Taking on Water!!!

[Flipside]

Yesterday I took my boat out for casual evening cruise. I cruised maybe 1.5 hours at +/- 10 mph. When I gunned it, I noticed the boat kind of ossilating like it was bouncing over waves, yet the river was perfectly flat. Anyway on the last approach I noticed the stern was sitting low in the water like the ballast was full (which it wasn't) and stopped the boat. Opened the engine hatch and noticed water was almost touching the engine base!

A few remarks:
1) I lost my rear drain plug (not while in the water) and replaced it with a new one, and only hand tightened it. It was still tight when I took the boat out of the water, but I could remove it by hand.
2) I just had the engine replaced (GT40 - EX343). I took it out for a test drive the time before htis and it ran well and I don't think there was any abnormal water amounts in the bilge afterwards.
3) I had the bilge pump on at all times, no water was coming out. When I saw the water in the engine compartment, I turned the pump off and on again and water started to spray out.
4) On my port side ballast tank, the valve/hose that is on the top of the tank and connects to an opening on the side of the boat is off. No water (I don't think) entered in by the side because I was just cruising and water was calm i.e. no waves hitting the side of the boat.
5) Never had an impact that would have caused damage to hull.

My bolt on the back of the drain does not have a rubber washer. Could that much water have entered through the bilge drain? Where else could that much water have entered?

Help!!!

[DavidF]

RE: Taking on Water!!!

Loose hose - check all hose clamps. Cracked or broken ballast tank fill hose - check all hosed for cracking. Rudder or drive shaft packing - Check and/or tighten. Cracked muffler - check.

Best thing to do it get out on the water and lift the motor box/hatch while the engine is running (being careful of the moving parts) and look for source of water. If DD boat, you will need to remove rear seat to inspect the rudder packing gland.

My bet is that someone forgot to tighten a hose after summerizing.

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Taking on Water!!!

I am with David on all accounts mentioned above. You should just keep a 5/16' driver in the boat for hoseclamps and check them throughout the year.
My friends 05 SV211 had the pump on the bottom of the ballast tank crack the fitting almost all the way off. He had the old valves that did not work properly on that side so the scoop was constantly taking water up and thru that fitting. He took on a lot of water every time he took it out.
I am guessing that your bilge pump was dry when you started it. Apparently, they spin too fast to start picking up water if they are not submerged when you start it running. I was just recently told this by a mechanic and cannot confirm nor deny, but it does make some sense. Especially considering yours started working as soon as you shut it off and restarted.

[madcityskier]

RE: Taking on Water!!!

Hook up to a hose and run the boat in the drive way first. If it's coming from the engine you'll find out, and it's easier to find this way. Keep in mind it could be something like a cracked muffler, that would be a slow leak at low rpm and hidden under the floor, so give it a little time and make a very careful survey of the entire hull to see if you fan find any water. Otherwise inspect the hull. If you've still found nothing float it and see what you find.

[AirTool]

RE: Taking on Water!!!

If it is a hull leak....carefully load the trailer with some water in it and wait to see if it starts dripping back out.

REPEAT CAREFULLY