Water in Footwell of V-Berth

[CaspersCruiser]

Another Tugnuts owner started a thread about this subject in “Chat”. I have the same problem, but I am starting a new thread in this section in hopes that a factory expert will see it and provide feedback:

I have a 2012 R27. I get a couple inches of water in the footwell when the fresh water tank is full, the boat is on the trailer and it is parked on a slope with the stern low, such as at a boat ramp. It took me a while, but at the end of this past boating season, I made a definite correlation between a full water tank and water in the footwell.

I haven’t had an opportunity to sit in the footwell during this condition to see the water coming in, but I’m 100% certain it is water from the fresh water tank, or more likely, the associated plumbing. I have checked the anchor locker drain line and it is secure and not clogged.

Since the “city water” fitting is a known problem on these boats, could it be that water from the fresh water tank is running up to the fitting by gravity when the boat is on a slope and leaking from the fitting or the line leading to it? That’s just a hunch. It may be something completely different. My boat’s previous owners lived in Michigan. It’s possible that they improperly winterized and there’s freeze damage. Who knows.

Water has not gotten into the footwell while the boat is in the water no matter how full the fresh water tank. Only on the trailer and on a slope with the stern down. I have filled the water tank many times while the boat is in the water and have never gotten water in the footwell. Ever.

Getting to the bottom of this issue is on my “to do” for next season, but I’d like some guidance on where to start looking.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

In the 6 plus years we owned Caspers Cruiser, aka Kismet, we did not experience any stateroom foot well flooding. For information purposes we never used the dockside water hookup so if the problem ends up stemming from this area it may be why it never happened when we owned the boat. Keep us posted as to the outcome so we can all learn.

Jim F

 

[CaspersCruiser]

I have never used the city water fitting. I wish the manual had a readable schematic depicting exactly how the water system is plumbed. I don’t know if it’s even possible for water from the fresh water tank to back flow to the city water fitting while the boat is on the trailer on a slope with the stern down slope. It’s just a wild-ass guess.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

If a factory rep does not respond on Tugnuts I’d suggest calling them to discuss. PM me if you need a name and or number.

Jim

 

[knotflying]

As Jim said, you may want to contact the factory. It sounds like something on the domestic water tank my be loose and water leaks out when the boat is not sitting level, hence while on the trailer. Perhaps they can direct you to where the tank fittings may be. Does this happen only when the tank is full? Does it eventually subside?

 

[tlkenyon]

We had the "footwell water" problem with our 2015 25sc. After driving downhill into our yard, there would be 1 inch or so of water in the footwell. The footwell was dry prior to driving down the hill. I put my GoPro in the footwell and documented the timing and duration of the ingress. I took the fridge out and checked the connections on the front of the water tank and all were tight. After many experiments, the water in the footwell did not correlate with the water level in the tank.

It turns out that the water was coming from the port aft locker (I did a little dye-tracer experiment with food coloring). Not sure of the pathway, but it got there. I still had the screens in the scupper drains and when they inevitably plugged, rainwater was entering the port locker. The drain for the port locker was plugged with construction debris, causing the water to accumulate and then find its way forward when driving down the slope. When I unplugged the port locker drain (and all the other drains too) the problem went away.

Hope this helps...

TK

 

[CaspersCruiser]

Hope this helps...

TK

Great ideas to use a Go-Pro and to dye the water.

Your issue seems to be the exact opposite of mine— water in footwell with the stern up. My problem occurs with the stern down. In any case, I’ll use a Go-Pro and, if I can find where water is accumulating on the boat, I’ll employ the dye trick.

Thanks.

 

[S. Todd]

If you pull the refrigerator out you can see the water level gauge and various hoses that attach to the fresh water tank. That might be a good place to start your search.

 

[Scottfree]

We have a R29 and had water in the same area when I was having problems with the shower sump. Our sump pump was intermittent and would overflow. Once I got the sump issues resolved the problem went away. Also if I recall your AC condensate drain goes into your shower sump. It may not be inserted properly. Last of all we had a fitting on the cold water side of the shower faucet pop off while under way and pumped our entire fresh supply into the forward bilge. You could have a leaky fitting. I found several loose hose clamps, either from improper installation or shrinkage of the plastic lines over time. This is accessible by removing all the partitions at the front of the cave. Best done on the hard unless your alright with pieces of your boat spread all over.

Good Luck, Leon

 

[CaspersCruiser]

If you pull the refrigerator out you can see the water level gauge and various hoses that attach to the fresh water tank. That might be a good place to start your search.

This is what was seen with the refrigerator pulled during a project a couple years ago.

 

[CaspersCruiser]

We have a R29 and had water in the same area when I was having problems with the shower sump...... Also if I recall your AC condensate drain goes into your shower sump.

Yours is good info for R29 owners reading this thread, but my boat is an R27. The shower and its sump are located 10’ away from the footwell at the aft of the cabin.

I’m not 100% certain, but I believe the A/C condensate on my boat drains to the bilge.

 

[rpmerrill]

ON my 2012 R-27, during recent maintenance I was able to see the empty engine compartment.
Way up front, under the platform that supports the fwd bilge pump there is a PVC pipe that comes aft from somewhere forward under the cabin. I could only conclude that it is the drain from the AC. It was all glassed into the hull. Probably travels under the fuel and fresh water tanks.

A year ago I did have a leak in the fitting at the shore water connection. With the pump on, water was sprying out behind the galley sink and cabinets. I never knew where all that water went. Until now.

I have no drainage ability in the v-berth floor area. Always wondered where it would go if I had a flood or left the hatch open in the rain. The v-berth storage compartments do have drain holes. No idea where they go.

My good friend had a 2008 R-25 and his v-berth floor has two drain holes. Factory or previous owner, unknown.

I'm guessing all these drains go to that pvc pipe in the engine compartment.
I've got photos if anyone wants to see where it is.

 

[S. Todd]

The picture you posted of the pulled refrigerator looks similar to what I saw when I pulled mine a few years ago. The hole in the floor was how I accessed the fresh water tank gauge which needed to be cleaned to make it operational again. If I recall correctly, I believe I could also see the fill and overflow lines where they attached to the tank through that hole.

 

[CaspersCruiser]

Everybody, thanks for the input.

As in Rich Merrill’s boat, there are no drain holes in the footwell on my boat. When water has accumulated there, I have used towels to soak it up.

I need to remove the refrigerator to access the NEMA 2000 backbone for another project so I’ll look at the fresh water plumbing as best I can.