Bilge Pump?

[brotherkicksave]

I own a 2012 23 foot Crest Tri-toon with 30 hours on it. I brought it to our dealer to have a few accessories installed and the bottom paint water line re-examed. Almost from the first time the boat was set in the water, the boat was sitting noticeably lower in the water at the rear of the boat than the water line of the bottom paint. Considering the boat has stayed in the salt water since delivery, I found it concerning.

The service folks are telling me that I may have backed the boat down off the beach too hard causing the center pontoon to fill with water. Furthermore, they tell me that the bilge pump in the center pontoon is not working. I know the fuel tank is in the center pontoon.

Can somebody please help understand this situation? I have been involved in boating since I was a toddler but I am new to Pontoons, so I am confused.

Help!

Steve

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Bilge Pump?

Right off hand I would think their full of it. Pontoon logs are sealed and have no bilge pumps.

 

[The Rooster]

Re: Bilge Pump?

Right off hand I would think their full of it. Pontoon logs are sealed and have no bilge pumps.

+1 ^^^. Steve, I've never heard of bilge pumps mounted in the center toon. Maybe "5150" will be along soon to add his expertise. If there was such an animal, you should have a manual overide switch on your dash to activate it. Good luck !!!

 

[lncoop]

Re: Bilge Pump?

I'm having trouble wrapping my brain around the situation. Toons are supposed to be completely water tight and don't come with bilge pumps that I'm aware of. If you have three toons and the center one is leaking you need to look into warranty service since she's a new boat. Can you throw up some pics? Something doesn't add up. Welcome aboard.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Bilge Pump?

OK- I must follow this thread!!
Can't wait to hear facts on a bilge pump in a 'toon :facepalm:

 

[5150abf]

Re: Bilge Pump?

Does this have an infloor storage also or just the center fuel?

If so they do have a bilge pump, the idea being that the ski storage is going to get water in it and it is allowed to drain to the back of the tube where it is pumped out, there shouldn't be any outside water getting in the tube though and there should be no way to make water get in the tube other than what gets into the storage or fuel areas.

We have had storage/fuel tubes at Bennington for maybe 6-7 years, others were soon to follow but they do have a bilge pump and if yours doesn't work it should be changed.

Not familiar with how they do thier storage fuels but it seems very odd that you could do anything to get water in the tube, it simply shouldn't be open to the outside, ours are completely sealed to the bottom of the deck.

I can imagine they will be pretty excited to hear a Bennington guy said that but it is true, there should be no situation where the boat is allowed to take on water,especially something as easy as backing it off the beach.

 

[WoodenPontoon]

Re: Bilge Pump?

I have heard of tri-toons having bilge pumps. Typically, in the fuel tank compartment or the storage locker. Can you see inside your fuel compartment? If you have one and it's not working it could cause you to take on some water weight.

Not that my boat is a typical pontoon, but I have 7 bilge pumps in my boat! I have them installed in each water tight compartment. I also have U-shaped tubes that are not foam filled.

Good Luck,
Dan

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Bilge Pump?

Well I also have a bilge pump installed on mine but its to fill the live well.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Bilge Pump?

Well I also have a bilge pump installed on mine but its to fill the live well.

Come to think on it I do too :redface:

 

[brotherkicksave]

Re: Bilge Pump?

I will go have another look today and attempt to speak to the technician. There IS access to the center toon from just in front of the motor mount. It has a round inspection cover, like I used to have on my small sailboat. I was surprised that I would/do have the ability to affect the integrity of the vessel by simply backing the boat down for 10 or 15 seconds. Bizarre. Thanks for the input. I will report back what I learn. Thanks, Steve

 

[brotherkicksave]

Re: Bilge Pump?

OK...so the story is...My boat does not have a bilge pump. Bilge Pumps are only installed if the boat has a ski locker (which mine doesn't). SO, how did the water get in there? That is a good question. They are still looking into it. I told them to leave the inspection cover off of the center toon and lower the boat into the water, monitor the inside of the toon for a few hours and see what happens....right?

 

[5150abf]

Re: Bilge Pump?

Sounds to me like there is a leak in the tube, you shouldn't be able to get water in there.

As everyone knows, no matter how careful you are making the boats you will eventually miss something, now you just need to see how it is handled but again you as an owner should not be able to do anything to get water in there, something isn't quite right.