Water under the step in the cabin
 

I think I finally figured out how the water gets under the step in the cabin on my 35 Classic. The ice chest and the floor drains in the rear of the cockpit all drain to the area outboard of the stringer that is closest to the outside of the boat. When the boat is sitting in the water all of the water that drains to this area then drains through the bulkhead at the front of the engine compartment and then to the rear and to the center bilge area (the engine stringers have the lower corner cut out of them so they allow the water to pass through them to the center bilge). However if there is any water or ice left in the ice chest and the boat is loaded on the trailer, then it sits somewhat bow low and the water runs forward around the front of the outboard stringer, as that stringer doesn't go all the way to the front of the boat. This allows the water to end up in the forward bilge and it can run back and forth between the area under the step and the compartments below the bunk.


I hope this helps those of you that have had the same questions about this problem that I have had.
David

I hope that is your case and it drys out , I have had them set outside with the cockpit cover on and nothing in the ice box. open the boat up and find between 5 and 20 gallons of water in the step area. the owners get pretty up set. we still have not found where the water comes from. I have read this a lot on oso and we are not the only ones.

I am still working on proving my theory, but so far, so good. I keep the boat in a garage and we don't have any rain, so there aren't too many places for the water to come from.

This is a common problem to many boats. Both my Formula's 21' 1986 and 24' 1987 did it, and then my 2004 Baja 33 Outlaw, and now my 2005 42 Fountain. I am told it is because manufacturing regulations require that the bilge water from the gas tanks area is not allowed to flow up to the cabin bilge, so vice versa it can't go from cabin down to the rear bilge. At least the Fountain and Baja had small bilge pumps up there, the Formula's did not. I had to be real careful washing the 24' Formula because of the way it sat on the trailer water would run from the cockpit into the cabin and get 2' high if I was not careful! I now modify the fwd bilge pumps on my boats putting in a larger size with a super low water pick up and an electronic(not float type) automatic sensor.

Any of the boat builder's heard of a oneway valve. keep the water from the rear bilge from coming forward but let he water from the front flow to the rear.

I have the same problem with my Formula 272. My old Glastron has two drain plugs - one for the front and one for the back bilge. The front bilge has a copper pipe that runs the length of the boat to the drain plug. I wish other manufacturers would do the same...

Check your cleats and bow rails. I had to reseal all of my same problem..




Now just like everyone else on this thread I am seeing water under my step..


I have a fridge not a cooler, I do not use the fridge. I have removed the vacum flush head but still having the plumbing.


Any thoughts?

Tom,
Does the boat sit out in the rain or do you wash it with a hose that could be letting water into the cockpit area?

I am in Havasu and there is no rain, and I don't use a hose to wash it out. My bilge under the step was almost completely dry until I pulled the plug on the ice chest and then there was a small amount of water that appeared. I am almost certain that water is going around the outboard stringers and forward. I will check again in a couple weeks when I am up at the lake.
David

mines always wet under the step and sometimes the carpets wet! been like that ever. Has a bilge pump up there but never drains it all. Getting annoying Could it be from bow light or rails leaking slightly?

I keep it stored indoors. Where is this bilge pump under the step. Maybe mine is broken? Now I am really wondering. Thanks, Tom

Tom,
My bilge pump is right under the step, very visable, has some sort of electronic switch, but it didn't work, so I bought a new electronic switch from West Marine, it also never turned the pump on. So now I bypassed the switch and put a manual on/off switch there and I just turn it on by hand. The problem is the pump is mounted to a raised section where a piece of wood is glassed into the floor, so they could screw it down. That raises the pump up about 3/4" above the low spot, so it never drains everything out.

Now I carry a 12 volt mini wet/dry shop vac and just suck all the water out. There has never been more than a quart or two in there, but it just bugs me. I also think it is only a matter of time until I get a mold problem.
Dave

I have the same issue in my 35 and have never used the cooler, I wonder if we could drill a hole in the bulkhead under the step and glass in a 1/2 pipe with a shutoff valve and simply open the valve to drain the water to the rear?

Do you guys that are getting water under the step, have water in your bilge area too? I had a 27, 32, and 35 never had a problem with water under the step. The last 38 had water getting into the bilge from some where, not a lot but some. Never did find the source of the leak, but their was always under the step. I now have a different 38 the bilge stays dry.....I dont have any water under my step. I never use my cooler, boat is stored in a garage, dont get caught in rain storms. I stored the other 38 in the same garage. The only difference was water was leaking into the bilge from some where. I guess it was running up under the step and getting trapped. Fountain must know its a problem, or they wouldnt have put a seperate pump under the step. If it can run up to the step. Their must be a way to make a drain so it can run back to the bilge and keep the cabin dry.

Interesting, I think my step is all glassed in. I run a industrial dehumitfier in mine to prevent the mold issue. A big issue in TX. I will tear down my step this weekend and get a better idea. I was thinking it was a loose fitting from my Water or Sewer system. I don't use either one of them. I think you guys are on too something. Thanks, Tom

Do all Fountains have a pump underneath the step????


I think you boys have solved my problem if so:):)

No Definitely not, do not drill a hole that drains the step are to the rear. That is where the gas tanks are and that area is sealed at both ends so that gas/gas fumes can not enter the cabin or the engine compartment. If you were to drain the water from under the step to the rear you would trap it around the fuel tanks and could corode them.

The pump under the step has it's own through hull fitting on the Starboard side of the boat just aft the sink drain in the head.

Water in the bilge??
That is interesting, there is always some small amount of water in my bilge, even if I don't use the ice chest. Not a lot, but maybe a gallon or so. I had all of the rubber replaced on my outdrives, they even replaced the drain plug assembly. I have no idea where or how it gets in. I have never had the boat out in rain, it is stored in a garage, never have seen rough enough water to get any spray on the deck or gunnels.
I have looked under the hull looking for any possible points of entry, but all looks good. Big mystry to me.

Everything is comming together. I have 2 sinks and the toilet, I was unaware of what all the fittings where for. I removed the toliet as soon as I purchased the boat. This all makes perfect sense. I am just curios how much water I do have in there.

Tom,
My boat also has 2 sinks and a head (port-a-potty). The galley sink is on the port side and has it's own through hull fitting, the head sink is on the starboard side. You can run water in each sink seperately while the boat is on the trailer and that way you can identify what drains go to what. I have had the best luck to use a shop vac while the boat is in the water, so that the bow is high and all of the available water runs back to the step area. Use the shop vac to get the area dry and then you will see how much water you have.
Hope this helps.
David

I just sucked out 6 or 7 gallons with my shop vac. I cleaned up in there too. The bilge was working, but it doesn't get it all. I guess I'll just have to keep up with it. At least I know why my carpet was wet.