Help! Hourston 17.2 Sportsman (1990's) taking on water in floor compartment

[Twin Otter Repairman]

Looking for some help in this situation. My good friend has a mid 90's 17.2 that is filling up with water in the floor compartment starboard of the fishbone between the helm and passenger seats. There is an access panel on the side of the fishbone but not sure what it is for, however once removed the floor section is full of water (the boat partially sank last year from it). Is this section sealed off? Anyone have pictures of the hull from a rebuild? Thoughts?

 

[Pearl dog]

I can’t answer your question except to say I have the same boat and my fish box does not have a panel in it. Just a drain hole in the centre bottom aft. Water that goes in there seems to drain out the main hull aft drain as you’d expect.

A buddy with a newer 17 DE recently had water in his hull and one theory the dealer went after was improper or inadequate sealing of lower main engine mounting bolts. They cut holes into his floor fish box (very similar to the Hourston) and sucked the water out. This helped but didn’t completely fix the issue and it’s still a bit of a mystery how the water is getting in and not draining out.

 

[turbomack]

You just have to get out the hose and figure out where the water gets in and seal it up

 

[brutus]

Hard to tell without seeing it, but my wellcraft has pipes going through all the stringer bulkhead compartments so it all drains to the bilge area,some of those where plugged full of crap, I ran a pressure washer hose thought all of them and keep them clean, no water trapped anywhere now

 

[Twin Otter Repairman]

Thanks all. We’re re-sealing the transom thru fittings, trim tab screws,etc. fingers crossed. I appreciate the input

 

[Buckethead905]

I can’t answer your question except to say I have the same boat and my fish box does not have a panel in it. Just a drain hole in the centre bottom aft. Water that goes in there seems to drain out the main hull aft drain as you’d expect.

A buddy with a newer 17 DE recently had water in his hull and one theory the dealer went after was improper or inadequate sealing of lower main engine mounting bolts. They cut holes into his floor fish box (very similar to the Hourston) and sucked the water out. This helped but didn’t completely fix the issue and it’s still a bit of a mystery how the water is getting in and not draining out.

If it’s getting in but not draining out then it’s coming from above.

 

[Rain City]

If it’s getting in but not draining out then it’s coming from above.

Genius.

 

[Pearl dog]

You’d think so right? It’s a trailer queen that lives undercover. Never even gets rain. So some minor ocean spray and the hose from wash down is filling the hull? Could be. Haven’t found it yet tho.
Anyways… thread drift