Water in bilge

[Full-Force]

So I have always had a small leak where I get water in the bilge. I just run the bulge pump periodically to pump it out, however I would like for it to stop. Now granted I have not removed the floorboard to look while the boat is on the water I did notice something when I got back from the lake today. I had the dash cooler full of ice and decided to leave the plug in the boat so it would drain into the bilge to intentionally get water in the bilge. There is water dripping in one spot and one spot only. It's leaking out at the port where the engine draws fresh water from the lake. This is kind of a backwards way to find the leak but it is the only place where the water is leaking out. I imagine under pressure water would pass at a higher rate.

So with that being said, has anyone had to do a repair at this point and is it difficult to access where the hose attaches to the widget that mounts to the bottom of the boat?

[SilentSeven]

To be clear, your seeing water drip from the engine raw water pickup thru hull? A thru-hull pickup will look something like this with the screen on the bottom of the hull.



Some water dripping from this would be expected after you pull the boat. This line is a suction feed to the engine raw water pump and has no backflow prevention as it's not required. Don't think this is your leak.

Common hull leak areas will be either around the rudder box or the shaft nut. Internal leaks can be a leaking engine water line, a missing or loose winterization drain plug. In rare cases you can have a crack in your muffler system.

Check to see if the water in bilge is warm or not. If it's warm, it's clearly engine water, check the hot engine lines and the muffler. If it's cold, look at the rudder, shaft and water feed lines.

Some folks have tried to find hull leaks by filling up the bilge with ~ 4 inches of hose water when on the trailer and see where water drips outs.

Let us know what you find out.

[Jonny Quest]

Easy way to find where the water is coming from: Boat on trailer (or on lift). Drain plug(s) in (boat status just like floating in the water). With hose, fill bilge with water. Don't let water level reach starter, or engine components. Look underneath the boat. You should see water leaking OUT. That is likely where the lake water is leaking INTO the bilge. Go from there...

JQ