Slow leak in G23 (2016)

[sarasetp]

The other day on the water, the bilge pump was running. When I opened the hatch, I noticed that the water rose to the level of the bilge pump. I must have a slow leak somewhere on the boat. I know in my previous Malibu, the drain plug had an O-ring on it. The drain plug on the G 23 does not have an O ring. Could that be the culprit? If not, is there another obvious place for me to check for a slow leak? Is there anything easy for me to do to detect a slow leak?


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2016 G23

[blueroom]

Check and see if the leak is coming from the raw water strainer - just behind the batteries hanging from the underside of the deck. You can look and see if there is water underneath it, or even water spotting on the "shelf" the batteries sit on.

[doug69]

Did you have ballast tanks full? Could be a cracked ballast tank.


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[Evening Shade]

In my experience, this may not be abnormal. How long had your boat been sitting in the water before it took on enough water for the bilge pump to kick on?

All 3 of the inboards I have owned (1 Malibu and 2 Nautiques) have taken on a little water over time. I think it slowly leaks in from the shaft seal and maybe the rudder, but the biggest culprit is kids getting in the boat dripping wet and water drains down into the bilge.

[Joeylabau]

I to have this same issue with my 16 G23...
Just the other day bilge pump did not turn off for at least one hour till we got the boat out of the water. Put it back in the next to day to detect the leak and it wasn’t filling to much. Still got some water in the first hour but very minimum, not enuf for bilge pump to kick on.


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[Dcspain]

Very common for these boats to have a leak from the shaft seal. Normally it’s just a minor leak that causes the bulge to turn on a couple of times an outing. Mine got so bad that the bulge was turning on a couple of times per set. Changed it out and no more leaks.


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[blueroom]

The reason I mention the raw water strainer, is that ended up being the culprit for us. Our '16 G23 always had more water in the bilge than I thought it should. After winterization this year a good amount of antifreeze ended up in the bilge, after the service. But.... it was bright red and showed up great on the strainer.To me it looked almost like the o-ring was too thick so the bowl couldn't seal right, but the unit is being replaced. The crazy thing is that you couldn't necessarily see a leak while it was running.

[nyryan2001]

There are nooks and crannys in the bilge that hold water..... and it’s not till just the right rocking or wave action that will release the water and allow it to drain to the bilge pump. Including the deck drains, cooler drains, and rain water pooled, or lake water splashes in areas like the rear vents.

i think Gs have one of the most segmented and slotted bilge layouts of any ive been in. These different portions can hold water and release it at different times. It’s not a smooth free flowing bilge we’re water will always run straight to the pumps

you may not have a leak at all.

[Infinity]

This sounds a bit abnormal to me for a boat that is being dropped in for an afternoon of being on the water and then trailered (which I assume is correct due to the drain plug comments). Being a newer boat, I don't think a shaft seal leaking like that would be normal, that is mostly on older boats. Certainly if you were surfing and swimming all day, a lot of water can make its way to bilge just from splashing water and water dripping off suits but enough water to cover up bilge pump seems excessive, unless you only meant enough water to get the bilge started, if that is so they likely normal....If it was at top of bilge pump and more water than it was able to keep up with, I would fill all ballast and let it sit a while while you watch things. Could easily be something ballast related leaking, if that does not seem to be happening then start engine and see if any water coming out from anywhere around engine (drain plugs, strainer like mentioned, etc). Some of the potential ballast leaks you may not be able to spot so easily.

[sarasetp]

Thanks for all of the posts. I determined that it wasn’t a leak after all. The kid just shelp so much water into the boat from getting out and getting into the boat from swimming around.


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2016 G23

[charlesml3]

Thanks for all of the posts. I determined that it wasn’t a leak after all. The kid just shelp so much water into the boat from getting out and getting into the boat from swimming around.


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2016 G23

Yep. Kids jumping in and out will get a LOT of water in. So will wakeboarders and wakesurfers coming in and dropping wet vests in the lockers. I always get a good chuckle when someone spend a lot of time and money retrofitting a dripless packing gland on an older boat to "keep water out of the bilge."

-Charles