Quicksilver 855WE rainwater leak

[Bowlerhat]

I have a annoying rainwater leak, collecting in the for’d bilge. The water is entering the bilge from aft. The boat is ashore with the covers up. I have sealed the engine compartment vent and duck-taped around the radar mast and the searchlight on the roof. I am about to systematically duck-tape deck fittings in turn and then around the hull to deck seal, but before I do, are there other owners that may have experienced the same; these things are sometime issues of the same model? It’s totally related to rain and the fresh water system has been run with no leaks. The water is not entering the cabin, it’s running down behind the skin or headlining somewhere and collecting at the lowest point. Thank you.

 

[pumpsmynads]

Check the external horn sealant? Not aft but the water can take weird routes to the bilge.

 

[simonfraser]

i find mine with plenty of sheets of blue roll put down in all the likely run off places

 

[Bowlerhat]

i find mine with plenty of sheets of blue roll put down in all the likely run off places

How do you do this in practice? I’ve heard it done (same with talc and newspaper) but the only aft run off areas I have access to are in the lazarette. Do you take the headlining down, or remove seat backs etc to get to the hull itself? Thanks.

 

[simonfraser]

i'd work backwards, where exactly is the water collecting ?
how does it get there
lay four pieces around that area
tape the blue roll paper to the side(s) if needed

 

[Bowlerhat]

The water is collecting in the for’d bilge which is situated astern of the master cabin and in the very small lobby between the heads and mid-cabin accesses – at the bottom of two steps down from the saloon. The boat is on hardstanding, and this is the lowest point. There are two runs into the bilge, one from for’d and one from aft. I have blocked the for’d one up and proved that the water is coming from aft. I have spent a couple of hours with a hose around the lazarette hatches and they seem to be doing their job. There could be some run-off behind the freshwater, black water or grey water tanks but I have put towels around the base of those tanks and they have remained dry. I had heard that some Quicksilvers leak through the roof and I’m working my way through those fittings. I’m grateful for the suggestion of checking the horn, which I have not done and also I have not yet sealed the sunroof, although there are no leaks into the cabin. The difficulty, at least as I see it, of using the paper towel idea is that the areas where I could realistically put a paper towel I’ve already proved to be dry. And as I say I may be missing something here.

 

[peterjaw]

The water is collecting in the for’d bilge which is situated astern of the master cabin and in the very small lobby between the heads and mid-cabin accesses – at the bottom of two steps down from the saloon. The boat is on hardstanding, and this is the lowest point. There are two runs into the bilge, one from for’d and one from aft. I have blocked the for’d one up and proved that the water is coming from aft. I have spent a couple of hours with a hose around the lazarette hatches and they seem to be doing their job. There could be some run-off behind the freshwater, black water or grey water tanks but I have put towels around the base of those tanks and they have remained dry. I had heard that some Quicksilvers leak through the roof and I’m working my way through those fittings. I’m grateful for the suggestion of checking the horn, which I have not done and also I have not yet sealed the sunroof, although there are no leaks into the cabin. The difficulty, at least as I see it, of using the paper towel idea is that the areas where I could realistically put a paper towel I’ve already proved to be dry. And as I say I may be missing something here.

I have the same boat as you do and have had the same problem as you are facing now. I found it it was unpractical to track back the leak, because there are multiple sources. According to Murphy's Law, "Anything could go wrong will go wrong."
So I just tried to eliminate the "could s", as many as possible.

Based on my terrible experience, here are some suggestions for you:

- Check the portholes. All my 4 portholes leak. The water from the portholes in master cabin and the mid-cabin will eventually go down
to the bilge.

- Check the vent under the side door. When it is rainy and very windy, rain water will be "blew in".

- Seal all the "courtesy lights". You can pop them out and apply sealant between the light and the gel coat.

The Quicksilver 855 Weekend has a lot potential leaks. I have same experience with all the places you mentioned in this thread.
After treating all of them, I still have leak problem, much minor though.

If you have chance to find something else, please share. Thank you very much.

 

[Bowlerhat]

I have the same boat as you do and have had the same problem as you are facing now. I found it it was unpractical to track back the leak, because there are multiple sources.

Thank you. I feel your pain, brother!

Check the portholes. All my 4 portholes leak.

Do they leak inside the boat or between the hull and skin? If there is a saving grace, my boat’s saloon/accommodation is completely dry.

After treating all of them, I still have leak problem, much minor though.

How minor is “minor”? I use a wet vac with a 7.5litre capacity. One single good night of rain and it will easily fill it.
Great point on the door vent. I have recently sealed the runner, but not the vent beneath.

 

[Jamie Dundee]

My Antares 760 did something similar when completely level on the cradle. Raising the bow very slightly more akin to the attitude when afloat cured the problem. No idea where the water was coming from but water was obviously draining to somewhere it wasn’t intended to be.

 

[peterjaw]

Thank you. I feel your pain, brother!

Do they leak inside the boat or between the hull and skin? If there is a saving grace, my boat’s saloon/accommodation is completely dry.

Inside. I can see the "streak" caused by the rain water. The water actually goes into the gap between wood decoration and inner hull.

How minor is “minor”? I use a wet vac with a 7.5litre capacity. One single good night of rain and it will easily fill it.
Great point on the door vent. I have recently sealed the runner, but not the vent beneath.

I used to vacuum out 4 to 5 buckets of water (about 20 ~ 30 liter) every time I visit the marina,
but now I need only a hand towel.

ps. I go to the marina every 2 or 3 weeks.

