1989 Wellcraft 18' Fish CCF Water Leak Under Battery Tray (Pics)

[onedroppr]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum. Seeking help about an issue that's driving me nuts.

After we won the battle against Termites using tenting and many years of non-use; We are on the process of restoring my dad's 1989 18 Fish CC. Boat is not in perfect condition, but we got no money for buying a new one so maybe ours good for some inshore, calm sea pleasure.

The original wood/fiberglass floor where the battery was originally placed was rot. Was getting lots of deck water in that space under the tray. We cut remaining rotted tray and proceed to seal all that area with Gluvit and silicone. I thought water was coming from under the big yellow floating foam that is there. We sealed where the foam meets the hull fiberglass with Marinetex, and when it cured we completely sealed the area with Gluvit. After that we cleaned, primed, painted and organize wires in that area.

But yesterday heavy rains passed thru our area, and I found the same area filled with water again. I'm really breaking my head trying to guess all that water is coming. I can't think all that is filled with water coming from the rod holder on the upper area. Maybe there are 2'' of water in the marked spot (see attached pictures).

Maybe the scuppers are the problem, but I can feel where they meet with the deck and it's not completely dry nor full humid.

It's too hard to remove the scupper to verify the hose to the drain? I've been a month dealing with this, and I'm my options are ending. Please give me some lights.

Have a great day my friends.

[Redloon]

I had a 1984 Wellcraft 180 Fisherman and the plywood in the battery tray also rotted out. I don't think Wellcraft sealed the underside of the tray. I also found exposed wood in the stringers where they cut a v-notch in them for routing the fuel lines - I had the rod boxes removed in order to find that.

On my boat, there were cockpit drains in the back corners just outside the battery box and livewell on the other side. You might want to check the hose from the floor drains to the thru-hull if you have that setup (rod boxes were removed to gain access to the drains).

I replaced the plastic drain fitting and all plastic thru hulls with stainless steel fittings from Gemlux. I also replaced the hoses for peace of mind out on the water. I used 3M 5200 to seal the thru-hull fittings.

The plastic thru hulls and fittings break down with exposure to the sun.

[bradford]

Nice clean up job.

Water has nothing to do all day and night, thats why it finds it's way in there. Like Redloon said, I'd check the deck drains and scuppers plus the sealant around and under them. Also Reel and someone else made some hoses that fit onto the bottom of the rod holders and routed them down to the bilge to keep water out of that area. They also make rod holders with caps that close.

[SkunkBoat]

Originally Posted by onedroppr

Hi everyone,

I thought water was coming from under the big yellow floating foam that is there. We sealed where the foam meets the hull fiberglass with Marinetex, and when it cured we completely sealed the area with Gluvit.

...If the water is coming out of the foam then sealing the foam is not a good idea

[onedroppr]

Originally Posted by Redloon

I had a 1984 Wellcraft 180 Fisherman and the plywood in the battery tray also rotted out. I don't think Wellcraft sealed the underside of the tray. I also found exposed wood in the stringers where they cut a v-notch in them for routing the fuel lines - I had the rod boxes removed in order to find that.

On my boat, there were cockpit drains in the back corners just outside the battery box and livewell on the other side. You might want to check the hose from the floor drains to the thru-hull if you have that setup (rod boxes were removed to gain access to the drains).

I replaced the plastic drain fitting and all plastic thru hulls with stainless steel fittings from Gemlux. I also replaced the hoses for peace of mind out on the water. I used 3M 5200 to seal the thru-hull fittings.

The plastic thru hulls and fittings break down with exposure to the sun.

Thanks for your response!! Yes indeed was the hose and the drain scupper that were leaking. Same setup as yours.

Wellcraft builders put the scupper drain in a direction that the rubber hose was collapsed due to the stress of the forced position. I removed the scupper, redrilled new pilot holes for the screws in a location that the new hose won't colapse and used a Shields PCV hose.

To this day the leak has been reduced, still getting some dripping I think it's coming from the wet foam over the fiberglass. Excess water in the foam ends there.