Water Under Aft Cockpit in 07 Venture

Hey Bill
The flex exhaust pipe that attaches over the stainless solid pipe vent is hard to seal with high heat silicone. I gave it my best shot, but their is still a small amount of water that leaks past the many ridges and voids from the flex pipe on this connection, during the harshest of weather conditions.
I guess we would have a better chance if the flex pipe fit inside the stainless solid pipe vent, but no parts are available for that. I gave directions in my photo album on how I deal with the small acceptable amont of water that still finds it's way into my bildge.

The Drian Hole Plug
The first day our boat arrived at the dealership I noticed the bare transom plywood that was exposed just ahead of the drain hole. The dealer epoxyed this for me under warranty at that time. I later pulled off the drain plug, drilled out larger holes for the screws, redrilled smaller holes after the apoxy set and reattached the drain hole brass fitting.

Keep in mind that if you cut lids into your step boxes to allow more storage, don't forget to drill drain holes in the bottom of the boxes and also vent them on the sides. I'll add pictures to show how I vented our boxes soon. Your challenge is to come up with a way to make to the lid waterproof.

When I'm reading about guy's trying to decide on what size of inspection holes to cut into there decks, think about getting you hand with a rag in it later if need be. Also how you can blow air down into this space to dry out future condensation after all leaks have been repaired. I choose 6" access holes and am happy with my choise. I can also stick a small flash light and my camera down into the hole to later to look at the pictures and see what is happening in that space. I have recognized no loss in strength of the decks.

Dave of "C-Voyager"
What a treat it is to receive first hand knowledge from the guy's who built these great boats. Thank you for your input and I'm looking forward to your future post.

Cheers :D
Ross
 
During some rough water, we had considerable water leak from that hose connection referred to by Ross. There is a topside exhaust cap that can be closed to prevent water intrusion in heavy seas. It is aimed at sailboats, but I see no reason it won't work on our venture.

I'm a little concerned about the protrusion of the Walis vent cap on the side of the hull getting damaged at a dock. Our thinking is if we encounter rough water, turn of the Walis and close the topside vent (you simply push it down).
We saw it at the Seattle Boat Show, and it's very sturdy.

Tim and Dave
 
Ross, I think we have different types of drain holes. Mine looks like a brass sleeve that is inserted into the hole and then each end of the tube is rounded. Actually the bilge drain hole and splash well drain holes are the same. I believe my Starboard splash well drain hole is leaking a small amount of water into the transom. I didn't want to remove the brass fitting and try to seal it properly. So I put a small amount of epoxy on each end of the drain. Hopefully this will seal between the brass of the drain fitting and the gel coat of the transom. So no water can get into the core.

I think I'll buy some of the high temp silicon and try sealing my exhaust a little better.

It is amazing looking at the photos of your boat how different it is. In my mind C-Dory just started making the Ventures the same way Cape Cruiser made them. But the reality is they completely changed the way the boat was made. Interesting.

Bill
 
After reading this thread I have come to the conclusion that what you Venture and CC owners need more then anything is one of these...and a hole saw. :wink :idea

97901F-p.jpg


Just don't drill too deep with the hole saw.
 
Hi Mike,

Good Idea. I already have a guzzler manual pump plus three other electric bilge pumps. This gives me at least 10 minutes before I have to beach it and drain the water.

By the By, did you remember to cc the C-dory folks on the Hull, Deck, and Fittings thread? "Bilge Question--Where is the Water Coming From?" due to water in the aft cockpit! This seems to be a common problem on the newer 22 C-dorys with the decks added as well as the Cape Cruiser Design. Note the care the new Marinaut is taking to keep this space dry with their double hull design.

Tim and Dave Kinghorn
 
Byrdman":mz02xw5w said:
maybe the 3rd generation is the charm???
Click to expand...

I think Ben and Dave will get it right this time, although there may be some adjustments to be made, like any new boat design. I respect their skills, intent, integrity, and attention to detail very much.

Many of the problems have come into production runs when incompletely thought out modifications in construction procedures, materials usage, and/or careless employees actions result in poorly functioning boat products.

Then too, we've seen that the profit motive can ramp up production to a pace at which it's hard to maintain the focus on quality, or make a manufacturer make changes that focus more on the $$$, rather than the end product.

The more complex structure of the larger boats lends them to be more prone to these types of problems, as we've seen.

