New to boating---Have water question

[huckle]

Looking for answers. I am new to boating and last fall purchased a 92 Dynasty 17 foot 3.0 I/O. We recently had it out for an afternoon of family fun. While the boat was in the water I kept running the pump every so often just to see how much water the boat was taking on. It seemed that for every 10 minutes the bilge pump would run for about 20-40 seconds to pump the water out. Is that normal for that kind of boat?

Second question, while I had the boat parked in the lake with everyone on it. (We had 4 adults, and 4 kids ranging for 4-10 years of age) the cargo/skee storage area in the hull began to fill up with water. I would guess about 2 inches of water. As soon as we started the boat and drove around for a while the water went away. When the boat was parked at the dock with no one in it the water never came back. Does anyone have any thoughts on how to explain what happened.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Capt'n Chris]

Re: New to boating---Have water question

That is not right at all! Is there a drain hole somewhere in your ski compartment? Water is intruding from somewhere. Did you open your hatch and watch around your outdrive bellows? With it on the trailer, do you see any water dripping from anywhere? Have you surveyed the hull for suspicious cracks or holes? Lots of skiiers in and out can bring in a quite a bit of water too. If you don;t see any dripping from anywhere, raise the tongue as high as you can get it and prop it up. Watch around the transom area for water leaking out. Has anyone mounted a transducer or trim tabs to the transom? these can be culprits. We've got to find out where it is intruding before it can be fixed...and hopefully it can be.

Captain Chris
SternMate? on the web

 

[Susquehanna Squid]

Re: New to boating---Have water question

Yep, it sounds like you need to do some detective work. Make sure the plug is tight, no water is leaking from the motor (cracked block etc.), bellows, cracks, etc. My ski compartment is not sealed from the bilge area so when my boat fills with water I can see it in the ski well too. Also, you said that the water disappears when you are under way, this is because the water is making its way toward the transom just like when you hit the throttle and you sink back in your seat. Good Luck!

 

[huckle]

Re: New to boating---Have water question

I looked when the boat was on the trailer for cracks and leaks. I noticed the sensor mount for the fish finder in the back had old silicone caulk around it that was coming off. I plan on fixing that today. So do you know of any way to get water out of the hull if I still have water in it?

 

[IVAZ]

Re: New to boating---Have water question

Welcome to iboats.
Check the fittings and bellows. With the engine running see if any hoses are leaking water inside the boat. You might need to get on your stomach with the engine cover off and look at the transom to find the leaks.
Good luck.

 

[CaptainKev]

Re: New to boating---Have water question

Two inches of water in your ski locker is a lot of water.............you really do need to find the problem before you compromise the safety of your passengers. The problem could be a series of small leaks, or one hidden big hole just waiting to blow open. I wouldn't even contemplate running the boat with passengers until I was totally satisfied that the leak was found & fixed. Welcome to the world of boating. Be safe and good luck.
Kev.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: New to boating---Have water question

You get water out of the hull by raising the tongue of the trailer and pulling the drain plug at the transom. Gravity takes over from there. You have a serious water intrusion problem. With the boat in the water, run the engine with the cover off so see if it is leaking/spraying. Pray that it isn't.

 

[this forum wont let me]

Re: New to boating---Have water question

Well I have a question for you? What is the max capacity allowed on your boat for weight and # of people? You say 17ft well I have a hard time believing that with 4 adults and 4 kids that you are with in legal limit. In my opinion that is to many people on a 17ft boat to begin with. I am sorry that I don't have any more input than was already stated by others but please with all those kids on board be careful.

 

[Capt'n Chris]

Re: New to boating---Have water question

If there is a substantial amount of water between the floor and the hull, one might hear it rush rearward if you can raise the tongue quickly enough. Removing the drain plug will not accomplish anything if the water is "in" you hull. Then we go to plan B which will require a garboard hole for water egress. Find a bronze garboard plug before you drill so that you can refit when the hull empties. Unfortunately water in the hull will continue to do damage even if you drain out the volumes, but you might be able to retard it if has not already wreaked havoc inside. Transducer mountings are notorious for nasty water intrusion.

