I have a problem which is not serious, or is it?

I recently bought a used Tidecraft center console boat, 17 feet
with a Mariner 115hp outboard. When I take it out, it always
makes some water in the bilges. Usually, the bilge pump gets it
out in a minute or two, and when I pull the plug on the ramp
water runs out for a thirty seconds, or so.

As I said, these are not major amounts of water, but I don't know
whether this is normal or not. Today we were out for about two
hours on pretty smooth water (Possum Kingdom Lake in Texas). I
didn't see any water coming on board from, for example, letting
the following wave come over the transom. Am I concerned about
nothing? Is this commonplace on powerboats, or is there reason
to look harder for a leak? TIA

-Raf

--
Misifus-
Rafael Seibert

http://www.ralphandsue.com

Look for the leak! Check around the plug to see if it is loose, and any
through hulls for leakage.

"Misifus" wrote in message
news:S9gGe.61806$FP2.5658@lakeread03...
I have a problem which is not serious, or is it?

I recently bought a used Tidecraft center console boat, 17 feet with a
Mariner 115hp outboard. When I take it out, it always makes some water in
the bilges. Usually, the bilge pump gets it out in a minute or two, and
when I pull the plug on the ramp water runs out for a thirty seconds, or
so.

As I said, these are not major amounts of water, but I don't know whether
this is normal or not. Today we were out for about two hours on pretty
smooth water (Possum Kingdom Lake in Texas). I didn't see any water
coming on board from, for example, letting the following wave come over
the transom. Am I concerned about nothing? Is this commonplace on
powerboats, or is there reason to look harder for a leak? TIA

-Raf

--
Misifus-
Rafael Seibert

http://www.ralphandsue.com

On Thu, 28 Jul 2005 21:05:40 -0500, Misifus
wrote:

I have a problem which is not serious, or is it?

I recently bought a used Tidecraft center console boat, 17 feet
with a Mariner 115hp outboard. When I take it out, it always
makes some water in the bilges. Usually, the bilge pump gets it
out in a minute or two, and when I pull the plug on the ramp
water runs out for a thirty seconds, or so.

As I said, these are not major amounts of water, but I don't know
whether this is normal or not. Today we were out for about two
hours on pretty smooth water (Possum Kingdom Lake in Texas). I
didn't see any water coming on board from, for example, letting
the following wave come over the transom. Am I concerned about
nothing? Is this commonplace on powerboats, or is there reason
to look harder for a leak? TIA

It's not really commonplace and consider that it could get worse -
probably at the worst possible time so it would be best to locate and
repair the leak. Check any through hull access points (drain plug,
bilge pump discharge, live well pump etc.) and any hoses associated
with them. Most of those are plastic and will deteriorate over time (
I once had a bass boat nearly sink because a live well hose broke and
was just open access to the lake). If all of that is OK you might want
to check to make sure there is no hull damage that could allow water
access. Good luck with your search. Take care.

You have some good suggestions. Now, here is a very unlikely source for the
water. Is your cooler drain open or leaking? Also, when storing your boat
on it's trailer leave the drain plug out and elevate the bow as much as the
trailer jack will allow. Sometimes water can be trapped in a few places and
take a long time to find it's way out of the drain. I've found that by
lowering and then raising the trailer jack a couple of times I can almost
always get a little more water out the drain.

Butch
"Tom" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 28 Jul 2005 21:05:40 -0500, Misifus
wrote:

I have a problem which is not serious, or is it?

I recently bought a used Tidecraft center console boat, 17 feet
with a Mariner 115hp outboard. When I take it out, it always
makes some water in the bilges. Usually, the bilge pump gets it
out in a minute or two, and when I pull the plug on the ramp
water runs out for a thirty seconds, or so.

As I said, these are not major amounts of water, but I don't know
whether this is normal or not. Today we were out for about two
hours on pretty smooth water (Possum Kingdom Lake in Texas). I
didn't see any water coming on board from, for example, letting
the following wave come over the transom. Am I concerned about
nothing? Is this commonplace on powerboats, or is there reason
to look harder for a leak? TIA

It's not really commonplace and consider that it could get worse -
probably at the worst possible time so it would be best to locate and
repair the leak. Check any through hull access points (drain plug,
bilge pump discharge, live well pump etc.) and any hoses associated
with them. Most of those are plastic and will deteriorate over time (
I once had a bass boat nearly sink because a live well hose broke and
was just open access to the lake). If all of that is OK you might want
to check to make sure there is no hull damage that could allow water
access. Good luck with your search. Take care.

On Fri, 29 Jul 2005 13:47:23 GMT, (Tom) wrote:

On Thu, 28 Jul 2005 21:05:40 -0500, Misifus
wrote:

I have a problem which is not serious, or is it?

I recently bought a used Tidecraft center console boat, 17 feet
with a Mariner 115hp outboard. When I take it out, it always
makes some water in the bilges. Usually, the bilge pump gets it
out in a minute or two, and when I pull the plug on the ramp
water runs out for a thirty seconds, or so.

