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Author Topic:   2003 CONQUEST 295: Water on Sole

MLink posted 04-12-2006 04:40 PM ET (US)
I have repeated instances of water in [my 2003 CONQUEST 295] at the lowest part in the area of the decorative wood sole of the cabin in the area oposite the head. I am the second owner and the boat has less than 50 hours use or abuse.
The boat is dry when lifted. I have ruled out the air conditioner, the refrigerator, the head. the water tank, and the interior plumbing. The leak it is not rain water. Are there any other possible culprits in the form of below the waterline through-hull penetrations that could allow migration to such a location? Thanks for any help in trouble shooting.
Dave S.
bsmotril posted 04-12-2006 05:03 PM ET (US)
Is it sea water, or fresh water? Might have to taste it. Any evidence in the cabin along the side shelves, or headliner where it might be coming in and running down the inside? Also, some of the Conquests had a forward bilge pump in a sump under the deck as well as the rear. If that forward pump does not work, bilge water might be sloshing forward when you stop and splashing up from underneath.
Mambo Minnow posted 04-12-2006 05:52 PM ET (US)
I noticed that on my Conquest 21, there is a small (quarter size) hole in the bulkhead at bottom rear of the cuddy, on the access plate under the step down. It leads directly to the bilge area under aft deck. I assume it is some sort of visual inspection port. When boat is trimmed bow down, some residual water moves aft to fore if the bilge pump can't get the last residual amount of bilge water. You might have a similar arrangement on the larger boat.
MLink posted 04-12-2006 06:01 PM ET (US)
Thanks for your reply.
The water is sea water. This is by implication as the only time it exists, was during in water period following purchase.
After lift out, I removed all water, dried the boat and awaited rain/snow.
I have ruled out any form of leaks from or through the headliner, cabin, anchor locker, hatch etc. -- used kleenex and placed it anywhere a drip or water could arguably be from and inspected it after heavy rain as well as following extended haul-out (boat is at rest in lift-out at residence so is readilly available for inspection).
The forward bilge pump works and activates on command.
Thanks again for your message.
Dave S.
MLink posted 04-12-2006 06:06 PM ET (US)
To: Mambo Minnow
Thanks for your suggestion.
I will open up the mid-cabin and other areas to see if there is any arguable place for entry.
Again, thanks.
Dave S.
handn posted 04-12-2006 09:52 PM ET (US)
I had a leak under the rub rail where the two parts of the hull are fitted together on my 305 Conquest. The only evidence of water intrusion was a little water running down the inside the hull above the storage shelf on the port side. The leak only occured in rough seas. I only noticed it when it got much worse after a long run in really rough seas.
Squirting a hose on the area did not reveal the leak. The hull needed to flex for water to leak.
Also, I had a friend with a 295 Conquest who had a leak in the fitting of his shower sump pump.
Good luck
MLink posted 04-12-2006 11:58 PM ET (US)
To: handn
Thanks for the reply. I will endeavor to look at this aspect of the hull.
The boat hasnt been in any type of heavy Wx or rough seas under my ownership, and surely not that of the previous one so I doubt this can be an issue. But, worse yet, what you note is symptomatic of manufacturing issues that makes me less, not more, comfortable. You have green water problems; I have calm sea problems. This is not good.
I have owned 5 Whalers. (Four of them pre-Brunswick).
I never had a problem with any, repeat, any of my other Whalers until after the Brunswick takeover.
Have you heard the disparaging remark about a "Sea-Ray" now being a "Bay-Ray."? (The Bayliner is sometimes referred to as a "Bilgeliner" where I have boated). What does this make Whalers?
Is there something wrong with this picture?
It is very annoying, no . . . it makes me P.O.'d that a boat with this tradition is now becoming a piece of junk.
I have other issues with the 29.5 Conquest but what is the use? The issues I have noted (and can solve without resort to this forum) are all cheap and crummy short-cuts that the engineers who design boats, equip boats, build boats and inspect boats, but don't operate boats, use to make a profit. None of it was part of the "Old" Whaler process.
I am close to abandoning the Whaler line. Thanks again for the reply.
Dave S.
handn posted 04-13-2006 06:24 PM ET (US)
I did have some water leak problems with my early in production 305 Conquest. Several of those leaks raised quality control issues, while others may have been due to installation of electronics. Other owners of later in production 305 Conquests have not complained to the forum about similar leaks so the problems may have been corrected in later production boats.
I have no experience with other new boats, either Brunswick or non Brunswick but I am willing to bet all new boats no matter how high dollar have manufacturing defects.
While the leaks are disapointing, BW did stand behind the 305 and gave a superior effort to resolving the problems to my satisfaction.
If Mlink's 29.5 Conquest has not run in rough seas, then the leak in my boat may not be the one in his boat as rough water is necessary to force water under the rub rail.
In any case, the repair of my problem was rather simple. The rub rail was taken off and the area where the hull and the deck was joined together was recaulked with 5200 and the rubrail reinstalled.
Repairs of all the leaks were rather simple; finding them was the hard part.
I urge any owner of a leaky boat to be patient and keep looking for the source of the water. The good and bad thing about leaks is they usually get worse over time and eventually get bad enough so the source of the water is obvious.
jimh posted 04-15-2006 08:08 AM ET (US)
[A number of comments not related to the topic have been removed.]

