water in central vac, for 320 sundancer?

J

j_desjar

Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2005
RO Number
17996
Messages
18
anyone had this problem? My central vac today had a few inches of water in it. I cleaned the vac out, however I couldn't recreate the problem with the deck fill, fwd sump, or any other drains, etc. The fills to the tank appeared tight and i couldn't get them to leak. On another forum, someone mentioned the port head window...I'll know if it rains hard this week. The rest of the bilge is dry.
I don't think I've been in the vac this year, so it may have been there a while, possibly some winterizing draining?
Any other thoughts or input would be appreciated.
 
Yep had the same problem on my 2004 320DA. It didn't leak in 2004 and only started end of 2005. It is a rain water issue. Like you I tried to dupplicate the problem by flushing the deck fill, windows and local area with a hose. No luck. I tightened every rail stantion and soaked them and still no leak, but the minute it rained it leaked. If you look in the compartmemt, behind the vaccum system you will see a hole where the power lines come in, when it rains you will see it drip from there. you can see it come down one of the lines, and I thought it may even start up in the radar arch. I gave up and told the dealer to check it during layup, up ended up trading it in for a 390DA w/diesel.

Hmm your 320 wouldn't be white with black canvas, gen set, autopilot and smartcraft system would it?

Good luck
Rich
 
Nope not yours-- no gen set! I bought in 2007-- no issues last year. This must be it though. I'll have to start checking everything. NO idea on how I'll find it though. Start sealing and start rescrewing ports, etc. thanks!
 
j desjar,

I think that was probably me on the other forum. We have a "new to us" '05 320 that gets water in the vac compartment. I think a good portion of it was coming from the head portlight, but I seem to still have a small leak. Rich is correct - if you reach into the back of the vac compartment (actually port side of boat), where the wires, etc come through, you'll likely find the water sitting on the shelf and running down into the compartment. Also, remove the access panel in the head vanity compartment and you can feel up to one of the stantion mounts to see if that's leaking. You can PM me if you want to talk in more detail.

I'm still open for suggestions, also, as I think mine still leaks a little.
 
Jeff- Thanks-- I tried to PM you but must be doing something wrong.
The "access panel in head vanity"-- I'm not sure what this is? can you give me more specifics as I'd like to look.
I did see the wires and all seemed dry but it may have been a while and dried out. You also mentioned the head "portlight" -- assume you mean the window, right?
Thanks so much. Of course sea ray doesn't know about the problem when you call. Then I see this issue in multiple places-- obviously a defect!
 
j - I didn't notice before that you're not "anchored" with BoaterEd, that's why you can't PM me. That's okay, hopefully others can benefit from this, or pitch in and help.

Yes, the portlight is the window. I actually ran a small bead of caulk around mine and it definitely helped with my leak, but as I said, apparently something else is still leaking. If you go in your head and go straight to the first little mirrored compartment (on port side of boat) and open it, you should have an access panel in the top of that compartment. Remove the screws and take it off. You can then reach in there and feel if you have wet foam for example. When my port was leaking I ran a hose on it and water actually ran out of that access port. Stick your arm in there as far as you can and feel in both directions for any signs of leaks. The only other thing to do, which I haven't yet, is remove the fresh water fill plate and reseal, and possibly reseal stantions.

You are correct about Sea Ray help. They are very friendly and helpful when they can, but if they don't know they kind of give you the runaround. Have you tried your local Sea Ray tech?
 
Thanks Rich
I'll give it a try this weekend (I hope). Appreciate your response. If this doesn't work I'll try the locals.
Jon
 
well- the port light appears to be the culprit. I tightened the window up and will apply some caulk. hopefully that will help. I also took the time to tighten all of the ports. the others appear dry -- at least those on the starboard side are easily accessed and were dry. thanks Jeff.
 
still leaking after heavy rain-- not bad...sealed the window, tightened it...still a little wet. Do I need to remove the window?
 
What timing...I was just preparing to write another reply, as mine is also still leaking. I took apart the aft cabinet in the head to be able to access my fresh water fill and one bow rail stancion, and found a stancion leaking. I sealed the stancion and thought I had it nailed until we got 9+ inches of rain in one weekend and found more water in the central vac. Needless to say, a little disappointed! I have no idea where it's coming from because the foam under my head port was wet, but I could not find any actual evidence of the port leaking; not to mention I've resealed it twice. I'm beginning to think I have a snap at the windshield, or a windshield wiper, etc. leaking, which is going to be a real b#$%ch to find and fix.

Sorry I can't help more, but check your stancions and deck fittings. Maybe you'll get luckier than me!
 
my stancions (sp?) are dry. Top of the foam is wet. I really like my boat. I can almost guarantee we're getting the water from the same place. Prior to Hanna I put a little bowl in the med cabinet and left the access open. We had a few inches of rain-- I got about an inch in the cereal bowl. On the other hand when I spray like crazy with a hose I haven't noticed anything.

You're right -- if its not the window it would have to be something a bit higher, such as the wiper. When you find out will you tell me and send me a picture :).

Won't be long til I'm shrink wrapped for the year. Maybe I'll trade it in; that will fix it.
 
Jeff- check out the "wiper woes" topic on XXXXXXXXXXX....sounds familiar-- I haven't checked mine yet.

Sorry.....no promoting other boards......rules are rules.
 
J - How do you know your stanchions(looked it up!) are dry? The only way to get to others is to take stuff apart. Have you done that? The only "good" thing is that if your foam at the port is still wet, as is mine, then it's not coming from a rear stanchion. As I said, though, I had significant water coming in through the stanchion next to the water fill deck plate. The only way to get there is to take the aft cabinet in the head apart.

Sorry, not sure which other board you are referring to. I don't think we're breaking BE rules (?) if we're just trying to troubleshoot and fix a problem. Not like we're promoting another board. Is it CSR?

We'll get this thing figured out yet!
 
Jeff.......j desjar mentioned another board in his last post.....which is against B/E rules....thats why I edited it.
 
No problem.......

I also visit " that " other board. Alot of good info also.
 
J - You didn't respond regarding the stanchions, but I'd definitely check them if you haven't. They're prone to leaking.

DD - I understand the rules, and will follow them as best I can, but I just need to vent a little. This site promotes itself on Boater EDucation. While I can see the issue with promoting other boards for the sole purpose of referring members, etc, when an answer to a problem is not available on this board, but can be found on another, I see no harm in referencing that. We (not you specifically on the SR forum) allow complete a-holes to rant and be rude and call people names over and over again, but we block another board's name because it's against the rules even though it may prevent someone from fixing a potentially major problem on their boat.

Parden the pun, but we really miss the boat on certain issues here.
 
Jeff..... I understand your gripe......but promoting/mentioning another board is prohibited.....If you want to refer someone to another site for a remedy to a specific problem they may have....I don't think sending him a PM/e-mail....would break any rules. But thats up to Les.

As far as what goes on in other forums....thats up to their moderators to control.

Hope you understand.
 
Jeff
thank you. I talked to my marina today-- sounds really basic but they suggested start with the hose low and work higher to try to find the leak. It sounds simple I know but I hadn't really thought about it that way. In regards to the stanchion the only one close to the port is the rail that ends near the port window...that one is dry. I don't think the radar arch, if it leaked, would move in that direction. I think its somehow still the window or higher-- wiper or windshield. the foam does not seem universally wet...when i used the hose only at the very top was it wet. My goal is to find it before shrinkwrapping. I bought the 2004 boat last year....I have a feeling the leak was always there.
 
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