Wet ski locker. No water in engine bay. '99Bryant 232

[barrrf]

Spent the whole weekend drying out the ski locker. Vacuumed, fans , hot sun, the whole bit. That locker was as dry as anything.

Take the boat out today, get home, pull the plug as I normally do and it starts leaking. I hop in the boat to investigate and item the ski locker and there's about 1"of water in it. I pop open the engine cover and no water, at all.

This confuses me because the ski locker floor appears to be quite a bit higher than the engine compartment floor.

My only guess would be is that the plug on the boat is connected to multiple drain hose sand the plug isn't making a proper seal. But why would the engine bay be dry?

Thoughts?

 

[barrrf]

I went and dug further. There had to have been water in the engine compartment, there's no other way for it to get to the ski locker, but there was a lot in the locker and a little in the engine compartment.

I'm confused. Anyone else figure out this problem?

 

[southkogs]

The ski locker has at least one drain to the bilge. Depending on how the deal is laid out, they can (potentially) trade water. How much water are you draining out of your boat when you put it on the trailer?

You could be taking water through a small crack in the hull, a through hull fitting like the bow eye, or where there is some separation of the top cap under the rub rail. Lotsa' ways to get water in. Have you tried just floating the boat, and watching the two compartments to see where the water is accumulating?

 

[barrrf]

The ski locker has at least one drain to the bilge. Depending on how the deal is laid out, they can (potentially) trade water. How much water are you draining out of your boat when you put it on the trailer?

You could be taking water through a small crack in the hull, a through hull fitting like the bow eye, or where there is some separation of the top cap under the rub rail. Lotsa' ways to get water in. Have you tried just floating the boat, and watching the two compartments to see where the water is accumulating?

I havent tried floating it yet. I just noticed this yesterday. I think today I'll put the plug and put some water in the bottom of the boat and see if it coming out of anything in the back. I just had another thought too. I would definitely be getting water in through the dock lights when driving. I dont think those are sealed real well. Those 2 areas are definitely trading water. The nice clean ski locker had gross black stuff in it which could only have been from the bilge area.

I also noticed that the bilge pump isnt working. So thats fun. And it appears as if the pump is in the most awful to reach place ever on the planet too.

 

[BRICH1260]

Depending on how your boat sits on the trailer, the ski locker may receive the bilge water, assuming your channel between the two is not clogged. To keep the water in the bilge, you may need to raise the trailer bunks a bit in the front to give it a slightly rearward slope. Then you need to find the source of the water, is it engine cooling water or water from outside the hull or water being brought onboard from swimmers.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Personally, I don't think you're likely to gain much by putting in the plug and filling your boat with water. You'll just be introducing more water into the boat where you don't need it. It's very unlikely you'll learn anything from that anyway. (Try searching the forum for folks who did that and found the leak. I don't think you'll find many examples...)

 

[southkogs]

I would agree with the above: float the boat and look for water coming in. Watch what areas fill and how fast, that will help you narrow down where to look for the leak.

 

[Chris51280]

Make sure the drain is cleared and water has a way to escape. I had a drain too but the manufacturer filled the cavity underneath with foam. So that was redundant.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I havent tried floating it yet. I just noticed this yesterday. I think today I'll put the plug and put some water in the bottom of the boat and see if it coming out of anything in the back. I just had another thought too. I would definitely be getting water in through the dock lights when driving. I dont think those are sealed real well. Those 2 areas are definitely trading water. The nice clean ski locker had gross black stuff in it which could only have been from the bilge area.

I also noticed that the bilge pump isnt working. So thats fun. And it appears as if the pump is in the most awful to reach place ever on the planet too.

the bilge pump is the first thing installed in the bilge (prior to the motor). so 95% of the time, to service, you need to pull the motor.

the black stuff in the ski locker is mold and algae.

most boats have open limber holes between the ski locker and bilge so the water runs to the bilge to be cleaned out

you would need to put about 2000# of water in the boat before you get to most leak points....... at that time, you will have stressed your hull and your trailer and filled all the cavities that should not have water in them ever with water........ its a fast way to introduce failure of the flotation foam and promote rotting.

completely dry the bilge and ski locker. then fire up the motor on the muffs. if you have a leak when running, it will show up.

then drop the boat in the water, use a flashlight and your cellphone to look at areas where you cant fit your head and look for water ingress. specifically at the transom shield area, etc.

 

[barrrf]

pull the motor to replace the bilge pump? Thats neat...

 

[H20Rat]

pull the motor to replace the bilge pump? Thats neat...

Or just install one in a better location. I've owned boats also where the OEM bilge pump is a non-replaceable item because of location.

 

[briangcc]

Assuming an IO here....when's the last time you had the bellows changed on the outdrive? Are you sure they're tight?

I had (2) instances of water in my FourWinns….both were due to leaking bellows. Provided the hull isn't punctured and the transom is solid I'd start there.

 

[barrrf]

Dont know when they were last changed. New boat to me.

I'm going to float it and look around that area for water intrusion.

I just did the muffs test. Nothing coming from any water jackets, the block, exhaust, or cooling circuit.

 

[JASinIL2006]

You don't have to pull the motor to install a new bilge pump. Just leave the old one there for now, disconnect it, and epoxy a new one in the bilge where ever you can reach. Then hook up the new pump, and boom, you're done!

 

[mr 88]

I would check the fuse and connections that are accessible before buying or installing a new bilge pump. If that checks out just cut the old wires as close as you can to the old pump and attach them to the new one which should be in the lowest and closest spot to the stern. That way when you take off you can hit the manual override and pump the water out as it flows to the stern. You will get more out that way then running it when docked /anchored.