Help pls. Water problem with my boat

[rzkas]

Howdy? my 95 bayliner Capri after being on the water for about approximately 30mins to one hours, i will see water on the floor. mostly from the center seat backward. and from the center seat to bow is dry. i checked under the steering wheel and gauge compartment, and it dry. i noticed two holes, one on both side of the area where my engine is mounted / where the top of the sit when the engine is all the way up. i have an outboard. standing inside the boat facing towards the engine, the hole on the left side is where the steering cable goes through/comes out and on the right side is where the battery cables/wires goes through/comes out. when ever i see water in the boat, there will be more water under the rear seats, the space where the battery is.

is this normal or i need to do something to have a tight seal on the holes where the steering cable and battery cables goes through or come out.

just want to add this, i have looked for areas where water is coming in or dripping but i haven't found any but there is water. not like a pond but the carpet is wet and under the seat water settle there.

i need help fixing this problem. thanks

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Help pls. Water problem with my boat

have you posted this before? Anyway, your boat is sinking and is a hazard to you and other boaters.

You mention the holes for steering and cables; may i assume you do not see water coming in over the transom into them? if so, there's you're problem. If not, why mention it?

More likely something is leaking--probably an old through-hull, vent or your drain plug fitting (you are putting the plug in, right?)

Why is that much water accumulating if you have a bilge pump? Do you have one, on a float switch, and is it functioning?

!. water should not be coming into a boat without explanation.
2. water that invariably gets in a boat must be evacuated immediately and, preferably, automatically.

 

[zagger]

Re: Help pls. Water problem with my boat

First you should check to see it the motor mount bolts are nice and tight. Second check the drain plug fitting to make sure it is sealed properly. Third check your eye bolts on the transom, again make sure they are nice and watertight. Water might be coming in through the bilge pump hull fitting during some maneuvers, it is plastic so be careful not to crack it when checking. The steering and battery cables should exit into engine splash pan which will have it's own drainage so I don't think your leak is coming from there. One other thing to check is the speedometer tube, it might have a crack and is leaking when underway. Good luck.

 

[oops!]

Re: Help pls. Water problem with my boat

your boat is in dire need of help.

post pics and ask the mods to move it to the restoration section.......we can help

 

[rzkas]

Re: Help pls. Water problem with my boat

have you posted this before? Anyway, your boat is sinking and is a hazard to you and other boaters.

You mention the holes for steering and cables; may i assume you do not see water coming in over the transom into them? if so, there's you're problem. If not, why mention it?

More likely something is leaking--probably an old through-hull, vent or your drain plug fitting (you are putting the plug in, right?)

Why is that much water accumulating if you have a bilge pump? Do you have one, on a float switch, and is it functioning?

!. water should not be coming into a boat without explanation.
2. water that invariably gets in a boat must be evacuated immediately and, preferably, automatically.

Yes i always put the drainage plug/screw on and remove it after use.

My boat has a bilge switch by the area where all the switches are mounted. but i don't use it. where should i look for the bilge pump?. i am new to the boating world. this is my first boat. If i have a bilge pump, how should i use it?. should i have the bilge switch on at all time while on the water or what? the big hole/gutter in the boat where you have to put a drain plug before you use the boat and remove the drainage screw after use to let the water out, i checked the area when i see water in the boat by lift the door on the floor and there is no water siting or like a pond of water. yes wet but no pool of water inside.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Help pls. Water problem with my boat

What do you mean "the bottom"? I don't follow.
Water belongs outside of your boat. NOT inside it.

 

[zagger]

Re: Help pls. Water problem with my boat

Wow, I did not get any of this. Please post some pictures of where it is getting wet and the bilge area. I'm thinking you don't even have your bilge pump hose connected. Checking your other posts you have a plethora of problems. Might be a good idea to ask someone at the ramp to look things over for you and get some pointers. Boat guys will do anything for a beer the next guy at the ramp might even fix something for you free. Good luck.

 

[rzkas]

Re: Help pls. Water problem with my boat

What do you mean "the bottom"? I don't follow.
Water belongs outside of your boat. NOT inside it.

sorry i mean button/switch

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Help pls. Water problem with my boat

Asking if he has posted before, you may have been reading my post re: water getting in bilge. I have gone over every inch of my boat & can't find where I'm getting water in. My floors are not getting wet, it's just that, like the OP here, after 30-40 min.'s on the water my bilge area is full. I pump out about 30-45 sec's worth of water out through the bilge then it's fine for a while. I've cut off the speed-o tube & sealed everything on the rear of the boat- every screw, bolt, plug housing, everything. I'll be watching this thread for any more idea's. If I happen to find my problem I'll contact the OP & let him know.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Help pls. Water problem with my boat

I have to disagree; do NOT take your boat to the ramp until you take yourself to a safe boating course, and then take (hire) an experienced boater to go look over your boat and take you out at least three times.
Do not take your boat to a busy ramp with problems.
Buying a "first boat" is not like buying a bicycle and then learning how to use it. There is a lot more at stake.

