Wet carpet by drivers seat & Water in Ski Locker

[Molly_2000SAN]

There seems to be a leak coming from somewhere. The carpet by the drivers seat is wet. The wet area is under the steering where the driver puts their feet and then goes down by the ski locker as well. Has anyone seen this before and might know where its coming from?

Also, my ski locker always gets water in it and to get it out I have to either put the boat on the trailer and on a hill and pull the plug, or use a sump pump to get it out. Has anyone seen this before either and might know what it is?

Thanks!
Molly

[Quinner]

RE: Wet carpet by drivers seat & Water in Ski Locker

If you have a heater in your boat it has probably gone bad, if the water by your feet is warm that would be a strong indication it is the heater core. The heater cores are often, maybe always, put behind the kick panel at the drivers feet.

If there is a bypass that allows water to pass from the locker to the bilge near the rear of the locker check to see if that is open and free of debris.

[M3Fan]

RE: Wet carpet by drivers seat & Water in Ski Locker

If it's not the heater, check the speedo tubes.

[jhiestand]

If you do have a heater and it is indeed leaking, it would probably leak through the access port behind the kick panel where all your wiring runs through and down into the ski locker.

Hopefully you can kill two birds with one stone!

[Proud2BeCC]

I just took my new, to me, 2002 Sport Nautique out for it's firs day on the lake and we have the same condition. I have hot water that starts showing up behind the kick panel and then moves toward the back. I believe it is also the heater. How difficult is it to remove the kick panel? I'm wondering if the hoses were put back on the heater correctly. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Oh, and yes....I will have to change my name now that I'm no longer a wanabe.

[NautiqueJeff]

Should just be four screws. Be careful pulling it out though as the heater tubes and perfect pass module are probably attached to the panel.

PM me with the new name you'd like to use and I'll get that taken care of for you.

[Proud2BeCC]

Thanks Jeff. I removed the kick panel, however I do not see anything unusual. Both the red inlet and outlet hoses are in place. I was not able to get the kick plate past the steering bracket. Do you have to remove the side panel to get better access to the heater area? Any other ideas on anything to look for? Do the vents remain dry (thus no leak possibility)?

Attached is a picture of my boat.

[NautiqueJeff]

Sometimes the heater core itself develops leaks. Do you have a way to hook your boat up to a hose and let the engine run with the panel out? If so, see if you can find the leak that way. The vents should remain dry. It sounds like you're probably looking at replacing the heater core. It can easily be damaged if not winterized properly.

[Johnsongc]

It is probably the radiator inside the heater box. I had the exact same problem with my '01SN. Once you pull the hoses off and the box out, its an easy remove and replace. I would first follow Jeffs suggestion of running the boat and looking for the leak. Make sure you check the bottom corners of the box. Run the boat at high rpm's and the leak will show itself.

Greg