heads in the frame can wick down through the seal in rains so be sure to seal the screws also. I did my 242SS some years ago and no problems since. Good luck.

I saw the evidence on the 311 yesterday… Fresh water tracks on the cabin vinyl side from the approximate bow rail location (just aft of the deck hatch).

Windshield and bow rail are culprits. The windshield is probably easiest to tackle. I’m not even sure of how to get to the bow rail mounting points.