Maxxie, I wasn't confusing yours; you are tracking down a hidden problem.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Help pls. Water problem with my boat

I thing you mean BUTTON (or switch). Bottom is confusing people and means the bottom (or lower part of the hull).
the BILGE is the lowest area at the back of the boat where water tends to collect. The drain is what drains the bilge. A bilge pump would be located in that area. Anytime there is water in the boat is when you turn on the bilge pump. Some of them are automatic.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Help pls. Water problem with my boat

Water can get in via a bad fitting/unsealed rub rail

 

[rzkas]

Re: Help pls. Water problem with my boat

I have to disagree; do NOT take your boat to the ramp until you take yourself to a safe boating course, and then take (hire) an experienced boater to go look over your boat and take you out at least three times.
Do not take your boat to a busy ramp with problems.
Buying a "first boat" is not like buying a bicycle and then learning how to use it. There is a lot more at stake.

Maxxie, I wasn't confusing yours; you are tracking down a hidden problem.

i do go out with my friend. he is a boat guy. he is mechanically incline but not body work. he has been around boat for a while.

 

[rzkas]

Re: Help pls. Water problem with my boat

i was looking at the boat the other day. i found space under the window/glass frame and the body of the boat. the area where the glass/window attact or mount to the body of boat. i notice these spaces from the middle seats all the way to the back or end of the window/glass . i the material or silicon that you put as gasket is coming off or braking off.

what should i use to seal this spaces? name of sealeant or silicone or what material should i use to apply btw the body of the boat and the glass/window frame.

thanks

 

[rzkas]

Re: Help pls. Water problem with my boat

Help me pls stop water from coming in to my boat and plus i dont want to destroy the carpet and wood. it not like water is gushing in to the boat but after being on the water for a while, the capert get wet mostly along the sides of the boat from the middle seats all the way back. but i dont see where the water is coming from. but one time i saw water driping down from the floor side wall. you know how boat has side pocket on both side, in those pocket/compactment/space that where they run the cable and my boat also have cup holder and they put the light pole in there too.

 

[emoney]

Re: Help pls. Water problem with my boat

Ok, the odds area, the are beneath your windshield, where it meets the boat, isn't causing your leak. Either you've got a hole/crack in the hull, or you're taking on a lot of water around a "thru-hull" fitting. Get the boat on the trailer on a flat, dry (perferably concrete) surface, and go underneath it to inspect it. For instance, I got a boat this year, took it out on the first trip, and noticed water on the floor by the cooler seat. Got it home on the trailer, went underneat and found 4 screw holes poke through where the previous owner had screwed brackets into what he thought was the floor but was actually the hull itself. Also, the "hook" on the bow (the very front) of the boat where your winch strap on your trailer goes, those can get loose around the bolts and bring water in. There could be a crack in your hull either at or near the keel that's letting water in.

It's not necessarily going to be a hole big enough to put your finger in that's causing the problem. More than likely, it's the size of a screw. If you can't find any hole or opening anywhere, then it's time to post some pictures of the main drain. That's the hole where you put the plug in when launching and take out to drain.

As to the "bilge pump"; when you're in the water, it's a pump, usually at the very rear of the boat at the lowest possible place, that pumps the water "out" of the boat. If you flip that switch, you should be able to hear a slight "whirring" sound of it operating. If you hit that switch and can't hear anything toward the stern, odds are it's not working or isn't even installed. And no, you don't operate it constantly, just occassionaly as needed.

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Help pls. Water problem with my boat

Help me pls stop water from coming in to my boat and plus i dont want to destroy the carpet and wood. it not like water is gushing in to the boat but after being on the water for a while, the capert get wet mostly along the sides of the boat from the middle seats all the way back. but i dont see where the water is coming from. but one time i saw water driping down from the floor side wall. you know how boat has side pocket on both side, in those pocket/compactment/space that where they run the cable and my boat also have cup holder and they put the light pole in there too.

If you don't know where or how the water is getting into the boat, I would very respectfully recommend you take the boat to someone who can check it out for you. You will get some great help here on IBoats and / or some very good ideas as to what to check but in my opinion you need to have it LOOKED at by an experienced tech / mechanic. That's my .02 and that's what I would do, if I were in the same boat (pun intended). Good luck and be safe.

 

[rzkas]

Re: Help pls. Water problem with my boat

ok i will take pictures of the drainage plug and pictures of inside the boat with wet carpet but the wheather in seattle washington is not allowing to enjoy the water. it still colds over here and it rains also.

 

[1980Galaxy]

Re: Help pls. Water problem with my boat

it was mentioned that you check your speedo tube... did you?

 

[rzkas]

Re: Help pls. Water problem with my boat

yes i did check behind the speedometer. all i saw was cables coming from the speedometer. i have 120 force outboard motor on a 1995 bayliner capri. i saw a tube going to the fish finder