Too much water in bilge!

[Myremd]

I’m sure someone on here will have an answer for me or at least some clues. I have a new to me 2002 SAN. Runs great but after 30-40 mins of runtime there probably 2-3 gallons of water in the bilge. There’s a drip or two from the raw water filter & I just replaced the gasket. There’s an appropriate drip of water at low rpm on drive shaft. When I put it on the lift but still in water not moving I could hear bubbles/percolating sound but couldn’t see where from. I looked at the drive shaft strut and the sealant around it looks crack/shrunk…could this be it? I haven’t replaced rudder shaft packing but it seems like too much water to be coming from there maybe I’m wrong. Thanks in advance for your help!

[Jonny Quest]

With the boat on a trailer (and level) fill the bilge with the hose. Make sure the garboard drain plug is tight. With the bilge full of water, look under the boat for leaks. That can guide you to the leaking culprit.

JQ

[shag]

2 gallons is not much at all.... Check all hoses - some may be dry rotted and there's a possibility you won't see a leak at idle... Also, I can't remember if 2002 SAN was a year that had bad seal between hull and deck, aft area. That wold let water in, mainly on turns.

[Myremd]

With the boat on the lift and water in the bilge there’s not any outward leaks. So maybe it is a hose?? I had a 82 ski Nautique prior to this and feel like there was some water in the bilge after running but not this much..I appreciate everyone’s input!

[BigRedSV211]

Do you have a heater? Check your heater core, mine was rusted out and leaking... bilge water was warm.

[Myremd]

I do have a heater and didn’t think about the core! I have no idea where that’s at in the boat, any clues would be helpful! Otherwise I will dig out the manual and look there too.

[BigRedSV211]

Mine was behind the driver's seat, but I have a different boat. It was spraying water any time the engine was running. I live in FL so i just took it out and hooked both ends of the hose together.

[windsurfnut]

Feel if the water is warm or cool. It can help trace the source. If warm, it could be from the heater core/plumbing or in my case it was the fiberglass muffler (SN 196) that had cracks and was leaking warm exhaust water. I wouldn't have found it if I hadn't made the discovery that the water in the bilge was warm and not cool.