1994 Spectrum 1850 with 90hp Mercury Force engine

[Rranger]

I took this boat out for the first time today and was using the bilge pump to pump out a sizeable amount of water and drained a good amount out the drain plug after getting the boat out of the water. At the back is the bilge hole which I had a plug in and another hole to the right of it facing from the rear. The plug hole on the left the drain plug hole was not attached to any hose on the other side transom. The hole on the right you could feel a pipe or tube attached to the plug hole on the inside of the transom. So I’m assuming that is the pipe going to the livewell for caught fish. I’m guessing that pipe going to the Livewell at the front has been compromised somewhere in between the transom and the livewell at the front of the boat, likely from some frost damage. I was thinking I could rig up some low pressure air off my compressor and plug the Livewell inlet and pump some air from the back to see if it pressures up or it doesn’t . That should answer the possible leak question. It’s not a case of just looking because of a solid wood floor that only comes off with a ton of work. Anyone got a better way to check out the potential problem, or should I just open the drain start filling the holding tank from up top with the drain open and see if the water comes out of both the drain hole at the transom and the livewell fill hole at the transom? Never had a boat with the live well before.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

Dont know if yours is similar to mine which is a 96 19.5 spectrum my live well pump feed line broke near the fitting in the transome it’s a sizable job to fix I never used my live well for anything but storage as Salmon are crowded in it anyway. So I found a plug that fit it and plugged it. There was a screen over this which you’ll have to remove to install a plug. Yours may be easier to get to ive got the IO powertrain. I didn’t even fix it when I had the entire interior out of it because it was still going to require a great deal to repair. As far as finding out if this is the leak use a garden hose from The transom and see if you can hear it running out inside and where.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Unless you are doing some tourneys I think livewells are just trouble because those fill lines can certainly freeze and split like you said. My StarCraft has 3 live wells I don't fill anymore. We just fill large Pop bottles with water and freeze. Put the fish below the frozen bottles, works great. Nothing worse than trying to preserve a nice fresh catch in 80 F water from the lake or river etc.

Yes pressure testing will tell you if the line is compromised. Several ways to do it. You will need to run the pump once the line is isolated otherwise air will be trapped on the inlet side of the pump and a leak could be on the well side of the pump.

Did you use the livewell pump? I would just plug the inlet and be done with it and put frozen bottles in the well, no water needs to be drained with frozen Pop bottles in them. Use a removable cap on the inlet, remove it and rinse out fish slime. Like I said unless you are tourney fishing you don't need a livewell. If you have never had a livewell I bet you don't tourney fish. Unfortunately you may be looking at a leak in the transom or hull. Hope not mate. Good luck to you.

Looks like Lowlysubaruguy and I were posting at the same time. I think we said the same thing but of course I had to use more words to finally get to the point. And yes livewells are too small to fit the BIG fish I catch!!!!!!

 

[Rranger]

Thanks men, to answer the common question I've never used a livewell and no probably don't need it, I found a chain over the side looked after my fish til fishing was over. The hole in the transom appears to be a bit to big for a typical rubber boat plug, so I guess I have to find something. Will check to make sure that is my problem first to be sure, then block it off.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Your local Marine dealer should be able to source the proper screw on plug for the drain or supply and install proper fittings. I wasn't referring to a transom rubber expanding plug.

 

[Rranger]

I'll have to check it out today going fishing tomorrow. I'm not sure the hole had threads.