Water in bilge. Unknown source. Help.

Monkey · Newbie Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 31 City: Carlsbad, CA

I've got a 97' Malibu Sunsetter (Direct Drive). After just about every pull the bilge is full of water. I've looked for a leaking pump while the engine's one and haven't found anything suspicious. The fat sacs aren't leaking either. I've checked. Does anyone have any ideas about what might take in water on this type of boat? What should I be looking at?

-Monkey

3D · Newbie Joined: 17 Mar 2003 Posts: 3

well aside from all the things i know you have looked at the hardest leak i ever found wascoming in past the rub rail near the rear of the boat. sounds impossible but the boat is made in 2 pieces and especially if you sack it out wateer spray is directed at this area and it can wick its way inside. mine was not heavily sacked and it did this (23' supra) some form in place gasket (automotive gasket maker) sealed it up, no more water in back/ski locker. again, the rail isnt under water, so the boat has to be under way for the spray to cause leak, this makes it a realpain to find. good luck

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

is your drain plug tight? Check your shaft packing and see if it is leaking. Could have a cracked hose. Or maybe a loose plub on the engine. More than likely it is shaft packing that needs to be replaced. How much water is in the boat??

Fishmaster · Posted: Mar 22, 2003 5:20 pm Post subject:

I was out today and the line off one of the speedometers was cracked and was the cause of my bilge taking on way more water than it ever had, took a few trips and hunting around while running to figure it out.

If you can have someone look around while your moving at boarding speed see if the shaft seal has water coming in around it. Also check the engine, if a water manifold was leaking that would dump a lot of water in. Throw a bead of caulk (Clear Silicon) on the underside of your rubrail around the entire boat.

Monkey · Newbie Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 31 City: Carlsbad, CA

The bilge is filling up to about 2 to 3 inches deep after about 2 pulls. Lots of water. The post about the speedometer sounds interesting. I've actually pulled the lines off of both of the speedometers because they get in the way of the wedge, and the Perfect Pass speedo is all I really need. The lines are just dangline. Would they let in water that way? I hadn't thought about that.

Also, what would cause the shaft seal to go bad, and where do I look to see it leaking? Would the boat have to be underway? I'll try that too. We dragged across some rocks last season. It didn't see any visible damage to the prop, but maybe it busted some sort of seal.

Fishmaster · Posted: Mar 22, 2003 9:15 pm Post subject:

If you hit some rocks it is probably the seal. Think of a pump in a factory that pumps "stuff" for some purpose round the clock. These have seals that need to be repacked after some period of use to keep them from leaking. Now imagine a 3000lb boat hitting that seal. It's likely to cause leaking.

I ride behind a 85 Nati sometimes and the seal on it leaks so bad the bilge needs to run almost full time. If you open the cover while your running you can see the water coming in on his boat. Why has he not fixed it? Well that's worth a quick story.

A neighbor hears a dog just howling up a storm at the farm next door. He goes to investigate and that farmers dog is on the porch making all kinds of noise. He asks the farmer what is wrong with your dog. The famer replies, he is sitting on a nail up there on the deck. The neighbor asks - well why does'nt he get off it and move. The farmer says - I guess it must not hurt that bad!

SO - If it does not hurt that bad, go ride!

Do take the time to look around when your at Wakeboarding speed, it could be something else. If you have AirGuide speedo's the tubes that go into the brass canisters will draw in a lot of water if they are cracked, which caused the water coming into my boat.

Bill
www.MonsterTower.com

riverside · Posted: Mar 22, 2003 10:37 pm Post subject:

speedo meters work on air pressure by small holes in the venturi pick-ups.if you remove the tubes off the pick-ups there is no more air pressure and water will flow into your boat.
ben

DRAGON88 · Posted: Mar 22, 2003 11:03 pm Post subject:

my guess would be the packing gland/stuf box.