187 lockers leaking

[mrxpress8567]

I had a 95 184 that maintained dry lockers, so I was really surprised when I came home from the lake on Saturday to find every thing in the floor of my rod boxes soaking. It rained, but I have fished in lots heavier and did not have this issue (other boats). The corners nearest the consoles were actually puddling water. So needless to say I am a little disapointed in this aspect of my new boat- but it being new (to me, it is an 05) I am more curious to know if this is correctable, or has a design change allowed the boxes to no longer be water-tight? From what I can tell the wetness is not coming in from the top- if this gives anyone a clue where I might need to make a repair.

appreciate the input of anyone with knowledge on this.

[JohnM]

Do you have a recess TM pedal? If so the drain tube for that would be the first place I looked.

If not there must be a broken seal somewhere, or you had water deep enough in the bildge to run up over the one peice stringer that is the bottom of the rod lockers?

I never had a drop of water get into my 03 187 lockers..... Well if opened them in the pouring rain then yes they got some water in them while open.

[csmetreyeon]

I have the same problem it never really got to the puddling part so I didn't worry too much!

[Lea]

The water is not coming from the top, as you state. In some of the earlier boats, as John mentioned, there was an issue with a too short drain tube from either pedestal hole or TM recessed pan. This allowed drainage to reach the front of the rod lockers and leach into the carpet. I am not certain what can be done. Duane Harper took photos and probably will remember ....IM him.....

[mrxpress8567]

I don't have recessed tm mount, so I guess that limits it to the pedistal drain or coming up from the bottom as posted above? I guess I am still wondering if anyone knows for sure if the boxes are supposed to be sealed from the floor?

[bobbymc]

I will tell you why you have water in the boat, i was fishing a tournament in my 181 6 years ago and the night before I left the nose on my boat down. The next morning after launching I reached in the rod locker and there was 5 gallons of rain water. Never park with the bow down. Bobby

[mrxpress8567]

Wish it was the case but I towed it out of the garage dry and to the lake before it started raining. Being a champ it rides nose high int he water so stored or sitting nose down just ain't the deal.

[csmetreyeon]

Well mint is in the back by the consoles right in the crease in the floor is where mine will get wet at!

[Lea]

Get with Duane Harper...he took photos of the interior below decks. With a long enough drain tube, this situation does not occur, but a short tube allows the water to get to the carpet and it leaches into rod lockers. This should only be an issue with downpours...

Unless you park in rain with bow down, "coming up from bottom" is not the case...It does not come from bilge up forward to front of rod lockers..It drains down from pedestal base...

Do you fish with pedestal? Some folks don't and I would think water could get in more easily...

[JohnM]

If you've ever seen one of the 03 and newer 187's put together you could visulize what I am describing. I cannot find those old pics.

There is a long one piece composite stringer under the top cap that runs from the transom to almost the front. That is basically the floor of your rod lockers and front storage. I cannot remember if there is actually glass inbetween or not? I NEVER got water in my rod lockers!!! You may try taking a hose to your front pedastal and letting some water run through with the boat level and see if you get water in the lockers. If so you've found your problem. Next I would take some chalk and rub it on my rubber seal around the locker lids and shut em. See if they are touching the top (fitting flush). If so check for a crack around the lip under the rubber seal, is your seal wrapped COMPLETLEY flush in the corners???. If the boat was not sitting nose down it had to come from somewhere to get enough to soak the carpet and puddle.

[mrxpress8567]

I think I have found the sourse- I accessed the hose from the front pedistal through an access hole in the front of my center storage- there are actually two drains here- one for the "recess" around all of the storage boxes, and the other is the pedistal drain- both hoses for these are plenty long and reach the bilge.

However, in each of the rod lockers, plus in the rear of the center storage, there are little black drains that run from the bottom of the locker into the bilge area (no hoses attached that I can see). I am only theorizing here- but I believe that each time I came off plane, there must have been enough water in the bilge that moved up to the front of the boat and pushed its way out of these holes. They look to me like they were designed to be drains, but the water flowed in reverse...... I have detailed pics but do not know how to post from my c: drive. Does anyone else have these in their boat (like to know if they are factory or if this was an attmpted fix)?

Also, beside one of the "drains" I found another hole, apparently drilled twice- the first attempt was about an inch closer to the front and for whatever reason was abandoned, but is not plugged and does not have a drain. This locker was the wettest by far so I am fairly certain these "drains" and the hole are the culprit.

[mrxpress8567]

here are pics:

[JohnM]

I don't recall those holes in my rod lockers. I have not had the boat for a few months now and the rod lockers stayed stuffed most of the time , but I just don't recall those holes being in there. Even if they were, look at how deep the Vee is where that hole is in relationship to the rear of your rod locker fom the outside of the boat. I would imagine you would have water coming back out through the floor drain before it ever got that high from under the rod locker. I special ordered my 187 with an extra auto bildge pump in addition to the manual bildge pump so I never had that much water in the boat at any given time.

Keep after it, you'll find the culprit, somebody will know where this water s coming from. Have you checked the seals?

[mrxpress8567]

You may be right on the relationship from the rod lockers to the "V". I had my head in the floor and the lockers and did not look at it from the outside...

I did check the seals, they appeared to be snug but for 1 small area in the front corner of the driver's side where it was not tight in the corner. I tightened it up, but the worse of the water is on the pass. side so I am pretty certain it is not it.

I am thinking I will upgrade to a float-style bilge pump over the weekend (this is the first boat in a while I bought that did not have one) and plug those holes. Then put it under the hose and see what happens.

I appreciate the thoughts on this though- I am certain i will figure it out.

[JohnM]

What the lockers in my five year old boat looked like.

[Lea]

The holes are under there, John!!! Got em in my 05...(tho' I gotta admit I am not quite so cluttered in my lockers.... )

[Lea]

I sure hope you locate the cause, Mark. I have taken many a wash over the back deck...and never had the water problem you have had. I do have an auto bilge pump, but the only time it thought it necessary to come on was the day I forgot the plug....

[ss]

I think you found the culprit. As the water in the bilge sloshes forward (like when you come off plane or when you are towing and hit the brakes) the volume in the bilge beween the bottom of the boat and the floor gets less and less. When the water gets to the front of the boat it is almost under pressure and squirts out through any opening it can find. I had the same problem on my 2004 196. I plugged the drains and most (not all) of the moisture went away. I now have the exact same issue on my 2008 200. I have plugged the drains in it too and am awaiting the results.

[Lea]

I've been giving more thought to this...

I have been caught in heavy rain, have stopped too fast and gotten over-wash etc, but I used the bilge pump every so often...and have never had the water get into my lockers. I do not put drain plug in until just before launch, and take it out as soon as I am off water..before towing......so not enough water builds in bilge to cause the issue ....

Just wondering if that might help...