 

[Bowlerhat]

Raising the bow very slightly more akin to the attitude when afloat cured the problem.

Thanks Jamie. Boats never fail to amaze me!!

 

[Bowlerhat]

“now I need only a hand towel.”

You give me hope!! Thanks Peter.

 

[peterjaw]

“now I need only a hand towel.”

You give me hope!! Thanks Peter.

By the way, if you find something new, please share here.

 

[powerboater1]

I’ve just purchased a 2017 855 and have a little leak that ends up collecting in the rear cabin behind the head board cubby space. i think it’s leaking in through the units attachment to the cabin (probably through a screw hole). It’s fresh water and tends to collect after heavy rain or a good hose off. I’ve focussed on the rear sun deck and a few of the drains (especially around the sliding seat) were a little blocked. Are there any other obvious areas I need to check before I start dismantling the boat. All the bilges and soft furnishings internally are dry. The roof and all the seals around radar domes etc seem like the next bit to check. Any thoughts would be most appreciated

Also while I’m here the left windscreen washer doesn’t work and is probably blocked somewhere ( a dribble of water flows out when motor is running) trying to trace it back is very awkward though!

 

[Bowlerhat]

I’ve just purchased a 2017 855 and have a little leak that ends up collecting in the rear cabin behind the head board cubby space. i think it’s leaking in through the units attachment to the cabin (probably through a screw hole). It’s fresh water and tends to collect after heavy rain or a good hose off. I’ve focussed on the rear sun deck and a few of the drains (especially around the sliding seat) were a little blocked. Are there any other obvious areas I need to check before I start dismantling the boat. All the bilges and soft furnishings internally are dry. The roof and all the seals around radar domes etc seem like the next bit to check. Any thoughts would be most appreciated

I would start aft and work forward. The cockpit drains can block (mine do), and the engine access latches will leak. The trim of the boat will determine where it all ends up. If you have cockpit covers, I would use them to eliminate that area. I would remove the speaker covers/access hatch in the roof section immediately aft of the sliding saloon doors. Have a good poke around with dry cloths to track moisture and look for ‘tracks‘ being left by water. If you have a searchlight, I suggest you reseal it - I know of one case where this has definitely been the culprit. The sliding saloon windows port and starboard leak like a sieve if you squirt water from aft to forward when washing down. Some of this could easily track to the cubby hole in the mid cabin (are you certain the water heater isn’t leaking in said cubby hole?). In addition, the cockpit helm door fixtures at the base could leak if not sealed properly. The approach of squirting water in one place only and waiting to see whether it collects is clearly a sensible way to eliminating leaks as you go around the boat.

Also while I’m here the left windscreen washer doesn’t work and is probably blocked somewhere ( a dribble of water flows out when motor is running) trying to trace it back is very awkward though!

Not come across this, but blowing it through while disconnected from the pump/reservoir in the bilge outside the heads might be an approach.

 

[powerboater1]

Many thanks for your input. I’m in the process of doing exactly what you said. Haven’t done the searchlight yet bu that does look like the sealant may have deteriorated a little. I’ve had virtually every panel off internally but not that external one so that’s this weeks job

The engine bay got quite wet this week too and there appeared to water dripping through the sound deadening (silver lining) on the aft section by the sliding seat drain holes. It seems to be screwed into the. Deck so that may need re sealing too.

I’ve put the covers on (engine area is now dry) and there’s still leaks into the cubby so probably the engine bay area is not the culprit there.

Will carry on and report further

Thanks again

 

[powerboater1]

First two leaks found

1. Around the port aerial cable inlet. The grommet had been squeezed and Jen be crushed. I’ve used some amalgamating tape to seal it (temporarily

2. Previous owners had a life raft stowage unit on the transom. Which had been removed. 6 holes had been drilled through the teak deck into the engine bay and as they are not sealed allowed water to flow straight in.

I’ve also sealed the search light as you suggested

Rain forecast for tomorrow so will report further

Thanks again for the ideas

 

[Bowlerhat]

First two leaks found

1. Around the port aerial cable inlet. The grommet had been squeezed and Jen be crushed. I’ve used some amalgamating tape to seal it (temporarily

2. Previous owners had a life raft stowage unit on the transom. Which had been removed. 6 holes had been drilled through the teak deck into the engine bay and as they are not sealed allowed water to flow straight in.

I’ve also sealed the search light as you suggested

Rain forecast for tomorrow so will report further

Thanks again for the ideas

Sounds like you’re making progress. Thanks for keeping us updated.

 

[powerboater1]

As a follow up. Leak has been totally solved by the Ariel fix. Dry as a bone for 3 months

On another note I don’t have any power to the shower sump bilge pump. Just wondering if there’s a fuse that I can’t find that needs replacing. The unit works fine just lack of power

also winterising or just placing a heater in the cabin. Any thoughts ?

 

[Nigel52]

Last winter you will see I had water in the fwd bilge and I ended up trying all sorts of things. It turned out that I had inadvertently drained the fresh water tank into the grey water tank. When I ran the heads sink it then drained into the shower sump which overflowed into the fwd bilge. That sorted one problem. I then found the aft cockpit deck drain channels were blocked and where they go into the drains just aft of the rear seat the plastic deck fitting below the deck which is a right angle fitting the jubilee clips that fasten the hose to the fitting were loose and leaked. Once cleaned and tightened this stopped that leak.