Need advise with a possible leak

jmiller58

Recruit
Joined
Jul 7, 2003
Messages
4
I have a 1996 Chap 1930 SST. We just launched her a couple weeks ago for the season, and have used her about 5 times. During each use I noticed a wet area forming on the carpet just aft of the fiberglass bowrider insert, and forward of the ski locker hatch. Tonight night we took a cruise around the lake at minimal speed and with 4 kids in the bow and the area really got soaked. Yet when I look in the ski locker and aft bilge area everthing is dry. I'm thinking that perhaps I have a leak in the froward cooler drain line or thru hull fitting located in the bow area. And, perhaps when operating at a slow speed the drain is in the water with water coming up and into the bow/bilge of boat. The problem is I don't know how to get to the thru hole fitting to check this theory out. Any similiar experience or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, John
 

JasonJ

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 20, 2001
Messages
4,163
Re: Need advise with a possible leak

Leaks are always a tough one. I would put all the kids (or equivalent weight) in the same placement, and check the waterline to see if the thru-hull fitting you describe is at or near or below the waterline. Another thing you can do is simply reproduce the conditions but have someone else dribe while you open hatches and check things out. It may be something really simple. Good luck...
 

jmiller58

Recruit
Joined
Jul 7, 2003
Messages
4
Re: Need advise with a possible leak

Jason,<br /><br />Thanks for the reply and suggestions. I found the leak, it was in the forward cooler drain hose. After pulling two small bulkheads under the bow insert, and filling the cooler up with water, after plugging the the thru-hull fitting I was able to find the culprit. The entire hose was dry rotting, when I pulled on it to remove it from the fittings, it fell apart. Kind of scary, I'll be replacing the other two drain hoses this weekend.
 
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