'04 SeaDoo Sportster - taking on water!

[Andre900]

Hello,

Last week I picked up an '04 SeaDoo Sportster 4-Tec supercharged jet boat. It looks decent and runs strong. The seller took me out on the boat and it ran very well. I just noticed that it's taking on water whether tied at the dock or running. Just sitting tied to the dock, not running, the bilge pump kicks on every five minutes and ejects about one gallon of water. At idle speed, the bilge turns on every four minutes and, again, ejects a gallon of water; and every three minutes at mid-speed.

When I pull the boat out of the water and unscrew the two drain plugs, about one gallon of water flows out.

The hull looks solid other then a couple of small gouges that have cracked through the gel coat, but I don't think the volume of water that I'm seeing could come thru the hull. Is there some way the water can come in from around the intake grate or from the jet propulsion mechanism or the exhaust at the rear of the boat? Any thoughts?

 

[timmyboy76]

Re: '04 SeaDoo Sportster - taking on water!

besides obvious holes, only places are from the drain plugs themselves..(orings aroundthem) or the carbon ring assy which is around the driveshaft. Have a gander there for crack/s or chip/s on the carbon ring...(accessable from back of motor from engine bay)

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: '04 SeaDoo Sportster - taking on water!

you may have to look while its in the water. not same as your jetboat, however a friend had his water supply hose chaff thru the outer layer filling his hull on his jetski only when running at idle. the only way we found it was drying the hull, we then sprinkled baby powder in the hull to literally look for a wet spot to determine where it was coming from. We had it strapped to the lift, running, with the engine cover off to see what first got wet.

 

[Andre900]

Re: '04 SeaDoo Sportster - taking on water!

Thanks gents. I'll look closer next week and let you know what I find out. One other experienced jet boater advised that the SeaDoo jet boats are put together in two halfs - a top half and a bottom half, and bonded together. The seam runs underneath the black rub rail. The stern of the boat sits under water at the rub rail and leakage can occur there, especially if the boat has backed into something.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: '04 SeaDoo Sportster - taking on water!

yes, most boats and PWC's are made with similar construction

 

[sixfigures]

Re: '04 SeaDoo Sportster - taking on water!

The 2 most common causes of water leaking in a sea doo are bad hose clamps "SERIOUSLY" INSPECT THEM ALL and as previously mentioned the carbon seal on the drive shaft,, sometimes just loosening the clamp on the boot and pushing the bellows toward the engine to place more pressure on the carbon ring will stop it from leaking but you have to tighten the clamp back up while the bellows is being pushed forward so it can take 2 people to accomplish this unless you build a simple fork tool to pry it forward with one hand and tighten the clamp with the other.

 

[Andre900]

Re: '04 SeaDoo Sportster - taking on water!

I found the leak - it's at the rub rail along the stern. With the boat tied down to the trailer, I inched it slowly down the ramp. No leakage until the rub rail at the stern was under water. Getting upside down under the engine hatch, I can see water dripping in along the seam and in through a couple of the rivets that fasten the boat rail. About one gallon per 4 minutes leaks in; and that seems like a serious leak. I've purchased some 3M marine adhesive sealant from Home Depot and will seal along the top & bottom of the rub rail and see how that works. Looking closer at the rub rail at the stern, I can see that a repair was previously attempted using clear silicone caulk. I think I see a couple of gaps in that repair.

With the rub rail out of the water, no leak. I ran the motor with the boat on the trailer, and no leak coming in through the drive shaft or in the cooling system.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: '04 SeaDoo Sportster - taking on water!

silicone doesnt work. get 3M 4200 or 5200

 

[Andre900]

Re: '04 SeaDoo Sportster - taking on water!

Yes, thanks Scott. I got the 3M 5200 (I think that's the 24-hour curing type as opposed to the 7-day cure); got it at Home Depot for $15 for 10 oz. It looks like a previous owner tried to seal it up w/ clear silicone.

 

[sixfigures]

Re: '04 SeaDoo Sportster - taking on water!

5200 is the slow cure type but it is bullet proof once it is cured so you are probably better off using that.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: '04 SeaDoo Sportster - taking on water!

they make 5200 in a fast cure (24 hours) and normal (5 days)

 

[sixfigures]

Re: '04 SeaDoo Sportster - taking on water!

3m site shows 48hr cure and 5 days to reach full strength for 5200, they do make a 5200 fast cure however it is designated as "5200 fast cure" on the label that being said if one refers to 3m 5200 sealant it would be the best for his situation as it was most likely damaged by striking a dock or other object and the hull was compromised, 5200 is rated as a permanent flexible sealant and adhesive . The fast cure 5200 is probably second best for this situation, I recall using 5200 in numerous wet applications where it was totally amazing. Just my experience, others may have a different opinion .

 

[Andre900]

Re: '04 SeaDoo Sportster - taking on water!

I water tested the SeaDoo Sportster today and the 3M 5200 (fast cure) adhesive sealant did the job! I ended up running a thin, tight bead the whole length of the rub rail, circumventing the whole boat; that's four seems - top & bottom of the rub rail & top and bottom of the rivet cover that is pressed into the rub rail. I ended up using half of one 10oz. tube of the 3M. Nonetheless, now, after 45 mins. in the water, both running and drifting, about half a quart of water drains out when I pull the drain plugs; it had been about a gallon before the 3M fix. I'm not sure how even this lesser amount of water is getting in, but I can live with it. No water at all ever drains out the plugs on my old '96 Speedster and old '96 Waverunner. For extra assurance, I'm thinking about painting the entire rub rail with Gluvit 2-piece epoxy sealant by Marinetex (Marine Tex, epoxy resin, adhesives, silicone grease, engine treatment, cleaner, repair, bond, fill, seal, fiberglass, aluminum, plastics, Starboard, wood). Anyone have any experience with this stuff?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: '04 SeaDoo Sportster - taking on water!

you may still have a leak elsewhere

 

[sixfigures]

Re: '04 SeaDoo Sportster - taking on water!

you may want to try using a garden hose under the rub rail while on the trailer and look for water getting in there, usually if the cap is leaking a hose will show where.
On the other side of the coin when water gets in during use it is a good idea to see if the water is hot or cold, does it leak when sitting or when driving, this requires you to keep checking in the water in the hull during use. Hose clamps and carbon driveshaft seals are common leaks for those . however this small amount of water is not a real issue.

 

[timmyboy76]

Re: '04 SeaDoo Sportster - taking on water!

IF ITS A 2-STROKE BOAT, CHECK THE PUMP ASSY/S. Look inside the pump from nozzle area and see if you see 2-white tubes, protruding from atop. If not, the bailer system IS working in reverse effect...(similar to skis, if the boat has the bailers). With jetstream creating a suction, passing over the tubes, if ones' missing, its creating a passage for water to enter the hull