As I said, these are not major amounts of water, but I don't know
whether this is normal or not. Today we were out for about two
hours on pretty smooth water (Possum Kingdom Lake in Texas). I
didn't see any water coming on board from, for example, letting
the following wave come over the transom. Am I concerned about
nothing? Is this commonplace on powerboats, or is there reason
to look harder for a leak? TIA

It's not really commonplace and consider that it could get worse -
probably at the worst possible time so it would be best to locate and
repair the leak. Check any through hull access points (drain plug,
bilge pump discharge, live well pump etc.) and any hoses associated
with them. Most of those are plastic and will deteriorate over time (
I once had a bass boat nearly sink because a live well hose broke and
was just open access to the lake). If all of that is OK you might want
to check to make sure there is no hull damage that could allow water
access. Good luck with your search. Take care.

I found that my live well was leaking around the top, where it was screwed into
the top of the transom. The manufacturer had not caulked the seal.

Hope this gets to the original poster.

--
John H.
On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD

John H. wrote:

On Fri, 29 Jul 2005 13:47:23 GMT, (Tom) wrote:


On Thu, 28 Jul 2005 21:05:40 -0500, Misifus
wrote:


I have a problem which is not serious, or is it?

I recently bought a used Tidecraft center console boat, 17 feet
with a Mariner 115hp outboard. When I take it out, it always
makes some water in the bilges. Usually, the bilge pump gets it
out in a minute or two, and when I pull the plug on the ramp
water runs out for a thirty seconds, or so.

As I said, these are not major amounts of water, but I don't know
whether this is normal or not. Today we were out for about two
hours on pretty smooth water (Possum Kingdom Lake in Texas). I
didn't see any water coming on board from, for example, letting
the following wave come over the transom. Am I concerned about
nothing? Is this commonplace on powerboats, or is there reason
to look harder for a leak? TIA

It's not really commonplace and consider that it could get worse -
probably at the worst possible time so it would be best to locate and
repair the leak. Check any through hull access points (drain plug,
bilge pump discharge, live well pump etc.) and any hoses associated
with them. Most of those are plastic and will deteriorate over time (
I once had a bass boat nearly sink because a live well hose broke and
was just open access to the lake). If all of that is OK you might want
to check to make sure there is no hull damage that could allow water
access. Good luck with your search. Take care.


I found that my live well was leaking around the top, where it was screwed into
the top of the transom. The manufacturer had not caulked the seal.

Hope this gets to the original poster.



The OP is here, and thanks for all the suggestions. The guy I
bought the boat from *says* it was a dry boat for him. The water
might have been from trapping rain once or twice, but it has
persisted when there has been no rain.

I suspect there is a leak somewhere. I'll just have to track it
down. Thanks for the help.

-Raf

--
Misifus-
Rafael Seibert

http://www.ralphandsue.com

One way of finding a hard to find leak (especially hard when
someone bottom coats the boat to hide it) is when the boat is
on the trailer fill it up with some water with the drain plug in.

Let it sit for awhile and look for the wet spots on the outside
hull. There's your leak!

Tom

wrote:

One way of finding a hard to find leak (especially hard when
someone bottom coats the boat to hide it) is when the boat is
on the trailer fill it up with some water with the drain plug in.

Let it sit for awhile and look for the wet spots on the outside
hull. There's your leak!

Tom



Wow, what a neat idea! I'll try that, plus, it dawns on me that
the previous owner had re-rigged the aerator hose to use it with
a separate tank. I'm wondering if I need to put that back the
way it was. Either way, it all bears close inspection.

-Raf

--
Misifus-
Rafael Seibert

http://www.ralphandsue.com

Misifus wrote:
wrote:

One way of finding a hard to find leak (especially hard when
someone bottom coats the boat to hide it) is when the boat is
on the trailer fill it up with some water with the drain plug in.

Let it sit for awhile and look for the wet spots on the outside
hull. There's your leak!

Tom



Wow, what a neat idea! I'll try that, plus, it dawns on me that the
previous owner had re-rigged the aerator hose to use it with a separate
tank. I'm wondering if I need to put that back the way it was. Either
way, it all bears close inspection.

-Raf

I wouldn't get carried away with the volume of water you place in the
hull. The hull is designed for the water to support it on the
outside...not on the inside while on a trailer/cradle.

A lot of water in the bilge is probably not an issue for the boat. Down
here in hurricane country we routinely flood the bilges of trailerable boats
to try to keep them on the trailer and the trailer on the ground when the
storm approaches. The bigger risk is to the trailer suspension and tires.
I use four jack stands about an inch below the trailer rails before filling
the boat. When the bilge is only slighty full the rails will have settlrd
onto the stands. That water is pretty heavy.

Butch
"Don White" wrote in message
...
Misifus wrote:
wrote:

One way of finding a hard to find leak (especially hard when
someone bottom coats the boat to hide it) is when the boat is
on the trailer fill it up with some water with the drain plug in.

Let it sit for awhile and look for the wet spots on the outside
hull. There's your leak!

Tom



Wow, what a neat idea! I'll try that, plus, it dawns on me that the
previous owner had re-rigged the aerator hose to use it with a separate
tank. I'm wondering if I need to put that back the way it was. Either
way, it all bears close inspection.

-Raf

I wouldn't get carried away with the volume of water you place in the
hull. The hull is designed for the water to support it on the
outside...not on the inside while on a trailer/cradle.