Boat leaking..... Somewhere

[johnboyy7]

I notice that my bilge is filling up a lot. Enough that the front and rear are pumping at the same time. I've checked all through holes except one in middle of boat portside, cooling system, ballast bags hoses and connections, v drive, shaft seal. Any other places I'm missing?

I did have my wife drive at about 12mph while looked in engine compartment... I took the buffer wall down also so I could really look good. I really didn't notice any water coming in during all this. I think it's coming in when I have ballast full or when we surf. It's not coming in through vent, I have it blocked and don't run the water that high.

Thoughts?

[74green]

Might not be your problem both worth checking over the exhaust system. My muffler had cracked and leaked water in the bilge.

[ers906]

I had the same problem with water coming in from the rivet holes which attach the topcap to the boat hull. I took off the rub rail insert and siliconed the entire length of the rub rail. That fixed the problem. Otherwise, maybe your drive shaft?

[johnboyy7]

How hard is it to take the rub rail off? And put it back on and make it look right?

[ers906]

You dont take the entire rub rail off, just the insert out of the middle (the soft tube in between the two harder rubber portion). pretty easy fix

[AuMDLST]

Boat Leak

How long have you had the boat?
Has it always been a leak problem?

Most likely it is due to poor sealing of the top deck and hull at the rear of the boat
as that area easily stays submerged when using ballast. To fix you'll need to seal from
inside of compartment with marine sealant at the seam from the marriage of the two
sections.

[johnboyy7]

I've owned it for a year. Seems to have gotten worse but that could be to
Increased time surfing.

What you described, is that not the same as under the rub rail. If not I don't know where you are describing. Would you mind giving a more detailed describing of what/ how to do it.

If the leak were from rub rail or the place in the back, would I be able to see the water coming in?

[AuMDLST]

Leak

What I am describing is located under the rub rail as the rail is covering the seam of the two boat parts. The description earlier of leaking thru "rivit" holes most likely is not your issue - I believe they are screws located every couple of inches.

Your issue will be concealed by the rub rail. You would need to remove the rail at the stern of the boat to seal the gap. You can look in to the engine compartment at the stern low down and see where there is the factory sealant.

It is a leak that only presents itself for the most part when the stern rub rail is submerged.

[AuMDLST]

Leak

If the leak were from rub rail or the place in the back, would I be able to see the water coming in?

Yes but you will need the rail under the water (full ballast)
Then looking stern inside engine bay - down low as the seam is located down low
you will see water leaking in and coating the lower hull.

There was a post sometime ago about a owner with new boat (not sure of year)
that just about sank as the gap was hardly sealed and pumps could not keep up.

I described the same thing to him and problem was discovered.

What you are describing is 99.99% the gap is not sealed perfect.

[AuMDLST]

Correction

I dont believe there is rail at the stern of the boat - Not sure without looking.

Either way - the leak is most likely at the point where the top deck is married to the hull
at the stern around the swim platform. It's the only part that really gets submerged
when under ballast of surfing.

[AuMDLST]

Crude Pic

Whatever is behind the swim platform - not rubrail but some sort of decorative black strip covering the seam

[maxpower220]

The next time you are out and the water is in the bilge. Stick you finger in the water to determine if the water is warm/hot or lake temp. That will narrow down an exhaust/engine leak.
Also, check your connections to ballast. There may be a leak going into or out of the ballast.

[johnboyy7]

My rr stops at the platform. So when looking at the back of the boat, stern/transom, from in the engine compartment I will be able to see the seam?

Can I call you and discuss?

[Jake Holt]

I dont know if you checked this already...I was having a similar problem only will ballast tanks were full. All my through-holes were good and water-tight. The problem was a severly loose hose fitting at the bottom of one of my ballast tanks. When the tank was full, it would then drain into the bottom of the boat. For a year I just thought I had a leaky prop shaft seal. I justed needed to remove the tank, re-do that fitting, and re-install.

[bhectus]

Before you go crazy with the silicone, and taking things apart, my suggestion is to take the boat out for a cruise with the dogbox off. No water ballast. Cruise around the lake for a bit and see if you still have water coming in the bilge. I've got a hole in my hull-hugger muffler and am waiting on CC to produce more of them. in the meantime, the bilge will take on water pretty good while we are out skiing or cruising. I would check to see if you can find exactly where the water is coming from before spending time/money on fixing/replacing things.