Here's the deal: I've got an '86 357- there are drain pipes (I think the correct term is "Limber Holes") between the engine bilge and the area unde the step. I keep my boat on an electric lift- When the boat is raised, the bow is lifted slightly higher than it is when its in the water. Every time I drop it in, all the water in the bilge drains forward and the pump under the step switches on-

My 311 had the same drain hole/pipes from bilge to under the cabin step. The boat came with two small rubber drain plugs to install during boating season and remove for storage. ON older boats make sure these pipes are not plugged. Run a snake from the bilge forward to the under step area. Clean out any debris. I do not think the fuel tank area has any access to these pipes. And yes the fuel tank access panel is sealed with silicon as suggested earlier. Good luck and post your results.

I took the boat out today and when I checked on things there was more water in that sump than when I left boat Wednesday. I'll look for those drains/limber holes that have been talked about but all I remember seeing are much smaller than a cigarette in diameter-- but than might make sense given how slowly water makes it's way to that area.

More "news" tomorrow--

I think they're all going to collect water in there. It could come from anywhere couldn't it? Rub rail, cleat, lights, railing, windshield base, wet swim suits in the cabin, etc. On a 20 year old boat such as ours it probably does. Wherever it comes from he water is going to end up nder the steps or in the bilge. My 357 collects water in there too. One extension on a wet/dry shop vac works great for me to get most of it out. Then I throw a Zone Dry bag in there and it stays dry as a bone as long as it doesn't rain and nobody with a wet swim suit gets in there or anything. I don't think a little water in there is a big problem. Does anyone else?

B

I'm getting to like this board!!! I have the same problem in my 86 357. Drives me nuts too but I never thought I could even explain the problem let alone post it. I am not sure where the water comes from but did notice small holes that seem to go toward the fuel tank area. I snaked a wire in there but those tube-things must either take a 90-degree turn or have some pretty hard stuff clogging them. I bought a kayak pump just for that purpose. It's a hand pump that pumps in both directions of the handle pump-action. I leave it under that step and just pump it to a bucket every so often. If anyone can solve this I'd appreciate it too. The bilge pump in that area does not get all of the water.

JK

I had the same experience Saturday when I tried to snake the holes in mine. THe water gets a really ripw odor if it sits there even if it sits just from Sunday to the next Saturday. I use a turkey baster to get the last bit of water and then put some bleach in there to kee the skanky smell from building up.

Still no definitive answer about where it comes from--

Since we've all been guessing at the culprit here--I called Formula Customer Supprot and they are going get an answer and let me and/or the Forum know the real technical answer.

I'll post any data I get from Formula--but they were as baffled initially as all of us are--

Poorsche

www.boatmat.com

As I expected, Formula Customer Support took mys question and did some research with guys that actually worked on the line when the SR357's were in production. This was before the days of big-time CAD systems so people-ware was great since Formula has a lot of long-time employee's (lifers).

Here is reply I got via email---

Bill,

I got a few things that you can give a shot and let me know what happens.


1. I think that there is a drain in the Head that runs to the pump that is underneath the cabin entry step. You will have to check this and if I remember correctly you said that you don’t use the head unit. So should be no real reason why there is water down there if you don’t use it, check into that for me.


2. You also might want to check and see if there is any type of crack in the threshold or anyway at all that water might be able get through cabin entry door.


3. Here is the most likely problem with water coming up to cabin bilge. The panel in your cockpit area that covers the fuel cell does need to be sealed, but first take the screws out of it and remove the panel. There will be a PVC pipe running down the center on the bottom side of the fuel cell. This PVC pipe needs to be plugged with some type of plug, the PVC pipe also drains into the engine bilge area. This could be allowing water to come in from the engine area to the cabin area. So try removing panel plugging the PVC pipe and then putting the panel back in place and resealing it.

*We use a 3M 5200 Marine Adhesive Sealant-white. The easiest way to get the excess sealant off the seam is use a rag with some Acetone, this is exactly what we use in the Factory. Just make sure you are only using the acetone on the areas of fiberglass can be very powerful if used on the wrong material.*

Try this out Bill and let me know how things work out for you. I am looking forward in seeing if this will stop the water from sitting in your cabin bilge area.


Anything else you need just let me know.



Product Support Specialist

We were just talking about this last night...

It seems that the water in the step area is leaking in from the windshield screws. I heard the same thing from 3 previous Formula owners. It turns out the sealant on the screws fails and the water leaks around the hull and fills the step area. If you seal all the screws at the base of the windshield the water will stop till you use the AC (if equipped) since the AC drains the evap into there also. I figure I'll just reroute the evap drain or use one of the condensator devices to stop the AC. And I am so looking forward to sealing those screws and stopping the water leak-I have a bilge pump in there but there is always some water and it gets on the carpet when you run in the rough.

Ted--

Just saw your post and my memory isn't working yet--what screws on windshield? I can't remember seeing any on the outside--are the on the front or back of windshield?

BTW--the a/c unit is below the level of the tray that runs along the side of the cockpit so the only way to get rid of that condesate is the Condesater unit. I installed one and it really works--in fact I was thinking about runnig a line down to that sump to evacuate that water as well.

Poorsche