I'm sure we'll all be waiting for the the boat to arrive!

Think positive, C-Brats!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
So true brother Joe.. No way anyone can predict all the crazy little this effects thats on a new build of any type. I for one, love it when Ol Ben and my friend Dave rare back, and take a stab at 3rd generation C-Dory boat... no matter what label they put on them, or what any jury sees looking out a court room window into a parking lot. Ya just gotta love good boat builds.... and for sure, any of the 22' range boats have been winners! Life is too short for just one...or a dozen boats. :mrgreen:

Hope all had a happy Easter weekend. Glad spring has sprung!

Byrdman...heading to the boats... :smiled :thup :thup
 
Took the plunge today and cut the hole for a 6" access plate in the deck. The boat was made 5/06 and no problem putting the deck plate at the mid line. Tucks in nicely between the tanks. I found no moisture in the space below deck or in the balsa core of the deck. Probably just a matter of time before leaks developed at the plastic plugs or tank lag bolts. The water forward I think was from the anchor locker drain hole leak which has been corrected. I'm using 4200 to install the plate even though the manufacturer recommends silicone. Anyone think this is a mistake? I appreciate the input. Thanks. Alan
 
Alan,

Glad to hear your aft bilge is dry and the inspection cutout hole went well. I don't have an opinion re the proper sealer for the port, so will leave that for other's to discuss.

Do you plan to do anything with the fuel tank hold-down bolts or the smaller injection holes (plugged)?

We will be headed to AZ toward the end of the month and I plan to cut-in the aft inspection port out there, plus one just inside the cabin door (plus, if there's water it should dry-out better).

Glad it went well....

Best,
Casey
 
Alan-

Agreed that the 4200 is a lot stronger bonding agent for a deck installation than the silicone.

The only problem with the 4200 is that if you have to replace the outer ring of the inspection port, it will be a lot harder with 4200 than silicone.

The 4200 can be softened with a special solvent, but getting it to penetrate can be a problem.

Some have said that they can saw-cut 4200 with a ultra high strength braided fishing line, if you can get around the fixture/surface with the line.

I'm sure you can separate the ring from the deck with a good sharp chisel, though, after removing the screws.

Good Luck!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Casey-
I've put epoxy putty in the plug holes and removed the lag bolts. Drilled out the bolt holes ,filled with epoxy putty and will then drill pilot holes and reinstall the lag bolts. Have a good trip.
Joe- Thanks for the advice on 4200.
Alan
 
When we cut out an inspection hole in the forward cabin sole (between the forward berths), we found the area full of water (the space is 3 and 1/2" deep and the water was to the bottom edge of the hole). We vacuumed out 16 gallons of water trapped between the bow and back of the cabin against the bulkhead where the door exits. On our 23' Venture the bulkhead extends to the hull bottom which is different than Matt's which is open to the stern.

When underway, the trapped water pushes against the bulkhead creating hydraulic pressure which forced a small crack in the joint of the cabin floor about 2" in before the door exit. The water accumulates on the cabin floor at the door and also leaks into both sides under the stove/heater and under the rear seat by the door. The source of this water was from the chain locker. I assumed when I drained the water out at the stern through the two inspection holes that all the water from the bow to the stern was removed, and when I cut a second inspection hole in the cabin sole next to the door, I discovered that the bulkhead sealed the area under the cabin sole from the area under the cockpit. Further, when I cut an inspection hole in the cockpit area near the door to provide air circulation, I discovered foam had been injected through the cabin bulkhead into the area under the aft deck. The bottom of this foam was soaked and mushy. The area of the foam was about a circle of 16" in D. on both sides of the under the aft deck area next to each door corner. This foam is worthless as flotation due to the small amount, but worse is the fact that it soaks up and holds water like a very wet and soggy sponge.

At any rate, the until now mysterious source of the water under the cabinet and under the seat has been solved. The chain locker has been thoroughly sealed. We put about 1/2" of epoxy in the bottom to bring it slightly above the drain hole which we enlarged to 1/2". I've taken pictures which I will post in the next few days showing the work involved and pictures of the wet foam. What we now have are two water tight compartments (a double hull): one under the cabin sole and one under the aft deck. One wants to ensure the inspection plates and covers are well secured. If you ripped a hole in the bottom, these spaces would fill with water and put pressure on the plates which, if not well secured would blow out letting the water into the boat proper. Hope this helps. By the way, we found a different cause of the fuel starvation for our boat which I will post in the forum for fuel problems, etc.

