Water getting in some how

[Aquaman-PSD]

I have a 19' fish and ski that I bought a could months ago. When I bought the boat it didn't take on a drop of water. However all of a sudden it started taking on water. Now within an hour of getting on the water my auto bilge turns on and pumps for about 5 seconds. After that it does it continuously every 45 mins or so... I know the sealant on the back is in rough shape and i'm replacing that tonight with 5200 but that can't be all that is wrong. they are 1/8'' holes where a different fish finder used to be mounted. The only thing I can think of is that one of my live wells hoses are leaking. does anyone know the best way to test this? obviously just squirting a hose down the intake but i don't know if that would be enough to tell where it is coming from. Also i though about just pluggin the intake holes and seeing if the leak continues, atleast this would narrow it down to the live wells. Does anyone have any input? I have found a lot of threads on here about what to do once you find the leak but can't find anything about how to find it when you really don't have any idea where it is coming from... the hull however is solid so I am sure its not that. It seems to come in faster when we are sitting still vesus on plane. my rub rail is not under water when sitting still so it shouldn't be that...

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Water getting in some how

Just a thought, to test the live wells, test each one individually...fill with water and add some food coloring to it to help it show up...at least that will get you some information as to which one of the wells is leaking...then you might have to crawl around with a flashlight to pinpoint the leak. check all the clamps on the hoses, and the seal around all the fittings...the hoses themselves may be the leak...also check the thru-hull fittings while you are in the water, sometimes they are underwater and that could be the cause of the leak...

Check and make sure your bilge drain plug, the aerator intake and the live well drain fittings are also water-tight...you can look for these either in the water, or when it is back on the trailer, you can put the plug in and fill the bilge with water and check for drips...

Double check that any screw holes in the hull, especially the ones that are below the waterline are properly sealed with 5200...

Check behind the fish finder mounting tab and if equipped, the speedo pitot tube...they may have been replaced by the PO, and the old screw holes behind the mounting tabs may be the culprits.

Check the Motor mounting bolts, they may need to be re-sealed...

Crawl on the ground and check your hull for any possible damage, also...make sure you slide the boat back from its normal spot to uncover any areas that you cannot see because they are covered by the bunks or rollers...

Good Luck,
GT1M

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Water getting in some how

Um, is this the same 1987 Monarch 19' F&S that was posted in this thread:

Ok will I be able to do that now and wait to do any work? I want to run it like it is for the summer since the boat as a whole is still solid. One more question. Is it weird that I heard cracking (i'm guessing wood) when I step there? I would think that if it is rotten and soft it wouldn't be cracking but maybe it is the fiberglass ontop the wood that is cracking. I will keep you guys posted as I find more out. I know a guy locally that owns a fiberglassing bussiness.... kind of convienent! and I will talk to him the next time I see him too. He may let me do it myself under his professional guidance.

I suspect all the different threads asking similar Q's of how to band-aid X problem mean that you aren't following the advice of the people who suggested that this was probably a fully involved, water damaged boat w/ a small soft spot behind the drivers seat (from an entirely different thread then this 1 & the 1 I quoted) .

oops & WoodOnGlass are very knowledgeable & willing to help. They have been giving you good advice, you should probably listen.

Based on what I've read so far re: this Monarch, the transom is SHOT, and it's connection to the boat at the hull, cap & gunwales is tenuous at best. As a rescue diver, you are certainly qualified to recover the boat &/or OB motor when the transom FAILS. As I recall, Cumberland has some fairly deep water. Cold & dark down that deep, but maybe the boat &/or motor would be worth the recovery effort.

Also as I recall this boat had an untreated overlaid plywood deck that probably covered the rotten original floor. On your other thread I don't recall your response when oops asked a question or 2 about it, except your suggestion that the 'friend' (loosly defined since that friend unloaded this rotten boat on you for $4300:facepalm might be getting a visit from you where you thought you might 'Go KY RedNeck' on him. I'm not sure what that is exactly, but it doesn't sound like fun for either of you.

If I have misunderstood, or these are all different '87 19' F&S Monarchs, I apologize................

