Water in ski compartment
 

At the risk of becoming the most annoying Mariah Owners Club member, I have yet another question.

I have water in the ski locker that refuses to leave. For those of you that have been following my other thread on a long list of mechanical issues, you know that this boat has spent about 20 minutes on the water in the last year since I bought it. So, I don't think its lake/sea water (unless it has been sitting somewhere in the bowels of the boat meaning that my stringers etc. are probably rotten -- I don't even want to think about that possibility).

I vacuumed out the water a week ago, and after a few rains (even though the boat has snap covers they are not water proof) the water is back. I have unclogged the drain from the outside of the boat to the engine compartment, the bilge pump is working, but the water remains in the ski locker.

I have read some threads on this site related to poor drainage from that compartment, but I refuse to believe that there is no way to correct this problem.

I am definitely going to pull out the carpet in the compartment. My next step was going to be to ram a straightened wire coat hanger into the drain to remove any blockage when it occurred to me that there may be some sort of one way valve in there. Before I take any further drastic action, I thought I would solicit some advice. :shakehead:

Re: Water in ski compartment
 

Mine has done that from day one. Mine comes from draining the ice chest at the bow of the boat. Have poked stuff down the hole in the back hoping to unstop whatever is keeping it from draining to the bilge but to no avail.

I even had the dealer mess with it back in 94 when it was under warranty.

You will absolutely love the slick feeling of the water in there that gets all over your skis and stuff. I use it to store my Budweiser empties. :wink_thumbup:

I think there must be something about how level the ski storage floor is that keeps it from draining plus some junk washed down the hole.

If you ever get it figured out please post what you did.

Re: Water in ski compartment
 

[QUOTE=94z190talari;17558]Mine has done that from day one.

LOL 94z190talari -- strange that they didn't put "large storage locker in center floor of boat for beer empties" in the promotional materials!

I agree 100% that this seems to be a 2 part problem -- first, the drainage hole from the locker is above the floor level and even seems to be tilted toward the bow (unless the boat is put on a backward incline).

Second, there is something blocking the drainage hole (which is why I thought that there might be some form of one-way valve in there). Unfortunately, the position of the hole in the locker and at the bilge end is such that it is not easy to access (and I don't feel like pulling the engine and ripping out the locker floor).

All of that being said, I am persistent (and I despise mildew and other slimy water side effects) so I will exhaust all options before admitting defeat. I'll keep you posted ...;)

Re: Water in ski compartment
 

I know many river boaters that use their ski lockers exclusively for empties!!

It is the nature of the beast. I always store my boat with the locker door up to cut down on the mildew issue.

Re: Water in ski compartment
 

i found the carpet in my ski locker had slid back and was blocking the hole in the back.

Re: Water in ski compartment
 

Once I have my boat in my driveway, I lift the trailer up at the front and put a couple of bricks under the jockey wheel. Then all the water in my ski locker runs back to the drain plug and empties nicely. I also prop the locker cover open to keep it aired.

The only bit I cant drain is the very front part of the ski locker which is about 4" deeper than the rest and doesnt appear to have a drain hole - it is a poor design as the water (about 1 liter) cant go anywhere so I soak it up with a sponge.

Re: Water in ski compartment
 

Hi kgoo
i had the same problem with my mariah z252 , the problem was that the drain hole from the ski compartment is about 1inch diamiter and the fibreglass around the braceing had not been cut away enough so the only way i could clear it was to cut a 4inch hole in the bottom of the fish box and fit a deck plate over it so i can just undoo the deck plate and clear any crap in there, you may be able to push a wire bond through the hull drai plug and jiggle it about a bit. best of luck with it

ed cossey (sonny boy) :wink_thumbup:

Re: Water in ski compartment
 

Wooden stringer components usually had a 3/4" or 1" hole/notch CNC routed into the bottom for water drainage. When the stringer was assembled and lowered into the hull, many times the holes would be covered with "overspray" from the laminating process. Ski storages, certain coolers, cuddy under step storages, etc were all capable of holding water. Early 260 280 cruisers were notorious for mystery water under the steps. Even some fiberglass stringer boats had issues with foam/laminex blocking the drains. The field solution was to access the area in question and drill out the drain. Then place a Perko or equivalent cover over the hole.

Re: Water in ski compartment
 

i get water all the time in there and cant get it all out i have a 96 z202 all black .

Re: Water in ski compartment
 

I did some floor repairs early to my boat and found that the carpet under the ski locker drain had only been slit and not cut away as needed. I also found about 4 hand fulls of pine needles,leafs and general garbage in the fuel tank locker. I decided that most of this stuff got in through the anchor compartment, it is a straight shot into the bottom of the boat.