Chasing down a water leak

[harleyfool]

2000 Regal 1800 LSR Volvo GL 4.3/SM-M.

A new boat for me and as mentioned in a previous post appears as advertized = 84h of fresh water use.

After first shake down trip of 1 hour noted several litres of water had accumulated in bilge. Not sure where it came from and have begun the detective work. Your thoughts appreciated.

(1) I noted water was seeping AROUND the flange of the rear drain plug - not good. Today I removed the 3 screws from the brass flange and it fell into my hand. Obviously the previous seal had let go. I poked around the hole thru the hull and there did not appear to be any rot. I resealed with 3M 5200. Could several litres of water enter thru a faulty seal of a drain plug or do I need to keep looking?

(2) The upper silicone seal of the perimeter rub strip is in great condition. However I noted that there were 5 failure/gaps in the underside rubstrip seal with the hull. The gaps ranged from 2-5 inches -- areas where the silicone bead had separated from the hull. Four of the defects were around the stern. So, anyone have experience with water entry because of a rub seal failure??

The only other source of leakage that I could think of was an engine leak. I will run the boat while on a trailer & muffs on. Hopefully this will give some approximation of an in-water experience. Since I have JUST resealed the drain plug how long should I wait before potentially filling bilge with water? I think 3M says dry to touch in 48 hour and cured in 7 days. Would 48 hours be enough wait?

Thanks

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Chasing down a water leak

48 hrs will be fine to let it set up. some rubrails will leak some will not if their was silcone their before then you should put some more for sure, To be sure you could put the garden hose to it with some one on the inside and look for A water leak and also do all the fittings at the back of the boat inculeding all around the drive/ transom assy area for water leaks. It dose sound like you found the leak with the drain plug as you should have normaly needed to pry the the silcone away and took for ever to clean up the old silcone. And yes you should run the engine and look just to be safe. By the way do not use 5200 silcon on the rub rail you will never get it off if you ever need to replace the rub rail normal silcone will work fine or 4200 should do it also.

 

[P 0 P E Y E]

Re: Chasing down a water leak

5200 is a killer adhesive.

We use it for a bunch of things.

One is to GLUE nylon fire hose type rub rails to Boston whaler gunwales

 

[P 0 P E Y E]

Re: Chasing down a water leak

Forgot to ask you

How much water does she take on?

Could it be a function of trailer angle vs. in the water attitude of vessel?

 

[harleyfool]

Re: Chasing down a water leak

So, finally got a break in the weather several days ago. With the boat on trailer and in my driveway, removed the three screw holding the flange for the drain plug to the hull. The flange fell off! Obviously the sealant had let go. Poked around the hole in the hull and everything appeared gel coated and solid. Reglued the flange with 3M-5200.

Tonight put muffs on the stern drive and fired up the engine. I let the boat run for 15 minutes. No apparent water leaks inside the engine department. Next blasted the stern with water from a garden hose for 10 minutes. Again no apparent engine compartment leaks.

So I am hopeful that my water leak problem has been solved with resealing the drain plug flange.