SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

There's afloor panel in the center of the cockpit that runs from the cabin door all the way to the engine compartment bulkhead (even under the rear seat).

I'm pretty sure that panel covers the fuel tank.

It seems like the seam around that panel should be sealed and it also appears that the water from the fuel tank area drains into the area under the step in the cabin.

Does that area really drain under step?

What's best way to seal that seam without making a nightmare or or maintenance problem ??

Poorsche

www.boatmat.com

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

i have a 1991 357 sr1 and the panel is sealed with a clear silicone sealer from the factory. find son clear Lexol in a caulking tube and will look fine .I assume you don't have a carpet in yours. I like mine without the carpet but my wife says it is hard on her feet.

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

Thanks for the info--I agree that the floor with that non-skid pattern is more than tough on bare feet--even worse when working or cleaning and have to sit on the stuff or kneel on it---but carpet seems like an even worse nightmare--kind of like what's in the carpet in a hospital !!

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

If it's like my 302, that's exactly what it is. Recaulking is very easy, espically with two people. It's going to take about 2 tubes of caulk, a cup of water, bunch of papertowles, and a rounded plastic West Epoxy "popcycle stick". Fill the seam with silicon, until it is slightly lower than the the floor. Take the wetted popcycle stick and run in the seam smoothing out the caulk. This makes a mess, so wipe the stick often and rewet with water. Any voids in the caulk, simply add more and resmooth.

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

Again--thanks for additional info---it seems like when I wash cockpit that sump under cabin step gets a lot of water in it--seems to me like there must be a drain from that fuel tank area into that area under step--anyone able to confirm that?

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

I thought the sump under the step was connected to the bilge through the two tubes that are glassed in on each side of the center stringer and end at the front bulkhead in the engine compartment. I think the fuel tank area does not have a drain. Audiofn can confirm this. He has had his completly apart (I am assuming the 357 and 302 is built the same way).

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

From what I've found so far the sump does have two extremely small holes in glass and is used for a/c condensate drain -- it also seems to get water from somewhere else. It seeme d to me to be related to water coming in when I wash the cockpit down.

I keep the bilge as dry as possible so I didin't think that was source.

Thanks for info--

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

This is quite interesting!! My area under the cabin step fills with water also. Boat is always kept dry except for the too-often drenching of rain from our wonderful UpState New York weather. I thought the water was coming from a leaking windshield seam. However, there is no tell-tail of leakage down the dash or bulkheads.

So, I checked for drain holes in that under-step sump area..............none found. If it is coming from leakage around the cockpit floor hatch, I can't see a connection to the under-step sump area. Its got me baffled. Drives me nuts too. Can't stand water in my boat!!!!!

Plus, its a pain to dry up and clean out. Only way is to get in there with a sponge and suck it up.

Bryanw thinks there are drians in that sump. Maybe mine are filled with chit. I'll have to check again.

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

I'll take another look at mine tomorrow and make sure I saw small holes on either side of "keel". Mine gets water in it and like I said only explanation I've come to is from fuel tank area.

I got one of those condensator devices to dumpt the a/c condesate overboard with the a/c cooling water so that does't go under that step anymore.

I use a turkey baster to get the last slosh of water out of there--

Poorsche

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

I have the same problem. Know idea where it comes from but I installed a step down pump with a float to take care of the water. I hate the idea of water in there. I am really interested to here where the culprit is an how to fix it.

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

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-

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

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.

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

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--

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

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

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

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

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

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--

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

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

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

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

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

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.

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

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

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

On most of the windscreens there is a strip of plastic or rubber on the outside of the lower frame (or all the way around). If you remove the strip there are a bunch of screws that hold the frame to the hull-that's where the leak is. Thanks for the condensator advice, I gotta get me one of those cause we run the cabin like a meat locker when it's hot :D

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, problem still not settled even after all of this debate. Windshield,,,,,,,,, bilge drains,,,,,,,, cockpit floor,,,,,,, cleats,,,,,,,, toilet,,,,,,,,,,........

Wonder if we'll ever solve this mystery??

