2460 Denali - Water in the for area not draining to aft bilge

[scottwitkin]

Hi -

Just picked up a 2001 2460. There is water collecting under the cabin deck and batteries that tastes salty. It does not drain to the aft bilge.

1.) I have a 12v bilge that I use once a week to drain it
2.) Does anyone else have this problem & is there a cure
3.) Has anyone installed a bilge at this location and if so, drain to where?
4.) Should this area be dry?
5.) Could there be a blockage that's preventing it to drain aft

ANY help is appreciated . . . THANKS

[MarkT]

It has been a long time since I have been on a 24. Look at the rear of that compartment and see if there is a drain plug installed pereventing it from running aft. Also look at the forward end of the aft compartment for a plug.

[scottwitkin]

thanks. did that and it was unobstructed.

[cking43@msn.com]

I own a 1999 2460 which I purchased in 2003. I have always kept it inside on a rack. The area under the batteries which you can reach through the cabin hatch does not completely drain to the bilge pump in the engine compartment when the boat is not under way. The water will reach its own level, which is well below the shelf supporting the batteries and the fuel tank which is further aft. When the boat is under way most of the water will be carried to the bilge pump and removed, but not all. I dry the bilge when the boat is lifted on the fork lift by pulling the plug. The bilge water is not an issue if the boat is used regularly, but it will develop an odor if it sits. I found that a small amount of bilge cleaner controls this. I have owned many boats, both power and sail, and I have never seen one with a bone-dry bilge when the boat is kept in the water.

[scottwitkin]

thanks . . . this is a huge help. i run the bilge when i'm under way for a few minutes and that seems to work. Was toying with the idea of putting a small pump in there and having it drain to the scuppers. have you seen that?

[cking43@msn.com]

I let the automatic float switch on the bilge pump turn the pump on and off. There is not a lot of water in there, probably only a few gallons, and you may damage the pump if you run it manually when the pick-up cannot reach the water. I have never seen a second bilge pump under the batteries, which is the only place you can reach. The actual low point of the bilge may be further forward. If the water bothers you, just use a manual pump for a few minutes and drain it to the deck where it will run into the scuppers.

[hnt]

If I have water in my bilge in 2460 it will run forward as well when the boat is a rest. I used a suction extractor used for oil changes that I bought at West marine and sucked it out through the drain hole in the cabin floor. I was surprised to remove about 4 gallons of water from the forward section of the hull. There was just a little water under the engine and way below the float switch and bilge pump while at rest. Once you get the water out you need to determine where it is coming in. In my case I actually had a damaged lifting strake that was poorly repaired an was allowing water to seep into the hull. I did a structural fiberglass repair and now the bilge is dry. You should carefully check all thru hulls, bellows, engine hoses and fittings, transom and the hull/deck joint as well as the cockpit/live well drain on the starboard side. That drain has a pvc section that does not drain all the way and can freeze and crack if the hose is not removed when winterizing. Water can then run in the cockpit drain fitting on the side of the hull and into the bilge. Good luck

[USA591]

I too have this mysterious water in the forward area problem on my 2460. I actually put an inspection port in the sole of the cabin up there to pull water out more effectively with a sponge or manual bilge pump.

It's driving me crazy--it's not coming in during operation (bellows are new, all cooling hoses have been inspected)--I even put a GoPro in the engine compartment and filmed a whole afternoon's run--zero water coming in through the back of the boat or from the engine.

It seems to be coming in during the wash down process. I just had the boat detailed (bilge was bone dry from my haul out) and when I checked--TWO BUCKETS!! However I have no idea where--I've looked at the two cockpit drain scuppers mentioned earlier, but they appear to be sound (no cracks/leaks in the PVC that connects them to the through hulls). Maybe through the hatch that covers the fuel tank access? or one of the two inspection ports in the cockpit deck that cover the manual fuel gauge or the fuel hose connection? ...well, those look good.

It's crazy--I won't get any water for weeks, then when I check, there will be two bucket fulls up there in the forward part of the hull and none in the engine compartment--well, it makes sense that it pools there because the forward knuckle must be the lowest point in the bilge when the boat is at rest.

I was so spooked about mysterious water intrusion that I installed a bilge pump alarm---an audible warning that goes off when my bilge pump is working, because I would never hear the pump turn on when the engine is running (you know, like when you forget to turn off the blower after you start that nice 5.7?)

Arrrghh, where is this water coming from? :bang:

[anchor out]

"It seems to be coming in during the wash down process".

I think you may be on to it - with this thought.
Dry the bilge out thoroughly and then give her a good wash down, see what happens.
Good luck.
ken

[USA591]

Ok, here's an update: it's not coming from the washdown process.

I took the boat out yesterday for three hours in 2 to 4 foot chop--it was kind of a rough ride. Guess what--water in the bilge!!! So much so that my bilge alarm actually chimed and I had to use the hand pump to clear a gallon or two of water (there wasn't enough for the bilge pump to kick in).

I just had the transom seal replaced, it's not that...I was out the other day in flat water--no leaks, so it's not that... It seems to be related to rough water motoring (I had a few good window-shaking pounds yesterday).

My only other thought is that the scuppers in the back of the cockpit are indeed leaking. I'll take a closer look and report back.

This is driving me crazy!!!