is that normal?

[NASSAR]

hi, i have 1997 18' four winns horizon rx bowrider, and everytime i unplug the drain plug whne im back from a trip on the water (Ocean or Lake) a good amount of water comes out even if i am cruising in harbor channels (5mph).

i understand that if you hit a big wave and water gets inside your boat then the hull will contain that water till you bilge it or unplug the drain plug. but is it normal to always have water in your hull even if you are cruising extremely slow and no waves at all?

 

[Teamster]

No,...You have a leak somewhere,...

 

[NASSAR]

No,...You have a leak somewhere,...

like engine leak or crack in hull?

 

[dingbat]

like engine leak or crack in hull?

Don’t have to be a crack in the hull. Lots of places to leak. Seen the underside of rub rails leak water into the boat.

 

[harringtondav]

Engine crack no, unless you have milky engine oil. Exhaust or raw water leak, maybe. Seems most water entry comes from the transom area. Lots of leak opportunities in a stern drive transom assembly. I had more water in my bilge than I wanted. I pulled and sealed the bilge plug assembly and fixed it.

For starts get your flashlight and inspect your engine compartment while in the water, engine up to temp and idling. May narrow down the search.

 

[roffey]

Run it on muffs and see if any water gets in. If no water from running on muffs put an inch or three in the hull and get underneath the boat and see if you can spot any water dripping?

 

[kpg7121]

hi, i have 1997 18' four winns horizon rx bowrider, and everytime i unplug the drain plug whne im back from a trip on the water (Ocean or Lake) a good amount of water comes out even if i am cruising in harbor channels (5mph).

i understand that if you hit a big wave and water gets inside your boat then the hull will contain that water till you bilge it or unplug the drain plug. but is it normal to always have water in your hull even if you are cruising extremely slow and no waves at all?

Raise the drive & check the u-joint bellows for damage. If it has a tear in it water will enter the bilge area.

 

[JASinIL2006]

A smartphone on a selfie stick will let you look at places back there that are hard to see...

 

[cptbill]

When you pull the throttles back do you get water on the swim platform? Do you or the people with you swim the get in the boat wet? Is the caulking on the top and bottom of your rub rail coming off after all that's were the hull is put together? point is there's tons of places to take on a little water, the others have brought up good suggestions on places to look but having a little water in the bilge mite have come from driving habits or other things like hoses and clamps. try putting the boat in the water and start it up then start looking for leaks maybe not one big one but several small one after all we're talking 22 years on the water with this boat and if you didn't buy it new you don't known how it was taken care of. Good luck I hope it's a simple fix

 

[NASSAR]

Thank you all for replying and sharing your thoughts, im gonna try all your suggestions and let you know what cause the problem.

 

[Starcraft5834]

normal for water to leak some place in the A1, or like drives? yup...that's why there's a bilge.....that's why I sold my cuddy and got a toon with an outboard.... done with that....leaking.................

 

[Scott Danforth]

if you have water in the boat, you have a leak. PERIOD.

on some boats, the built-in coolers drain to the bilge, however you should be able to account for that

OP doesnt state what brand/model of drive, so we can only give generalizations on where to look.

if the bellows are over 3 years old, they could be leaking
if the drain plug flange/tube is compromised, it could be leaking
if the exhaust manifolds are cracked, they could be leaking
if the caulking under the rub-rail is compromised, it could be leaking into the bilge
any thru-hull fitting could be leaking
any crack in the hull could be leaking

so.......
NASSAR you are going to have to put the boat in the water, climb into the bilge with a flash light, a mirror on a stick and your phone camera and start looking for a leak

you may need to have the motor running

 

[Toyelectroman]

On my last boat i had a hell of a time trying to find my leak, with the way my engine sat in the boat i ended up buying an endoscope that hooks up to my phone and was able to find my leak

 

[JimS123]

normal for water to leak some place in the A1, or like drives? yup...that's why there's a bilge.....that's why I sold my cuddy and got a toon with an outboard.... done with that....leaking.................

Nope, not NORMAL to leak. It's all about PMs. Of course, if you have a wooden boat, the PMs are more stringent. And of course tinny hulls MAY leak in time.

A bilge is intended to collect water from kiddies that swim and don't dry off, or when you're out in a thunder storm. But then again, that's what the bilge PUMP is for.

Keep an eye on the toon. If it starts to list, you'll know that one of the tubes has a leak and then you'll wish you had fiberglass......LOL.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

4.3 mercruiser IO? Ive had the accordion boot for the shift cable split twice small leak but a leak that’s enough to notice. Knock on wood the exhaust bellows have not failed feels great and its the original .I assume the amount of shifting required when fighting big fish in rough water wears the shift boot out in my case??

 

[Starcraft5834]

Nope, not NORMAL to leak. It's all about PMs. Of course, if you have a wooden boat, the PMs are more stringent. And of course tinny hulls MAY leak in time.

A bilge is intended to collect water from kiddies that swim and don't dry off, or when you're out in a thunder storm. But then again, that's what the bilge PUMP is for.

Keep an eye on the toon. If it starts to list, you'll know that one of the tubes has a leak and then you'll wish you had fiberglass......LOL.

not a chance......... will take my chances...............................done with old heavy tubs...