Captain Chris
SternMate? on the web

 

[huckle]

Re: New to boating---Have water question

One other question. Is it safe to say that I am running my builge pump more often than I should, or is this normal. We have had the boat out in the water before and never noticed water in the compartment before, and yes I agree we were over on passengers. We had friends in town for the weekend and their kids had never gone boating. Would all that water in the compartment be a result of that extra passenger?

Thanks again to everyone for the advice!

 

[IVAZ]

Re: New to boating---Have water question

Yes, you are running the pump to much. The only time mine comes on is when I test it to make sure it works.
Unless water was coming over the gunwale, the passangers where not the cause.

 

[oaksld]

Re: New to boating---Have water question

I'm thinking the ski locker drain hole is being pushed close to or below the water line with the extra weight in the boat.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: New to boating---Have water question

I'm thinking the ski locker drain hole is being pushed close to or below the water line with the extra weight in the boat.

I dont understand this at all.

The ski locker should drain into the bilge, not outside the boat.

 

[Nico2112]

Re: New to boating---Have water question

The water my boat gathers under normal use (kids, swimmers, tubers and skiers) is not enough for the bilge pump to pick it up. Less than 2 gallons after 3 hours on the water.

IMO, bilge pumps are for emergencies when your boat takes water, and not to be used under normal circumstances.

I agree with all the above posts, you've got a water intrusion problem in your hands, and I hope you address it properly (for the safety of your family and friends) and fix it asap

Safety comes first!

 

[fishon13]

Re: New to boating---Have water question

sounds like a problem with that many people on board maybe it was coming in thru hull back to the bildge. You must find the problem before safely boating. In any case good luck to ya

 

[huckle]

Re: New to boating---Have water question

Thanks again for everyone?s help. I am planning on taking the boat into a marina to get the seal replaced on the lower unit that connects to the transom. Just curious what that is officially called and how much that would cost. I put ear muffs on the boat and noticed a hose where an occasional drip (guessing at 3 drips about every 8-10 seconds) on the motor. I got that fixed and I am looking at the seal next. Thoughts? How much should I expect to spend. How often does the seal on the lower unit go bad?

 

[huckle]

Re: New to boating---Have water question

I also removed the screws from my fish finder sensor in the back. The screws weres about an inch long. Is that long enough to get thru the skin or the fiberglass and into the hull? The screws were not wet, nor did any water come out of the holes. Can I take this as a good sign?

 

[oops!]

Re: New to boating---Have water question

huckel ........any screw that you remove form the transom MUST be re sealed with 3M 4200 or 5200.

each rotten transom i have seen is because of add ons that have not been re sealed.

and fyi !.........water stays out side the boat.....never inside for any reason...if water is inside the boat there is a leak of some type....a hose, a fitting, a gasket.......very rarely is it a hole in the boat.......one very common place is under the rub rail, this only has water intrusion when the boat is under way, and is turning hard or other.

your bilge pump should only come on to take the water out that the kids have brought in from tubing !

cheers bud.....good luck
oops

 

[IVAZ]

Re: New to boating---Have water question

Thanks again for everyone?s help. I am planning on taking the boat into a marina to get the seal replaced on the lower unit that connects to the transom. Just curious what that is officially called and how much that would cost. I put ear muffs on the boat and noticed a hose where an occasional drip (guessing at 3 drips about every 8-10 seconds) on the motor. I got that fixed and I am looking at the seal next. Thoughts? How much should I expect to spend. How often does the seal on the lower unit go bad?

If it the transom seal the engine has to be removed. I have no experience with that but most people here will tell you that you can expect rot if that seal is bad.
Hopefully you are describing a bellow. Either one of those going bad will result in more work than just replacing the leaking part.
Sorry for the bad news. Good luck.

 

[huckle]

Re: New to boating---Have water question

Yeh I have a tube of 3M 5200 on hand and used that to reseal it, but thanks for the advice.