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I bought my Dauntless brand new in 1999 and have had 17 almost maintenance free boating seasons. Recently she has water not only in the rear but also about an inch worth of water in the dry storage at the center console. The through hull tube and drain plug were recently replaced. I'm not a boat engineer but didn't think with the design that even if water is getting into the rear that there was any way it could get up to the dry storage.
We boat in a saltwater environment but haven't run up on a sand bar, pluff mud bank or oyster bed in will over ten years so there hasn't been any jarring of the hull other than cutting through waves.
If anyone has any suggestions of what to look for I'd love to hear them before I take it in to the dealer for repair.
I owned, for ten years, a 1999 Dauntless 16 powered with a 115 HP Evinrude FICHT engine which I purchased new.
My 16 was delivered with the batteries in the console. The deck or floor of the console was well above the boat waterline. There was no way sea water could get into the console unless a wave was taken aboard.
Whenever I washed the boat the console interior was also washed and it always drained completely. The only way I can conceive of the console holding water is if it has been sealed with caulk around the base or if dirt or grime has built up around the console base over the years.
I recommend you remove everything from inside the console and give it a good cleaning. If you have a power washer consider using it to jet water all around any drain areas. Use the widest nozzle and keep the pressure low. Avoid power washing any electrical cables or terminal strips. Concentrate your efforts around the floor perimeter but avoid damaging the pull tube outlet grommet in the floor. Use a great deal of care when using a power washer.
If the bilge is not draining well when the garboard drain is removed the replacement tube may have been too long. A visual inspection should reveal if that is the case. It may also have been partially blocked by the overuse of caulk when installed, also easily checked from outside the transom.
