Its possible the water is actually accumulating all the time, but it takes the
boat's motion to coax it into the bilge where you can see it.

Icebox? Condensation?


"Jim Woodard" wrote in message
...
No swimmers or ski-ers......no sprays....just water....I took my
engine manual down to the dealer today and he showed me several things
to look at and try. Everyone tells me some amount is inevitable....
but no one can tell me where it is coming from. I have never towed
a ski-er and have never even had anybody with wet clothes or swim suits
enter the boat. I have never used a hose to wash the boat....only
used towels on the outside hull....

Having said that, I now know where SOME of the water is coming from.
I have 5 blue plastic valves which I remove in order to winterize the
boat...when I remove them, water drains from the block. I saw water
leaking from two of them (just dripping slowly) and I found out there
are o-rings which I never knew existed and apparently lost (dropped)
over the winter a year ago....I picked up two new ones and replaced
them...no more drops....however, I am told the others need o-rings
too...they are underneath the engine and I never saw them leaking..
I got 3 new o-rings today and will replace them this weekend...that
might change the amount of water.....but it still does not answer
the question why did I get water in the bilge even the first year
long before I ever winterized the boat and removed those plastic
valves? I talked with the service manager and the sales manager
today and they both claim they get some water in the bilge every
time they go out....but the draining lasts only about 3 or 4
seconds. That's probably a lot more like I used to have the first
year....

Also picked up some bilge cleaner (our lake has a muddy bottom and
cloudy water and has dirtied the bilge considerably)....was
surprised to see all you have to do is pour in some clean water and
about 2/3 of this can and then take the boat out on the lake for
an hour or so....then open the drain cock and let it all run out
and your bilge is supposed to be clean....no scrubbing or using
a brush or anything else....I supposed you guys know all about this
but I learn something new every day about boating and am glad to
do so. I just read the manuals this year even though I had the boat
for 2 years....learned a bunch even about starting the engine which
I never knew....pays to read, I guess....and before all else fails.


Rod McInnis wrote:

"Jim Woodard" wrote in message
...

Can anyone tell me why I get a significant amount of water in the bilge
every time I take my Sea Ray out on the water?

Some amount is inevitable.

If you wash the boat then it is quite likely that water gets sprayed into
the vents.

When you run the boat, water can often spray in.

If people swim and/or ski and climb back into the boat wet then they will
bring water in with them.

The amount that you describe sounds like a bit more than what I would
attribute to these causes, so you may have a leak. While a slow leak
doesn't represent a significant danger of sinking it can have long term
effects on the boat. The transom usually has wood that provides the
strength, and if the leak causes this wood to get wet it can rot and that
would be very bad.

My suggestion is to try to establish when and where the leak is coming from.
Before you start boating, open the engine hatch and inspect the bilge. Dry
it out with a towel if you have to. Launch the boat and let it sit for a
few minutes, then look for any water.

If it is still dry, start the engine and let it idle for a few minutes.
Inspect again.

Take it for a short run, being careful not to take any water over the side.
Inspect again.

Once you see water, try to establish if it is coming from the front or rear.

If you establish that the leak is coming from the outdrive then you really
need to stop the leak. You may need to change the rubber boot in the
outdrive or re-seal the mounting holes.

Rod

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