R27 Classic - Water in Port Battery Compartment

[mikeypaulding]

Dear fellow Ranger fans,

I’m a new owner of a 2013 R27 Classic. I’m trying to learn as much as possible about this wonderful boat, but I cannot figure out why water does not drain out of the port battery compartment.

Inside the compartment, I notice a drain with a metal cover. There seems to be water sloshing about in the drain at the dock and the compartment is damp/wet. More concerning, when underway, the compartment gets about 1/2” of water. Not good, because there are many important electrical components in this compartment.

Will anyone please tell me why there is standing water in the drain of the port battery compartment and why it becomes slightly flooded when underway? Also, where does this water drain? I suspect the limber hole in the engine compartment (on port side), but why doesn’t the the compartment get emptied?

Any advice for how to keep the port battery compartment dry (and ideas why it gets flooded when underway) would be immensely appreciated.

With many thanks in advance,
Mike

 

[knotflying]

There are weep holes that drain into the bilge. You will see two of them that concern your situation on the port side. One is at the flat part in the engine compartment facing the engine and the other a little forward of that also on port. Make sure they are cleaned out. A 1/4 inch rod about one foot long should be able to push through. I then also force hose water up there and flush it out. Regular maintenance is required. Also make sure you gutter drains are removed and left out and periodically force hose water out to make sure they are clear. These drains are critical to be clear and flowing.

 

[mikeypaulding]

Mike,

Thank you sincerely for the piece of mind. Really appreciate the time you took to answer my question. I will address the weep hole today with rod and hose in hand.

May you have a good week,
Another Mike

 

[knotflying]

Just a minor correction. I said remove gutter drains. I meant remove the plastic grates, not he whole drain!

 

[ALICE J]

You don’t mention if you have a generator or not. With a generator and battery located on the port side the boat tends to have a port side list. The drain inside the battery compartment that has the metal screening, just has a hole drilled through the wood into the space below. The scupper that goes into the engine compartment has a quarter to a half inch berm so the water does not completely drain from that interior space. Clean the opening as well as you can as Mike suggested if you see a brownish liquid or sludge it probably means that the plywood is rotting and should be replaced. I found that the gasket on the battery compartment gets flattened and no longer excludes water. Water can come from either hosing down the cockpit or excess rainwater or even seawater that, can surge against the transom door coming underneath it into the cockpit, then into the battery compartment. You might also check the port locker to see if that plywood may have rot. I replaced both floors with three-quarter inch PVC board that I 5200. No more rotten plywood! I also found that the latches can leak water so I sealed them with silicone, it’s the hinge part on the handle where the water comes in.Also check to make sure that the scupper hoses are absolutely clean and the water really flows out of the stern drains