Taking on water?!?!

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

I noticed today that the boat seemed to have taken on an unusual amount of water. The plugs were in tight. Just wondering what I should check. Thanks in advance for any help.

Packing Gland?
Drive Shaft?
Hoses?
What else could it be?

pooser · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 4738

i know one time our heater sprung a leak and there was very hot water going throughout the boat especially in the drivers seat. but you would have been able to tell this was it because the water would be realy hot.
maybe you had a hole in a fat sac or ballast tank.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

The Headless Chicken, no heater or fat sacs on this trip. But thanks for the thoughts.

Jack V · Outlaw Joined: 19 Feb 2003 Posts: 207

could be a lot of things. Possibly the shaft packing or rudder packing. Maybe all of the water that you guys dripped off of your bodies. Was your drain plug in tight? Sometimes it will leak out of an engine plug only at high speeds due to high pressures. a speedo hose could have fell off. maybe it is leaking by a rubrail. If you can't find it quick, you might want to take it to your dealer.

forwaken · Addict Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 635 City: Turlock, CA

You seem to be having not so good luck with the Tige' since getting back NorCal. First the vinyl, now this. Hope everything gets better for you. Sorry I can't offer any advice.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

Forwaken- I know... I had the boat all dialed in when I was living in town. Leave for 2 years and things aren't how I left them. Just getting it all dialed in again. Clearing out the Airguide tubes and pitots tomorrow. Ordered new guages because the stock VDO's are breaking off at the bevels (sp?). Tige is taking care of the guages. The vinyl was our fault but I swear that the sunscreen was not mine. At least the engine is running well. ::knock on wood::

Do you need to repack the rudder and drive shaft glands? Is that a source for possible leakage?

Jack V · Outlaw Joined: 19 Feb 2003 Posts: 207

If the boat is newer, you can sometimes tighten them. If not, you will have to repack them. Don't overtighten them though. If they get too hot, they will burn the shaft right up. Take a look at them first and see if they are dripping.

Bluesman · Posted: Jul 06, 2003 8:02 am Post subject:

It happened to us 3 years ago, while on a houseboat trip. Our 1982 Ski Nautique's bilge was full every morning. After the trip we installed an automatic bilge pump, and had our mechanic adjust the shaft packing.

Problem solved.

Fishmaster · Posted: Jul 06, 2003 8:14 am Post subject:

A common are of water coming in is under the rubrail. If it is not caulked well the water can come in real fast if you have it weighted and that's riding down in the water. This can eventually harden and wear out so caulking the underside of the rub rail may be needed on older boats, of if it was not doen well on a newer boat.

Bill

Funkster · Posted: Jul 06, 2003 9:54 am Post subject:

I dont know if you have theese on your boat but I took on some surious water once and my muffler/silencer's cracked!! You might want to look into that.

The packing glad should have 1 drip for every 6-8 secs!! Anything more needs to be adjusted!!

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

I'm repacking the packing gland today. We'll see if this works.

It's only a '99 so I wouldn't think the muffler is cracked. The rubrails were above water all day so I don't think that is it.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Tal · Posted: Jul 06, 2003 12:36 pm Post subject:

i had this same problem........
If you have a shower make sore the shower head is turned OFF..
mine will syphone water into the boat if not closed....

MonsterOutback · Posted: Jul 06, 2003 7:59 pm Post subject:

How many hours does you boat have on it? I am having the same problem.I took it to the dealer because i was due for the 100hour check, any way. He said that they normally replace the shaft packing at the 100 hour check. Mine is still leaking because there is a 2 week wait to get a boat serviced at my dealer and i dont want to drop it off and not be able to go riding. I am just gonna let the bilge run until i go on vacation then i'll take it in.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

OK... So I haven't repacked the packing gland due to my schedule. I went riding today and noted where the water was entering. It's not a drip as much as it's a narrow stream of water.

The White Nylon 'nut' is where the water is flowing from. Any thoughts?

I'd rather not take the boat to the dealer and lose use of it for 1- 2 weeks (dealer is busy and has a slow turnover).

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

Anyone???

MrBlean · Posted: Jul 28, 2003 12:24 pm Post subject:

That nut doesn't look too central with respect to the shaft. Is it possible it's cross threaded?

dizzyj · Soul Rider Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Posts: 485 City: Austin, Tx

that should be your packing then. weird looking nut, different from mine (big bronze nut). Replace the packing and get it to drip once every 8 seconds - 30 seconds or so.

89comp · Posted: Jul 28, 2003 2:08 pm Post subject:

How much is unusual? My boat was leaking around the muffler outputs and the bildge would run for 1-3 mins after I had pulled someone for as short as 30 sec. I thought it was the shaft at first, but 1-3 of bildge time is a lot of water that wouldn't come in the boat through the shaft in 30 sec.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

OK so I took the flooring off and this is what I see. I pulled the coder pin on the nylon nut.

How do fill this gland?

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

Ok there's this kind of waxy type stuff inside the nut. What am I packing in this area/gland???

mainelaker · Posted: Jul 28, 2003 3:17 pm Post subject:

the waxy stuff is the packing if it's what I think it is??

Dave W · Posted: Jul 29, 2003 8:39 am Post subject:

Whoa! Is that a common type of shaft packing? My boat has two big bronze pieces (threaded tube/tightening nut) for the shaft packing. It uses pieces of teflon coated rope to make the seal. Do many manufacturers use the type of setup NorCal has?

MrBlean · Posted: Jul 29, 2003 8:59 am Post subject:

Good question Dave W. Was asking that myself.