In August 2007 we bought a 44' 1986 Gibson Standard houseboat, before buying, we found a leak in the front of the boat, when you go down the front stairs to the cuddy, right before the second bathroom you can lift up part of the floor and see the bottom of the boat (maybe about 15' back to the middle of the boat). Anyway, there is water standing all the time, the sump pump keeps pumping it out. So the marina pulled the boat, they found out someone had put a fiberglass patch on the bottom of the front of the boat, so they refiberglassed and painted the section. They also repacked the v-drives and resealed the c-cocks (I think thats what they said). They put it back in the water, same leak, same place. We noticed the water heater had a slow leak, so we replaced it. We checked the water tank and the holding tank, they had been replaced a year ago, so they are new and dry. The front hatch that you store stuff in is also dry. Still leaking, so now the marina has decided to pull it again (still at their expense)-they think its the rueter leaking. This was my post from this past summer, here is my post now.... Well the boat has been out of the water since late October and its still holding water in that front compartment (inside the boat). everytime it rains or snows my husband goes there and shop vac's it out. We know for sure its not any of the tanks, there isn't any antifreeze. Also its not the front hatch (where you put all your life jackets (its totally dry in there) and its not the engine compartment (its totally dry too). You know where you walk around the boat on the sides, along the deck, there is a little separation/crack, he thinks the water is coming in there. the front 1/2 of the boat, he said if you go inside, in the middle of the boat, where the storage area is, and the water heater, you can crawl back there and along the sides of the boat is a little trough (spelling) and it is wet. back in the back of the boat between the kitchen and bedroom there is a compartment in the floor, it is totally dry. What do you all think? Anyone ever have this problem before?

Check around the door. Gibsons are good at leaking there. Also the water has a tendency to get traped in front of the bulk head at the bottom of the stairs in the cuddy. Does the front hold have a access plate there? If not you might want to have one put in. The is probably old water in there. The hull of a gibson is angled to the front so any water that comes in will run down to the front of the boat.

Check the hoses from the front hatch drains to see if they are split and letting water in the front hatch. also if the boat has a brige check around were the cables and wires pass through the roof under the bridge and see if the pvc pipe they pass through is caulked and water isn't running down it.Also check around the windows to see if they are caulked.

okay, hes going to check all of that... do you mean an access plate, by what I mean as the little door in in the floor at the bottom of the steps, right before the front head and right before you duck down to go into the cuddy? if so yes, and that is where all the water is.

The access plate I am talking about is in the front hold where the anchor and life jackets go. Because of the problem you are having Gibson started putting a round screw out access plate there so you can check for water forward the hatch in the cuddy. That doesn't really tell you where it is comming from just that it is there.

oh, the front compartment, no - it is completely dry...

Those are seacocks: They are valve used to close off openings in the hull such as drains, that if broken would flood the hull. When you are not on boat for any length of time the seacocks should be closed. Especially if you leave it in the water in the winter. Other wise you may come back and find it on the bottom.

Second and even more important. Don't store your life jackets there! Life jackets are REQUIRED to be readily accessible. That means you can reach out from where you are, get the life jacket and put it on. Don't leave them in the plastic bags! Yes I know they get dirty. Try one on, adjust it to fit you and put your name on it and the name of your boat. Attach a whistle and a light. Keep them under the helm seat or wherever you usually sit when the boat is underway. If the weather turns nasty, don't wait until water is coming in, put them on! I know a lot of Coast Guard people who sleep with a lifejacket under their bunk. Life jackets are like band-aids. When you don't have one you need it Now! When you have them you never seem to cut yourself.

Sorry for the lecture but 25 years in boating safety made me a little hyper. Most fatalities in boating can be prevented simply by wearing a life jacket (and for all you old timers, notice I didn't call it a PFD)

It sounds to me like you need a really thorough hull survey to find and get rid of those leaks.

We looked for a leak on a Harbor Master for 2 weeks. Ended up being a cracked seam on the fresh water tank about 4 inches from the bottom.