Tim and Dave Kinghorn
 
Thanks, good (if scary...) information.

Hopefully, we will be returning to AZ later this week and I will begin the process of cutting holes, drying, and installing inspection plates.

I'm still a little fuzzy on the compartments on your CC. Was the inspection plate beneath the porta potty necessary because the anchor locker water did not migrate farther aft(?) ... thus requiring the inspection plate just inside the door?

If one inspection plate inside the door, and the bow in a slightly higher angle, will allow pumping it dry - I will do that first. If another plate is necessary beneath the porta potty, I'll do that too (but don't want to unless it's really necessary).

And finally, I expect to be installing a inspection plate back between the fuel tanks.

Your thoughts?

Best,
Casey
 
Hi Casey,

I originally planned to cut one opening forward as Matt did to allow me to vent the area out the rear inspection plates between the tanks by placing a fan over the forward opening. Alas, when I cut the forward inspection hole, I found water to the bottom of the hole! As I had already sealed the chain locker, it became clear this was old water that did not drain to the stern. I cut the second cabin inspection hole next to the door inside the cabin and found the water to be next to the top. This was where I vacuumed out about 16 gallons of water. Matt's Venture is open from the bow to the stern so water drains all the way to the stern.

The bulkhead that separates our cabin from the cockpit goes to the bottom of the hull sealing the area under the cabin sole from the area under the aft cockpit. I then cut a hole in the aft cockpit next to the entrance to the cabin to again allow me to vent this area thoroughly. This was when I found the foam the had been injected under the forward part of the aft cockpit. It was mushy on the bottom and was holding water. There were two "puddles" of foam about 16-18" in diameter off each corner of the door. Our aft cockpit has a stringer down the middle which attaches to the underside of the aft deck, but it is not attached to the hull. It made it impossible to get to the foam on the opposite side of the stringer. Hence the second hole.

So---I now have an inspection plate forward and aft in the cabin, and I have two aft and two forward (on both sides of the stringer) in the cockpit.

We previously owned an Arima, and they used this space for fish tanks.

I've posted pictures in our album showing the work. You can also see the seam at the cabin bulkhead where the aft cockpit deck connects.

You might also be interested in our discovery of what seems to have caused our fuel starvation problem. Again see our photo album.

Tim and Dave

Hopes this helps. We love our Venture, and we're just sharing our experience with others who may have a similar boat.
 
Ohh, and the saga continues. Sorry for all the problems you guys are having.

To help clarify why your bulkhead to the rear of the cabin continues all the way down to the hull. Sometime in 07 the Cape Cruiser guys changed the way the interior of the boat was made. They went from three interior molds (cockpit, cabin, v-berth) to a one piece interior mold. When they did this they simplified the build process, made a stronger boat, eliminated potential leak spots, cut down on labor costs and put a larger 30 gallon water tank in the bow freeing up needed interior space. It was another step in the evolution of these boats. When they lost their lawsuit to C-Dory and had to hand over the molds, they gave C-Dory the older 3 piece interior molds and not the new one piece :monty . So as far as I know the C-Dory made Ventures use the inferior (in my opinion) three piece interiors. Know this I believe (but may not be correct) that if you have a bow water tank you will have a bulkhead (between the cockpit and cabin) that continues down to the hull and a support running fore to aft in the middle of the cockpit floor.

I hope this info helps. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on any of this info.

Bill
 
Hi Bill'

Your description of the build process of the 07 Cape Cruiser describes our boat construction exactly, and explains some of the differences different owners have determining where to put inspection ports, etc.

Tim and Dave Kinghorn
 
The newer 07 boats has the water tanks up front in the V berth area . Mine is a 20 gallon under the port seat just like the c-dory's . These boats will run a lot better with extra weight up front . I thought about doing the same and then relized it would be a lot of work so instead just put more gear up front .
 
Hi,
I have an 08 and the water tank is under the port side rear seat right next the rear of the cabin. I'm surprised to hear of some many different configurations.
D.D.
 
DD you have a C-Dory built venture so yes you have a 20 gallon water tank under the port seat and a three piece interior. My boat was the first 07 built Cape Cruiser built 23. It has a three piece interior but I moved the water tank to the bow.

Bill
 
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