All boats leak??

[cpowell]

So far both boats I have had have leaked. Do all boats leak? This one (79 Pacer II 15 footer w/ 70 hp Johnson) is the worst.
I have tightened the drain plug, plugged the live well at both ends, made sure the connections for the live well hoses are tight, checked for cracks or damage to hull and made sure the boat was well drained before launching. Still there is what I consider a lot of water at retrieval. By lot I would guess in the neighborhood of three or maybe more gallons.
This is usually after being on the lake for about 5-7 hours straight usually sitting in one place for about an hour then moving to another for an hour or so. This is also discounting any rain or rough water sloshing over the front or sides.
I have no idea where it is coming in! Could it be the fittings for the live well or what else could it be?
If you think it might be the fitting do you know how to replace or seal them?
I am about ready to go crazy with a can of squirt foam.
Maybe it's just that all boats leak and I should stop worrying and just run the bilge pump.
What do you think? How much is a lot of water to you?

 

[j442w30]

Re: All boats leak??

Did you take a look at the motor mounting bolts? Water could be getting in around there, you can seal them up with some 3M marine caulk. Most boats I know do not leak noticeably, if it does than that indicates a problem. You mentioned 3 gallons in 5 - 7 hours, thats a decent sized leak. I would fix that ASAP. Good Luck

 

[Scaaty]

Re: All boats leak??

If it is the Trans bolts, your Transom is, or will be, toast (rotted short order)

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: All boats leak??

there is a place that most don't think about. that's the joint where the hull and top cap meet. i've had 2 boats, that i chased leaks, and found that the joint between the hull and cap was the culprit. solved by caulking under the rub rail.

 

[cpowell]

Re: All boats leak??

I think today I will take it out and just let it sit in the water for a bit then look to see if it is dripping anywhere. I looked at the motor mounting bolts but thought "Nah, it couldn't be leaking there." but maybe it is.
I will take time to look closely today since the wife has to work and won't be going out with me. She's always wanting to get right in and GO! ha ha ha That girl loves to fish and boat.
I'll keep you posted.

 

[Linc33]

Re: All boats leak??

there is a place that most don't think about. that's the joint where the hull and top cap meet. i've had 2 boats, that i chased leaks, and found that the joint between the hull and cap was the culprit. solved by caulking under the rub rail.

I had that same problem in my last boat.

A quick application of clear silicone caulk along the outside below rub rail fixed that problem. It was hard to track down b/c water only came in there when turning or moving enough water on plane to get water up that high.

-Linc

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: All boats leak??

the way we found our was with the water hose.

 

[Tredeb]

Re: All boats leak??

I looked at the motor mounting bolts but thought "Nah, it couldn't be leaking there." but maybe it is.

My old boat always leaked and I could never figure out where. I couldn't see the mounting holes from the inside of the boat very well, but I noticed that there was water dripping down the inside of my transom. I re-caulked the mounting holes on my motor and the problem was still there. Tuns out the boat had been repowered and it was leaking through the old holes. Removed the motor, filled the holes and fixed the leak.

P.S. My new boat doesn't leak a drop

 

[scoutabout]

Re: All boats leak??

Same experience as td and linc -- in fact, if you plunged into a quartering wave just right my dad's '72 Wilker Galaxie 15 it would actually shoot a jet of water into the side of your leg from across the boat. (Unless of course you had a front passenger, then they got the shot. Was kinda fun in some instances...) Sure enough up under the deck there was a half inch gap in the fibreglass overlay between the cap and hull. At least it was easy to spot!

Your idea of letting the boat sit on the trailer is a good one. Let us know how that goes. Not sure if food colour stains or not but you could dump some in the bilge after hauling out. That way if you see any colour you'll know it's coming from the inside and will stand out against the hull.

 

[logartist]

Re: All boats leak??

My '85 Galaxie SST 18' leaks at the bow eye. It is a bit loose (won't be hauling her far til I fix that, don't worry!) It doesn't take on too much....more comes in from bigger boats swamping me with their wake than anything. But if she rides super low in the water like mine (top cap is only about 12" off the surface), that eye could be under pressure on plane.

 

[ScottG76]

Re: All boats leak??

the way we found our was with the water hose.

Plug up and fill it with water from the inside, and look for the leak.

 

[cpowell]

Re: All boats leak??

