Storage compartment collects water
 

Hi, I have really enjoyed browsing the site ..I am new to the site, and wonder if anyone can solve some Mariah Mysteries for me.

My 1998 PC Talari 246 collects water in the storage area located in the most forward (triangular shaped) storage compartment in the cuddy cabin. This area is right behind the anchor storage area. I don't know where the water comes from, but it is fresh water and only happens when it rains. Two years ago I tried replacing the cuddy roof hatch, thinking water may be trickling in from above, but that wasn't it. Last spring I tried spreading epoxy along the inside rear wall of the anchor storage area, thinking the water is coming from there, but stil no cure. Have any talari246 owners, if you're out there, had this problem?

Also.. the drink holders built into the sides and cockpit area collect water in them, and that's not very welcoming to a cold drink, so is it safe to drill a hole in the bottomof the holder to allow drainage? Does anybody know what's under the drink cups, or do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks..
Steve

how r u doing im a new member and own a 2001 mariah256 shabbah water is leaking in from side windows in cuddy hope this helps

Hi.. Welcome to the forum! Sorry for the delayed reply, and thanks for your suggestion. My side windows are aft to the storage compartment which is collecting water, and since water is coming in from the front area of the storage compartment water would have to run up hill to be getting there.

If anyone knows how I can dis-assamble the decorative vertical panel which separates the anchor compartment from the inside cabin let me know.. I think that is the next step to further inverstigate the collection of water.

Steve

Welcome to the forum!

How much water are you talking about? I have a thru hull fitting that drains excess water outside the boat in my anchor compartment. Do you have one?

The piece that seperates the cuddy from the anchor compartment is wood covered with vinyl on one side, and black carpet on the other, and I believe it can be unscrewed from inside the anchor compartment.

As for your other question about the cupholders, don't just go drilling holes in them, as there's no way for the water to drain. Some place manufacturers identical cupholders with drain fittings in the bottom, and I remember seeing someone who built a drainage system for them using some aquarium air pump tubing, and draining it into the bilge. Very clever, and keeps water from draining inside the hull. I'll see if I can find that info for you.

Hi.. How much water am I talking about? Not much. Maybe a quart every month or so. But I can't store anything in there with even a little water, and it creates humidity. Sometimes it rains or I wash down, and I get water, other times it rains like heck and there is almost no water. There is a thru hull fitting in the anchor well, and it is open, and that is even more confusing as to how water gets in from the anchor well area.

Once when everything was dry I lined the inside of the cabin storage well with dry paper towel, then I clogged the anchor well fitting so it would retain water in the anchor well, and I partially filled the anchor well with water. A slow trickle came from somewhere related to that dividing piece, but there were so many fiberglass fibers and strands on the inside of the separating piece that I could not pinpoint the leak location. Nevertheless, I cut off the lower third of the black carpet on the dividing board and epoxied the inside of the anchor well, and retested. The leak was still there, although to a lesser degree. Maybe I did a bad repair job, but I thought my next step would be to remove the vinyl from the inside cabin. I wasn't sure if anyone had experience with that, and if the interior section with the vinyl cover is the same piece of wood as the anchor well side with the black carpet, or if they are two separate pieces screwed together or otherwise attached. I didn't see any screws on the anchor well side, but I'll look again! The inside piece with the vinyl has a mirror attached, and the whole thing looked like I could ruin it if I didn't do it right. Anyway.. to make a long story short, that's where I am now!

And regarding the cup holders, if you get that info it would be great. I didn't drill any holes yet.. I didn't know what was underneath, or how to access that area..

Thanks Again,
Steve

Well, that idea for new cup holders with their own drain system may be a little work, but at least it's a solution. And while I am running the drain line, I think I may just run a parallel line with freon, to refridgerate those cup holders as well, and really make them functional!

Steve