A little water when removing drain plug

[sasada]

Re: A little water when removing drain plug

Just a shout out to Willie. With you on the pitot. Sasada I think you should pull the hose at the inside of the transom and plug the fitting to check I also agree that the plug leak, while legit, would be very small.

Where exactly does the water go that goes through the speedo tube?....well that is if the whole tube/hose is intact.

 

[QC]

Re: A little water when removing drain plug

Where exactly does the water go that goes through the speedo tube?....well that is if the whole tube/hose is intact.

Nowhere. If the tube is intact it compresses the air in the tube, that works your speedo. It's really an air pressure gauge. If it's right the water probably only goes in a few inches. Not really sure, but not very far. If disconnected, you've got 40 MPH water squirting through there

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: A little water when removing drain plug

I used 7200 sealant from Walmart casue I couldn't find and 5200 anywhere.

I also like the idea about the speedometer hose. Based on the depth your plug screws in I would start with that. Try a big glob of teflone tape first. See if it lessens the leak. Regardless, you still have to pursue this one thing at a time if you're going to truly find the source.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: A little water when removing drain plug

Nowhere. If the tube is intact it compresses the air in the tube, that works your speedo. It's really an air pressure gauge. If it's right the water probably only goes in a few inches. Not really sure, but not very far. If disconnected, you've got 40 MPH water squirting through there

The Pitot tube has the water compressing the air in the tube.
As QC stated, the Speedometer is really an Air/Water pressure gauge.
You do not appear to be leaking while stationary, so the leaking speedometer tube may be broken ABOVE the waterline.
At 20 MPH the Pitot tube will generate 5.8 psi of water pressure.
A 1/4 inch hose with 6PSI of pressure behind it would be a significant leak!

Look at your Pitot tube.

There is a hinge point at the mount to allow the tube to kick up and not break off if you hit something while underway.
Hinging the tube UP by hand, would remove all the ram water pressure and possible stop the leak.

Now for the lecture part....
You are sending mixed messages.

On one hand you are anal about what you describe as a minor leak and obsess on getting it fixed. (A Good thing!)

On the other hand you state that you have a speedometer that has not worked for some time , have a known broken speedometer hose, but have little interest in repairing it because the GPS works better. (Not a good Message!)
This makes me want to ask, "What else do you know about that needs to be fixed?"

It is time to get the boat in Ship Shape. The Whole Boat!

This is the part where I get down from the podium!

 

[sasada]

Re: A little water when removing drain plug

The Pitot tube has the water compressing the air in the tube.
As QC stated, the Speedometer is really an Air/Water pressure gauge.
You do not appear to be leaking while stationary, so the leaking speedometer tube may be broken ABOVE the waterline.
At 20 MPH the Pitot tube will generate 5.8 psi of water pressure.
A 1/4 inch hose with 6PSI of pressure behind it would be a significant leak!

Look at your Pitot tube.

There is a hinge point at the mount to allow the tube to kick up and not break off if you hit something while underway.
Hinging the tube UP by hand, would remove all the ram water pressure and possible stop the leak.

Now for the lecture part....

You are sending mixed messages.

On one hand you are anal about what you describe as a minor leak and obsess on getting it fixed. (A Good thing!)

On the other hand you state that you have a speedometer that has not worked for some time , have a known broken speedometer hose, but have little interest in repairing it because the GPS works better. (Not a good Message!)
This makes me want to ask, "What else do you know about that needs to be fixed?"

It is time to get the boat in Ship Shape. The Whole Boat!

This is the part where I get down from the podium!

I have not known about the broken speedo tube for "some time" unless you call 2 weeks "some time". I have only had this boat for a total of about a month. It didnt dawn on me that the small leak could be due in part because of the speedo tube. I figured that i would find the leak and remedy that issue before moving on to a measly speedo meter not working, esp since i have an on board GPS with true speed right on it. Just so happens that my speedo issue and leak may very likely coincide.

 

[QC]

Re: A little water when removing drain plug

I wasn't paying attention either as I assumed this was a Merc Alpha. Unk Will is right, flip the pitot up and test it. No need to plug it as I noted although it would be even more definitive. Even up there could be some pressure there.

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: A little water when removing drain plug

I have the same plug on my boat, Its just a NPT threaded plug. Pick up a new one at the hardware store.

I always wrap mine with threaded tape a few times before installing. A boating buddy of mine said what ya doing man no need to do that! I told him better flot'n then winching it off the bottom of the drink!

Good luck!

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: A little water when removing drain plug

I have not known about the broken speedo tube for "some time" unless you call 2 weeks "some time". I have only had this boat for a total of about a month. It didnt dawn on me that the small leak could be due in part because of the speedo tube. I figured that i would find the leak and remedy that issue before moving on to a measly speedo meter not working, esp since i have an on board GPS with true speed right on it. Just so happens that my speedo issue and leak may very likely coincide.

Fair enough! Sorry if I sounded judgemental.
The lack of details often leads to false assumptions.
My apologies are in order! :redface:

I wasn't paying attention either as I assumed this was a Merc Alpha. Unk Will is right, flip the pitot up and test it. No need to plug it as I noted although it would be even more definitive. Even up there could be some pressure there.

I think you're correct, the pitot tube should be part of the Alpha Outdrive in this boat.
Ignore all the "Bend it Up" Suggestions! (Ooops!)

Your options are replace the hose, or plug the hose.

 

[shout]

Re: A little water when removing drain plug

If no one is getting in and out, and you are positive she is dry before launch then I would want to know.

The first place I would check is the sealing under the rub rail. There is a lot of powerful splash there, and it is a common source of "unkown" water Agree with a corey on a seek and find mission.

This was the source of water in my boat, took me a while to figure it out, but some caulk under the rub rail, at the seam, took care of it.

- Shout

 

[QC]

Re: A little water when removing drain plug

I think you're correct, the pitot tube should be part of the Alpha Outdrive in this boat.
Ignore all the "Bend it Up" Suggestions! (Ooops!)

LOL, talk about mangled. I was wrong, I was trying to say you were right. I think it is a Volvo . . . . Ahhhhhhhhhh

 

[sasada]

Re: A little water when removing drain plug

Sorry for not mentioning it folks...but YES, it is a Volvo-Penta SX drive. With the pitot tube attached to the bottom of the transom that bends up if hit just like the one UncleWillie noted in his post.

 

[QC]

Re: A little water when removing drain plug

It's in your sig. All good man

 

[sasada]

Re: A little water when removing drain plug

I had the pleasure boat out yesterday. Unfortunately i have be soon busy with various things it had been a just over a month since I had touched the thing. I was running very short on time so I just flipped the speedo pitot up and pulled the speedo tube off the top of it. AAAANNNNNNDDDDD PRESTO! Took care of all the water I was having pool up behind my battery then running over into my bilge. I flipped my the bench up after being on the water for a while and was very happy to see it dry. Thanks for all the help y'all!