I think I have finally figured it out. It was the overflow from the live well. I had replaced the hose when we got the boat as the old one was broken in several places. I tightened the clamp, or so I thought. Then I tightened it again, or so I thought. Today I just cranked down on it and the leak stopped, or so I think.
The problem has been the rain. It's hard to tell left over rain water from new lake water so I have been piddling with it.
Today when we came in after about an hour on the lake there was maybe two cups of water in the bilge. That much I can deal with.
Thanks for all the suggestions though guys!

 

[cpowell]

Re: All boats leak??

I almost forgot to tell this story about the leak.
The guy I got it from put the boat in the water four times in four years so he didn't know much about the boat or leak. He did tell me a story about the guy that owned it before him.
He said the original owner told him that if it started to leak, "just pull the drain plug out and haul butt for the dock as fast as you can. That water will jet out of the boat before you get there and it won't sink."
Guess he didn't want to go to the trouble of finding the leak although it was pretty easy for me to see his cracked and broken hose. I think some people are crazy!

 

[Bob Fort]

Re: All boats leak??

Same experience as tashasdaddy! 1998 Glastron GS185; dealer couldn't find the problem, I happened to notice the gaps below rub rail between sole and hull, caulked it all around and haven't had a drop since....

 

[mike176]

Re: All boats leak??

I had a boat that leaked just like TD discribed and after i ran some 5200 around the cap i stoped leaking. I had to reseal it about once a year though or it would start leaking again, but ohwell i sold that boat awhile back so its some1 elses problem now.

 

[cpowell]

Re: All boats leak?? More leaks

Re: All boats leak?? More leaks

Thank goodness it was a sunny day for a change. The inside dried out and I climbed in the back to look around. Every clamp on every hose was loose. Even those others that I hadn't touched. Some of the clamps were so old the notches on the screw were rusted off. I replaced the clamps then got to poking around to see what else might be loose.
The pipe that goes through the hull to the live well was also loose. When I tried to tighten it I realized why it was loose. The nut was cracked and broken and apparently has been for some time as there is grime in the broken place. I took it off and went to Lowe's to get a replacement. No dice. Went to Home Depot. No dice. It was late and everything was closing down so I came home to try to think of where I could find a plastic 1/2 inch nut. Plumbing place or maybe an RV repair place is the only ones I can think of just now.
I spied the nut on the live well and thought of taking it off to use so I checked it. The whole connection was only partially glued to the live well. Yep, leaking there too.
So, I guess I am out of the water until Monday when I can find a plumbing place open.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: All boats leak??

So far both boats I have had have leaked. Do all boats leak? This one (79 Pacer II 15 footer w/ 70 hp Johnson) is the worst.
I have tightened the drain plug, plugged the live well at both ends, made sure the connections for the live well hoses are tight, checked for cracks or damage to hull and made sure the boat was well drained before launching. Still there is what I consider a lot of water at retrieval. By lot I would guess in the neighborhood of three or maybe more gallons.
This is usually after being on the lake for about 5-7 hours straight usually sitting in one place for about an hour then moving to another for an hour or so. This is also discounting any rain or rough water sloshing over the front or sides.
I have no idea where it is coming in! Could it be the fittings for the live well or what else could it be?
If you think it might be the fitting do you know how to replace or seal them?
I am about ready to go crazy with a can of squirt foam.
Maybe it's just that all boats leak and I should stop worrying and just run the bilge pump.
What do you think? How much is a lot of water to you?

YUP ALL BOAT'S LEAK. EXCEPT FOR MINE.......

 

[cpowell]

Re: All boats leak?? Not anymore...

Re: All boats leak?? Not anymore...

Finally found the leak(s). 20 year old plastic sure gets brittle!
I replaced the live well overflow hose with new, that helped. Then replaced the live well drain hoses and plastic thru-hull fittings, that helped as they were all cracked and broken up inside the hoses. Then replaced the live well drain lines more broken plastic fittings. Finally replaced the live well pump. It was cracked too.
I thought about just cutting out the live well and plugging everything off then decided against that because I would still have to deal with the inch and a half overflow hole and how do you plug something that size?!?!?
All the leaks were small and slow but together they all added up to a major leak. Now the inside is dry...well except for this blasted rain! A cover has been added to the wish list. ha ha ha
All this rain this summer has made me feel like I'm in Seattle with heat!

Thanks to all who tried to help!

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: All boats leak??

My GOD Man, you ought to check everything else out while your at it, and your just now looking at the hose clamps? Shame,shame,shame

 

[ruf1967]

Re: All boats leak??

Mine doesn't