 

[Aquaman-PSD]

Re: Water getting in some how

It is the same boat, no it is not an overlayed deck I pulled the carpet and checked, yes the floor is glassed, yes I drilled the transom and floor, yes the rot is confined to the area around the deck drain, yes i had a professional fiberglass company (GoFastFiberglass in Nothern KY) check the transom out as well and he said its solid and no its not rotten, Yes it has been sealed with 5200, yes i have trimmed it up and hung from the motor and no it doesn't move at all, yes there is a soft spot in the floor that is comming out in november, yes I checked the stringers through the ski locker, yes I have checked the hull on and off the trailer. No I can't get to the foam through the ski locker but that will be assesed when I pull the floor up. Yes I have started several threads on this boat because I am trying to get as much information out of everyone as I can because most people on here are very helpful, I didn't know that was wrong to do and if I upset you then I don't appologize. I wasn't aware that we weren't supposed to be asking questions on here.

Also I am not sure on how a question on whether or not the stringers are bad, one about what tools and equiptment I need to replace the floor, a question on the Trim relay, a question about VRO, and a question about a leaking livewells are similar questions. Also please tell me what I have done to "band aid" any of the issues I have been having. Judging from your restoration thread I guess you have never had an issue with a used boat. All problems that I have in the structural/saftey arena are limited to the floor and about two feet by two inches on the one stringer, are already set to be fixed in November. I have done everything that they said to do short of tearing up the floor. I don't remember you being very helpful on any of those threads, so please do me and favor and the next time you feel the need to make a comment on a questions I ask or just anything towards me in general please reconsider and leave to to someone that will actually leave helpful comments instead of simply replying "it's all rotten. and your screwed"
And for the record I am going to have to ask you to not mock the fact that I Volunteer my time to be a public safty diver. Until you have done the training and done the dirty work you really have no reason to talk to me that way. I am not sure what I did to give you a reason to lay down an attack like this but I have to say it is very unprofessional and extremely unhelpful. Again do me a favor and stay away from any threads that I may start, Thank you for all you helpful suggestions on how to find a lead in a live well system.

 

[Aquaman-PSD]

Re: Water getting in some how

Oh and back to the leak I found where it is at and its been sealed. no more water. The livewells were not the culprit.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Water getting in some how

May I ask where you found it?

 

[Aquaman-PSD]

Re: Water getting in some how

It was one of the screws left from a previous depth finder. it was wide open. Its on the bottom of the transom, but like I said it didn't start leaking until recently. Should I drill it out to make sure any of the wet wood is gone or just reseal it as I did?

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Water getting in some how

5200 and a stainless screw will fix that. sound like someone drill all the way in to the stringer foam section which is why the water takes a while to get to the biege as it has to first flood the section before it pushs under the stringers to the biege.

 

[Aquaman-PSD]

Re: Water getting in some how

yea it was sealed when I bought the boat and I actually remember the fiberglass guy I had look at the boat was talking about the seal job on it and he pulled it some to see if it was bad. I guess that was enough to make the sealant come off. Do i need to do anything special or can I just let it sit bow up for a couple of days to let the water run out? I check yesteday and there was only a table spoon of water by the plug hole that I soaked up with a rag.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Water getting in some how

you could try wicking it with a piece of string but theres no real need to try to dry it out it as the water has found the way out so as long as no more gets in theres no problem. any time wood and water get together theres going to be a problem down the line but as you are planning to do other work later then have fun now and fix it correctly later.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Water getting in some how

It was one of the screws left from a previous depth finder. it was wide open. Its on the bottom of the transom, but like I said it didn't start leaking until recently. Should I drill it out to make sure any of the wet wood is gone or just reseal it as I did?

Glad to hear it was just a minor thing.

Resealing with 5200 is usually just fine, or like glenn property of pam, said use both a SS screw coated with 5200...

The other option I like to do is use a "Uni-Bit", the tapered drill bit...make a slightly larger hole, clean it with Acetone and fill it with PB, especially if it goes into a bit of wood...this does two things, clears out any possibly damaged wood and permanently seals the wood and the hole against any possible future water intrusion...

Best regards,
GT1M

 

[Aquaman-PSD]

Re: Water getting in some how

Yes When I replace the floor and repair the stringers I think I am going to remove every thing off the back and fill the holes in with resin anyway. Because the transom is solid I want to make sure it stays that way and the work to remount the fish finder transducer and speedo is minor compared to a transom replacement. Plus I want to reseal my engine mounts. I'm sure i'll have a few questions when the time come as to how to remove a 200 hp outboard. I think I may just eat an extra portion of wheaties one morning and man handle it. I think they are only like 350 lbs!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Water getting in some how

rent an engine hoist for $10. would hate to hear about an SHT with a 200hp outboard landing on you