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taking on water?
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. |
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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. |
Butch,
I am sure the boat flying through the air would be very detrimental to the structural integrity of the boat, but doesn't all that extra weight from the water in the bilge but undue stress on the stringers and fiberglass? "Butch Davis" wrote in message .net... 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. |
And all the problems with electrical, etc. How about just sinking some
anchors into the ground and strap the boat down. Works for airplanes. "J. Smithers" JohnSmithers@hotmailcom wrote in message ... Butch, I am sure the boat flying through the air would be very detrimental to the structural integrity of the boat, but doesn't all that extra weight from the water in the bilge but undue stress on the stringers and fiberglass? "Butch Davis" wrote in message .net... 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. |
J,
IMO, the water does no harm to the hull. After all, we're talking flooding the bilges only. If the stringer/bulkhead system cannot bear the water load inside seems to me it would be a risky boat to use on the water. For various reasons we turn a pretty good speed from time to time and we do it in pretty choppy conditions. Hitting a ships wake at about forty will provide a thrill you may not want to enjoy a second time. Point is that the hull is a pretty tough piece of gear... especially in the stringer/bulkhead area below the WL. As to Bill's question on electrical gear... mine shows no corrosion or damage from the three times I've done this. As to Bill's suggestion of anchors, I assume he is referring to something like a mobile home tie down anchor?? In response, filling the bilge is, IMO, much handier and far easier to undo after the storm. Trust me, when preparing for a hurrican to hit a lot of things have to be done on short notice. Getting food, drinking water and ice on hand to last the days of no electricity following the storm. Filling the tubs with water to flush toilets when the water supply fails, boarding up windows, moving vehicles, RVs, and boats away from trees, ensuring plenty of batteries are on hand, loading important documents into the car in case evacuation is ordered, and getting enough cash on hand to live without ATM and banking service for several days. And, of course putting an evacuation kit together just in case. Bottom line.... it's a huge chore and PITA which takes a lot of time. Butch "J. Smithers" JohnSmithers@hotmailcom wrote in message ... Butch, I am sure the boat flying through the air would be very detrimental to the structural integrity of the boat, but doesn't all that extra weight from the water in the bilge but undue stress on the stringers and fiberglass? "Butch Davis" wrote in message .net... 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. |
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