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

Could it be Third, that you're just missin' the bucket more now that you're older!!!!! Feliz Navidad, ya missed a heck of a party last Friday, Mike & Kitty

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

Ya know,,,,,,,,,, as soon as I saw "5 inch" chiming in on this thread I knew I'd be getting blasted for something. As for missing the bucket,,,,,,,,,, I only do that in other people's boats (yours!!!!) :drink:

Glad the party was a good time. Probably good that we didn't make it as I would have pissed in the nearest plant pot. :eek:

Now, get back over to that Formula Wannabe Donzi forum.

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

Well, I'll chime in one more time- I'm not trying to sound like an expert or anything but I know what I know, which is: 1) Water leaks into my transom on my 357 SR-1. It leaks past the cable for the port manual trim tab indicator for sure and possibly other places(?) 2) There is always water in the bilge below the engines when I raise the boat on my lift. When the boat is lifted, the bow raise a few inches and there's usually more water in the bilge when I'm done (by this time I have turned the power to the bilge pumps off). 3) When I lower the boat into the water, the bow drops down when the boat floats free of the lift. 4) I then switch on the bilge pumps and the one beneath the companion-way step ALWAYS comes on and bilges several scconds. After that the bilge beneath the engines is dry without that bilge ever switching on. Therefore, I know that at least on my 357, the area beneath the step is connected to (and lower than) the engine bilge when the boat is afloat-
Finally, when the boat is tied off at a dock, the step bilge pump cycles on form time to time, the engine bilge so far as I know, never does.
For what its worth-

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

Here's a little trick I learned when using a silicone sealant in a trough or making a bead. Contractors do this all the time. When you seal that gap on the fuel tank panels go buy some of the 1 1/2" or 2" 3M easy release masking tape. It's the blue stuff at Lowes or Home Depot or somewhere. Now carefully mask a line along the edge of the gap between the panel and the floor....BOTH SIDES. YEA, YEA it's a lot of masking, stop yer whining. Next run a bead of silicone into the gap, filling it as you go along. Now tool it with your popsicle stick, a spoon, your finger, wife's finger. You will be pushing a lot of material onto the tape but thats OK. You will need to go over it (tooling) a couple of times to get the bead low. The idea is to get the silicone only in the groove, not up on the tape. Smooth your bead out until the inner edges of the tape (nearest the gap) are almost completely free of silicone. When you are happy with the look of the bead let it set up for about five minutes. Don't let it skin over or harden!!! Just before it skins over carefully pull the tape. PULL AWAY FROM THE GAP! Do not pull straight up. You should have a perfect bead in the gap. DO NOT TRY TO RETOOL THE BEAD AFTER YOU PULL THE TAPE....LEAVE IT ALONE! The acetone trick works fine but so does this and you aren't risking damage to your fiberglass finishes, your lungs, your clothes, your hands, etc. Roll of masking tape......$4.00. Reinstalled the fuel tank panel in my F402 last summer this way. My stupid panel measured about 6' by 9' and included all the raised step ups under the bench seat that the batt switches and breakers are attached to. Two rolls of tape and 4 tubes of clear silicone later it look great. I did such a good job with this sealing job that I must give one more handy Formula tip. Make sure your cockpit drains are adequete and not clogged. My cockpit could double as a hot tub now if I only had a 1 1/2 HP pump and a heater :eek: Later..............Al

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

:cool: Wow! I think I've died and gone to 357 heaven.... My boat is on a hoist with a full cover. I've only seen water under the step when the AC unit I installed under the sink drains into the sump... and onto the carpet. I have to pump out anything in that sump..

I've done a ton of work on this boat... Motors, swimplatform , paint, interior. I've had it since 2001. I'll round up some pics from last summer.

Cool Thread!!

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

This is an interesting thread. The 336 I just bought has this same problem with water in the bilge under the cabin step. Next weekend I'm going to do some more digging to see where it's coming from...if possible...

Re: SR 357 Floor Panel in Cockpit
 

For folks readin this thread--another on similar subject got started--with great info--it's title is "If you have standing water in the bilge under the cabin step read this... "

Worth a read for new info