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Author	Topic: 2003 CONQUEST 295: Water on Sole
MLink	posted 04-12-2006 04:40 PM ET (US) I have repeated instances of water in [my 2003 CONQUEST 295] at the lowest part in the area of the decorative wood sole of the cabin in the area oposite the head. I am the second owner and the boat has less than 50 hours use or abuse. The boat is dry when lifted. I have ruled out the air conditioner, the refrigerator, the head. the water tank, and the interior plumbing. The leak it is not rain water. Are there any other possible culprits in the form of below the waterline through-hull penetrations that could allow migration to such a location? Thanks for any help in trouble shooting. Dave S.
bsmotril	posted 04-12-2006 05:03 PM ET (US) Is it sea water, or fresh water? Might have to taste it. Any evidence in the cabin along the side shelves, or headliner where it might be coming in and running down the inside? Also, some of the Conquests had a forward bilge pump in a sump under the deck as well as the rear. If that forward pump does not work, bilge water might be sloshing forward when you stop and splashing up from underneath.
Mambo Minnow	posted 04-12-2006 05:52 PM ET (US) I noticed that on my Conquest 21, there is a small (quarter size) hole in the bulkhead at bottom rear of the cuddy, on the access plate under the step down. It leads directly to the bilge area under aft deck. I assume it is some sort of visual inspection port. When boat is trimmed bow down, some residual water moves aft to fore if the bilge pump can't get the last residual amount of bilge water. You might have a similar arrangement on the larger boat.
MLink	posted 04-12-2006 06:01 PM ET (US) Thanks for your reply. The water is sea water. This is by implication as the only time it exists, was during in water period following purchase. After lift out, I removed all water, dried the boat and awaited rain/snow. I have ruled out any form of leaks from or through the headliner, cabin, anchor locker, hatch etc. -- used kleenex and placed it anywhere a drip or water could arguably be from and inspected it after heavy rain as well as following extended haul-out (boat is at rest in lift-out at residence so is readilly available for inspection). The forward bilge pump works and activates on command. Thanks again for your message. Dave S.
MLink	posted 04-12-2006 06:06 PM ET (US) To: Mambo Minnow Thanks for your suggestion. I will open up the mid-cabin and other areas to see if there is any arguable place for entry. Again, thanks. Dave S.
handn	posted 04-12-2006 09:52 PM ET (US) I had a leak under the rub rail where the two parts of the hull are fitted together on my 305 Conquest. The only evidence of water intrusion was a little water running down the inside the hull above the storage shelf on the port side. The leak only occured in rough seas. I only noticed it when it got much worse after a long run in really rough seas. Squirting a hose on the area did not reveal the leak. The hull needed to flex for water to leak. Also, I had a friend with a 295 Conquest who had a leak in the fitting of his shower sump pump. Good luck
MLink	posted 04-12-2006 11:58 PM ET (US) To: handn Thanks for the reply. I will endeavor to look at this aspect of the hull. The boat hasnt been in any type of heavy Wx or rough seas under my ownership, and surely not that of the previous one so I doubt this can be an issue. But, worse yet, what you note is symptomatic of manufacturing issues that makes me less, not more, comfortable. You have green water problems; I have calm sea problems. This is not good. I have owned 5 Whalers. (Four of them pre-Brunswick). I never had a problem with any, repeat, any of my other Whalers until after the Brunswick takeover. Have you heard the disparaging remark about a "Sea-Ray" now being a "Bay-Ray."? (The Bayliner is sometimes referred to as a "Bilgeliner" where I have boated). What does this make Whalers? Is there something wrong with this picture? It is very annoying, no . . . it makes me P.O.'d that a boat with this tradition is now becoming a piece of junk. I have other issues with the 29.5 Conquest but what is the use? The issues I have noted (and can solve without resort to this forum) are all cheap and crummy short-cuts that the engineers who design boats, equip boats, build boats and inspect boats, but don't operate boats, use to make a profit. None of it was part of the "Old" Whaler process. I am close to abandoning the Whaler line. Thanks again for the reply. Dave S.
handn	posted 04-13-2006 06:24 PM ET (US) I did have some water leak problems with my early in production 305 Conquest. Several of those leaks raised quality control issues, while others may have been due to installation of electronics. Other owners of later in production 305 Conquests have not complained to the forum about similar leaks so the problems may have been corrected in later production boats. I have no experience with other new boats, either Brunswick or non Brunswick but I am willing to bet all new boats no matter how high dollar have manufacturing defects. While the leaks are disapointing, BW did stand behind the 305 and gave a superior effort to resolving the problems to my satisfaction. If Mlink's 29.5 Conquest has not run in rough seas, then the leak in my boat may not be the one in his boat as rough water is necessary to force water under the rub rail. In any case, the repair of my problem was rather simple. The rub rail was taken off and the area where the hull and the deck was joined together was recaulked with 5200 and the rubrail reinstalled. Repairs of all the leaks were rather simple; finding them was the hard part. I urge any owner of a leaky boat to be patient and keep looking for the source of the water. The good and bad thing about leaks is they usually get worse over time and eventually get bad enough so the source of the water is obvious.
jimh	posted 04-15-2006 08:08 AM ET (US) [A number of comments not related to the topic have been removed.]