Water in the bilge question

[Texas gs]

I have an 2004 San with 200 hours. I bought it late last season and had it winterized. Took it out today for the first time and after a short morning run of an hour or so docked for lunch. Ran the bilge pump and it ran for 5 plus minutes. Took it out after lunch for two hours and when I got back ran the bilge pump for eight plus minutes till it drained all the water. Seemed like a ton of water. Also when I opened the engine hatch the foam was wet and the top of the engine cover had water on it. I don't recall this happening last season. I am new to boating--is this an issue if so what should I lookk for? THANKS.

[perry386]

Check the strut holding the shaft on the bottom of the hull. Not sure if this is a common deal but mine was loose and caused tons of water to come into the boat.

[Txpilot83]

Who winterized it? You should really look all around the engine with it running and look for water leaking out. Your manifolds could possibly be cracked if it wasn't winterized correctly.

[Txpilot83]

Also look to make sure all the plugs that they removed to let the water drain out of the engine where put back in. Check all the cooling hoses too. Could also be leaking around the rudder.

[Texas gs]

Thanks - after I run the bilge pump is it common for a little water say less than an inch to be present

[Texas gs]

I keep the boat at lake lbj tx bay- marine winterized

[Txpilot83]

Well the good news is if they screwed up the winterization and damaged your boat they're liable for the damages. I have a couple friends that have places on Horse Shoe Bay/LBJ. Aren't there a lot of sandbars on that lake? They are always hitting the bottom and chewing up props.

[TX-Foilhead]

Bay Marine usually does a good job, and we did have much weather to be worried about this winter. With everything that drains into the I would say it is rare for it to be totally dry, the pump won't get it completely. Somethings leaking, most likely the packing gland. Where on LBJ are you? I'm way up the Colorado arm and would be glad to take a look if you want to bring it by my dock.

[Chexi]

You could have a cracked hose, loose strainer (or perhaps missing the o-ring), or loose hose clamp (especially around the impeller pump). I'd run the engine for a few minutes with the hatch open and watch (while someone else watches the temperature gauge... and shuts off the motor if it gets above 160). Many of these will result in the engine overheating. If you see the water coming from a hose or hose connection or uncapped plug or impeller pump, you have found your culprit. If not, then as mentioned before, it is probably coming in through the shaft packing (or possibly a loose hose clamp on the exhaust... my first boat (Tige) direct drive had that happen). I'm assuming of course that the boat plug is in!

[TX-Foilhead]

Oops, meant to say we didn't have have the kind of weather that tends to freeze motors this winter.

[johnboyy7]

you definitely need to run it with the cover open. if you have water on top of the engine cover, it sounds like a pretty good leak. should be very easy to spot. let us know what you find. 8 mins is a long time also.