Please help with a leak

[ClemsonDave]

2003 SN. I have suddenly developed a pretty good leak. It happened right after I replaced me impeller, but I dont think it is related. I have looked all over the engine and found no drips at idle or underway. The heater core is brand new and is not leaking.

I have to keep my bilge pump on and it cuts on about every 5-6 minutes.

Any ideas?

[surroundsound64]

RE: Please help with a leak

Take as much of the floorboard out as you can and set it in water. Or you could put the boat on the trailer and use the water hose to put some water in your bilge to see where it's comming out.

I had a leak that took me forever to find. The hose that connected my mufflers to the back of the boat had holes in it. I finally found it when I pulled the floor board out.

Good luck.

[Ski]

RE: Please help with a leak

Could be the jog, the joint where the shaft exits the boat.

[ClemsonDave]

Re: RE: Please help with a leak

Could be the jog, the joint where the shaft exits the boat.

I was thinking about that. Any way to test it? Would that happen suddenly?

[Ski]

RE: Re: RE: Please help with a leak

I have had this problem on an older boat. I found it by taking out the back floor board when the boat was in the water and looking for the leak. My friend just had the same problem you are having last week, he took his boat in for the 300 hour check. They put in a new impeller and broke the water hose so when he started it up water pumped in from the broken hose. He fixed the hose but still had water coming into the boat. The jog was leaking so much that he had water up to the bottom of the engine.

[ClemsonDave]

RE: Re: RE: Please help with a leak

cool, sounds like a good candidate. Thanks for the help!

[ClemsonDave]

RE: Re: RE: Please help with a leak

The jog is not even dripping. Neither are the exhaust pipes next to the jog. I put water in the bilge and set it on level ground. No water leaking out the bottom. I'm stumped! This is a pretty good leak too.

[SGY]

RE: Re: RE: Please help with a leak

Do you have a shower? If so, check to make sure the shower head is turned off. Even with the pump off, the engine pressure will push water through the shower. This happened to me a few months ago.

[NigelC]

RE: Re: RE: Please help with a leak

I would suggest removing boat from water, drain all water and let the bilge area dry out. Put the boat back in and leave it for a while. If you have a problem with a through hull fitting this should show up and you should be able to trace the site of the leak. Have you checked if the hull hugger exhaust pads are still in place. If they have moved you might find you have worn through the fibreglass of the muffler and this sits under the water line. Otherwise, is it coming from the through hull perfectpass paddle wheel (if you have this fitted)? You say it is not coming from the shaft packing gland, what about the rudder gland?
If the bilge stays dry, start the engine and look for leaks from water pumps, hoses or the engine block. Hope this helps.

[surroundsound64]

RE: Re: RE: Please help with a leak

What about the skeggs on the bottom? My uncle's started leaking there once. Just tighten the screws up. Might put a bead of silicone around them too if they do leak.

[ClemsonDave]

RE: Re: RE: Please help with a leak

Headed to the lake today, I run through these items. Thanks for suggestions! I'm hoping it is the shower.

[ClemsonDave]

RE: Re: RE: Please help with a leak

Ok, this is crazy. I have double, triple checked everything. I even took off all the floor boards and had two people look for leaks as I drove down the lake. I filled the bilge with water then pull it out of the lake. No leaks showing. It has to be something significant, the bilge pump is activating every 3-4 minutes.

Any other ideas? I may have to find a dealer.

[ClemsonDave]

RE: Re: RE: Please help with a leak

Found it!!!! I took out the back floor panels (in the locker) to see if the rudder was leaking. I saw a steady stream of water. Looked a bit and found that a mouse had chewed through one of the speedo tubes. Even sitting still, water was leaking in. So, anyone that guessed it was a mouse, you got it!