Water in Hull

[dmwelch]

Hey guys first time to thisnside of the forum, I've been living on the Engine section trying to get my Johnson to pur.

Now I need some help with my boat hull, I have a 1968 Shell Lake Lasbre 500, 14ft fiber glass boat and I'm trying to find out why when I shake it I can hear water sloshing around on the inside but the inside boat floor empty it sounds like it's beneath that is there an easy way to ge that out or is this signs of my boat having a bigger issue?

Thoughts?

 

[Jarcher3]

if it is sloshing around i would be inclined to think that it is some sort of tank and not just loose water in the hull or bilge.

Look under the floor, open up some bins, and give it a good look around see what you can find underneath

 

[dmwelch]

Forgive me but this is my first boat, ive attached pictures of it below, I don't really have any bins that let me get to the bottom, there is a section by the foot well under the dash that could hold something, but it looks pretty solid when I pull back the astro turf

 

[kcassells]

Unfortunately you may have to cut out or drill out an area to see whats going on below the deck. A hole saw could be used and ridgid has an inspection camera that can get in there for more observation. Save the plug from the hole saw whereas you can place it back if all is good.
With water sloshing around as you say there may be more to it than you want to know about. Safety 1st and cool boat btw.
KC

 

[jbcurt00]

Yep, ^^^ water trapped below decks isnt good.

Welcome to iboats dry dock.

 

[Woodonglass]

She's very similar to my boat. Check inside at the back where the drain hole is. This is the Bilge. Check and see if you have a hull drain, It's usually a hole with a stopper on the side or back of the bilge with a plug in it. You can pull that plug to drain water under the deck into the bilge and then out the drain hole to the outside. If you don't have on you can make one by simply drilling a 3/4" hole down low on the side of the bilge and then tilting the front of the boat up as high as you can. Are there any Soft spots when you walk on the deck? if you raise the motor up and then bounce HARD on the leg of the motor does the transom (Back of theboat where the motor mounts) flex at all?

 

[dmwelch]

She's very similar to my boat. Check inside at the back where the drain hole is. This is the Bilge. Check and see if you have a hull drain, It's usually a hole with a stopper on the side or back of the bilge with a plug in it. You can pull that plug to drain water under the deck into the bilge and then out the drain hole to the outside. If you don't have on you can make one by simply drilling a 3/4" hole down low on the side of the bilge and then tilting the front of the boat up as high as you can. Are there any Soft spots when you walk on the deck? if you raise the motor up and then bounce HARD on the leg of the motor does the transom (Back of theboat where the motor mounts) flex at all?

Woodonglass,
I may have done a couple noob mistakes,

I drilled a hole in the front boat under the dash and water started pouring out of it, and it smelled rank, I figured I'd learn how to plug it later I jsut want to get that water out, since the boat is outside and in Michigan its getting close to freezing.

I got a decent amount of water out and then jacked the boat up a little bit and it flowed out the main drain.

I dont think I have a hull drain, so I would like to make one, but want a little more clarification on where to drill the hole and the best way to plug after I've drained. Do you drill from the inside of the boat?

I have tested the transom and to be honest its pretty solid and I have not felt any weak spots on the deck.

See attached photos (sorry FLickr is being dumb, copy and paste in address bar)

https://flic.kr/p/PwTWJr

https://flic.kr/p/NiyBCn

https://flic.kr/p/PtJ9L1

 

[Woodonglass]

Does she have a bilge? ( Small Box like structure in the bottom of the boat at the transom) Here's a pic of mine. The hole on the right is the hull drain. I use a standard compression plug just like what the main drain uses.

 

[dmwelch]

She does not