New Doral Owner

[ciscokidd]

Re: New Doral Owner

Looking for some feedback and not to hyjack the thread. I just finished a pretty extensive makeover on the hull of my 2000 Doral 250SE (full peel to bare laminate, biaxial cloth, west one and interprotect 2000e system w 3 coast anti fouling to complete) full cut polish and any nicks gouges all repaired. Also had the engine gone over and addressed anything that needed to be done prior to dropping in the salt here in the Vancouver area. My boat will be in the water 24/7.

Upon dropping into the water on a cloudy but not raining day we went for a spin all good, checked engine bilge, a tiny bit of water which I believe was from previous washing boat off on land and it was never fully drained via drain hole once trailered. Since then I got out a second time and the volume of water was the same , no more no less. However since then we have had some good rain over the last 4 days and I noticed while checking on the boat at our marina that when I boarded it on the starboard side the bilge pump went off and poured out some water. All my tanks are currently empty and I already note many others complaining of a listing issue to starboard side due to the way the boat was designed, high CG and overall narrow and this seems to be an issue with boats in the 25ft range.

Some have addressed the issue by adding more weight which I would like to avoid. I have 3 batteries on port side and an inverter mounted towards port side. On starboard side the only new addition was a Neutra Salt system with FWC reservoirs mounted to a plywood panel which I have strapped to the black and grey tanks. I realize that if I fill my fresh water tank this will offset the listing which causes the waterline to be right at the antifoul line, we did our best to mark it before anti fouling but came up about 1-2" short which I am not overly concerned about as that can be addressed at end of this season

My only concern is finding where rain water is entering on the starboard side, to see if I can eliminate the constant water entering the bilge, I have done the taste test and it is definitely fresh water. I have 2 bilge pumps in the engine compartment and placed a third in the sump area when I replaced the sump and did some plumbing, choosing to send my waste water directly overboard for the sink. I was on the boat last night and I could see rain water entering along the inner starboard wall, dripping constantly but I can not get my head far enough in to look to see exactly where it could be coming from, rub rail, cleat? I am also considering filling my fresh water to see if the evening out of the boat will reduce the rain water entering but I am trying to determine exactly where it is entering, nothing is coming from the transom area or outdrive, exhaust bellows was replaced, the trim tab screws had been sikka flexxed before everything went back on, it was done right. Based on the drips I have found the water is entering just aft of the black/grey tanks.

Any and all suggestions are welcome, I will inquire with my buddy who has his 04 Maxxum 2400SE at the same marina to see whether he has a rainwater issue like I do during our winter months. When its dry out the bilge is dry. I would just like to address since I also had fiberglass mounts made for my bilge pumps so they would not be screwed down to the bilge floor want to eliminate any possibility of water getting into hull from within the boat (all previous screw holes were filled during the 2mth reno) , the mounts raise each pump about 1.5" still keeping the water well below the engine but causing more to be in there until they activate.

Cheers from the wet pacific northwest

 

[Halifax Shipfaced]

Re: New Doral Owner

Ciscokidd the water trail your tracking down is from the engine vent and on newer Dorals they even tied in drains to the vent but they still emptied into the bilge.
It's also why almost every doral engine photo (online) has water in them or signs of....
You need to install a drain line and tie that into the drain for the engine cover or similar to solve this issue or tie a mermaid marine condensator but that would require an A/C to work.

 

[ciscokidd]

Re: New Doral Owner

Ciscokidd the water trail your tracking down is from the engine vent and on newer Dorals they even tied in drains to the vent but they still emptied into the bilge.
It's also why almost every doral engine photo (online) has water in them or signs of....
You need to install a drain line and tie that into the drain for the engine cover or similar to solve this issue or tie a mermaid marine condensator but that would require an A/C to work.

Thanks for your reply. I am going to look into your suggestion of cause and try to figure out how to install a drain line and tie that into the drain for the engine cover or similar. I have kept an eye on this over last few days and it is strictly due to the heavy rain we get over the winter. No rain the bilge stays dry, it rains and I get water there. Spoke to buddy with a Maxxum 2400se and same for him so seems part and parcel. However if I can reduce the volume or almost eliminate it all the better. Fortunately I am 10 minutes to my boat from home and left a wet vac on board so during hard rain I drop by on way to or from work and get rid of sitting water if need be.

This is new to me so I have to figure what you explained and see if there is a way I can solve

 

[ciscokidd]

Re: New Doral Owner

Ciscokidd the water trail your tracking down is from the engine vent and on newer Dorals they even tied in drains to the vent but they still emptied into the bilge.
It's also why almost every doral engine photo (online) has water in them or signs of....
You need to install a drain line and tie that into the drain for the engine cover or similar to solve this issue or tie a mermaid marine condensator but that would require an A/C to work.

I am unsure where I would be installing this drain line, trying to figure it out , would you be able to assist more. We have recently had some really heavy overnight rain and it is only after these rains that I have standing water in the bilge which I just wet vac out until better weather comes along and I can try to improve or solve the issue.

However I am strongly wondering if the seals around the water and waste caps as well as gas caps are shot. They appear cracked and lifted slightly. also when there is hard rain while I am in the engine compartment I can find water running off the water of waste hose leading to the tanks. I believe water running down the side of the boat is find its way past the seals following the connecting hoses and draining into the bilge where it collects. It is only the starboard side that seems to show moisture along the sidewall behind the tanks, On the side where the gas cap is I don't believe there is issue but I am thinking to replace all 3 seals and then run a bead of caulking around as well and cover all screw head and re-caulk the stanchion as well