Help - water in cuddy cabin

[Trackbum]

Sorry this is a bit lengthy but I Just bought a ‘97 2300SC and she’s taking on water. We splashed her last week and camped on her that night. We woke up to 6 inches of water in cabin sole.

I found that the raw water pump housing was cracked so I replaced it with a new one and figured I was good, but not the case, still taking on water. Strange thing is that the aft bilge is not filling up as far as I can tell, so my bilge pump is useless in this case.

I did find that the large corrugated rubber hose (exhaust outlet?) under the outdrive is split open so I’m thinking that’s where the water is getting in. Then I guess it’s running forward overnight through the partially clogged limber holes because of our weight pushing the bow down. Problem is that it doesn’t seem to drain back to aft bilge, once we’re out of the cabin, it just sits in the hull forward of amidship and gots into the area where the fresh water tank pump is located. I can’t find good access to get under there to see if there is a limber drain hole, though I gotta figure there is and it must be at least partially clogged.

Sound about right to you folks? Anyone know for sure if there is a limber hole for that area of the Hull? And any suggestions on gaining access to that area of the hull?

I know first priority is to stop the water ingress, then it’s no longer an issue.

[Phillbo]

Have you crawled under the boat on the trailer to inspect the hull in that area?

Dry it out and watch the area to see if you can see where it is coming in at.

[Trackbum]

I had her on a fork lift for inspection and Hull appears ok.

[Phillbo]

I owned the same boat years ago and can't remember there being any hatches in the floor of the cuddy. Not sure where the water is pooling.

Are you in fresh or salt water. If salt, taste the water. It may be a leaky fresh water tank.

[mmwjr]

A leaking exhaust bellows will not result with water in the bilge but either a leaking shift cable bellows or leaking drive shaft bellows will. If the exhaust bellows is bad good chance the others are close to it if not already.

Is the freshwater system holding and going down to fast? Marine head?

[Trackbum]

I think I'm going to take the boat to a shop and have them go through the outdrive to make sure its all good to go. How much should I expect it to cost for them to replace all the bellows and seals? Are there other things I should be prepared to hear need replacing?

[mmwjr]

Not knowing where you are located and what the labor rate is there it’s hard to say other than the standard answer of a boat buck, $1K. Parts should be half that for OEM, bellows, shift cable, gimbal bearing, gasket kit.

[MoonRiver]

Trackbum,

Have you tried running a snake through the drain from the stern to the bow? I bet there is some sort of blockage that is working like a check valve not letting the water flow back to the aft bilge area. You also might consider installing a small bilge pump in your forward bilge.

Doug

[Phillbo]

6" of water in any part of the boat is something to worry about... find the leak and sleep well.

[donald]

I do not know that boat but you said that you where sleeping in the c cabin,
I would check that the bow eye is not under water in that situation and leaking into the bilge.Loose nuts and bad seal.
I have seen bow eyes that are very close to the water in some boats.
Don

[shrew]

Is there a limber hole between the engine compartment and the forward bilge? My 2800 the sections were isolated.

[Phillbo]

This boat does not have a forward bilge. There is a small storage space under the cushions but if they were filling with water I would assume the cabin floor would be wet as well.

OP, are you getting 6" of water on the floor of the cabin?

I agree with checking the bow eye but I don't remember it being that close to the water line (I sold my 2300sc about 15 years ago).

[shrew]

The cabin sole is flat, isn't it? What is under the sole in the cabin?

[Phillbo]

Yes the sole is flat. If I remember right there are no access ports in the floor so assume only hull below.

[shrew]

OK, if there is a sole, then there is a bilge regardless of whether there is an access hatch or not. Is there a limber hole that drains from forward spaces into the engine compartment?

[Phillbo]

I don't remember but can't for the life of me think of how water could get into the bow without a breached hull. Especially 6 inches. It appear the OP is not returning so it's moot anyway.