Boat taking on water...need help

[Jenfulks]

Okay....I have a Tahoe Q81 boat that is now my sole responsibility......we took it out last weekend and we were going to spend the night on it as always. I have had some water in the engine area but not a lot and a run of the bilge worked. At 9:00pm I checked the engine compartment and stored some stuff in the ski compartment on the floor, everything was bone dry. At 11:30pm when I went to go to sleep I stepped in a BIG puddle of water towards the back of my boat.

The engine compartment was full to the top and the ski storage compartment was up to the top, everything floating. We turned on the bilge and thankfully it worked. When the water got low enough we were able to start the engine and get back to the marina.

I do not see anywhere where the water is coming in. The boat shop is telling me they think it is coming in from a poor design of the bilge hose. My friend has the exact boat and they don't drain more than a 1/2 cup of water after each boating trip....I find it hard to believe this is the problem.

Any ideas on where to start looking for this leak? I am a single mom and don't have a lot of money to have mechanics going through and through the engine.

THANK YOU!

 

[wellsc1]

Re: Boat taking on water...need help

Note the water line on the hull and question every fitting. If you can fill the suspected compartment with water and observe the hull, especially the fittings. Hopefully, it's a relatively cheap fitting versus a compromised hull.

My boat will have water back up through the sculpers then up the deck drain if it sits too low in the water. However, it drains out when weight is shifted or boat moving foward. Luckily my wife sits ahead of the center console (no, she's not heavy). My weight is already back there, she just tips my scales.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Boat taking on water...need help

id look around the bellows under the outdrive. Also make sure that you didnt lose a bolt or plug on or around the transum.
then there is always the old stand-by, boat on the trailer, put some water in the bildge with the plug in and see where it somes out at. Ive never tried it but it makes sence, water in and water out of the same place. Just a thought.

 

[gcboat]

Re: Boat taking on water...need help

If the marina thinks it might be the bilge hose then that would be a good place to start. If you don't have the proper bend in the hose then it very well might be the culprit.
Also, since you have an I/O unit there is the possibility that the mounting gasket might be leaking.
Now, let's start from the beginning and work this out.
With the boat in the water start the engine. Look at all of your hoses and connections to make sure they are not leaking and pouring water into the bilge.
With that done ( if all OK ) take a flashlight and look around the entire I/O drive from inside the boat. Even a small drip will add up in no time.
If indeed your bilge pump hose is not properly made take a really good look at it as well. It will need to be higher than the water level while the boat is at rest ( in the water ). Sort of a "U" bend if you will.
Do you have any through hulls in the boat that are underwater? Bait box pumps, washdown pumps? Also a good place to look.
Anyway - all of those problems - if they exist - are a very simple fix and should be very inexpensive. If you are able to do them yourself.
Let us know what you find.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Boat taking on water...need help

Single mother with a boat and not a lot of money?
whatever.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Boat taking on water...need help

then there is always the old stand-by, boat on the trailer, put some water in the bildge with the plug in and see where it somes out at. Ive never tried it but it makes sence, water in and water out of the same place. Just a thought.

I did this with my boat. I didn't think it would reveal much. Boy was I wrong. Turned out I had a pin hole that was streaming water out. Not dripping....streaming. Slapped some JB Weld on there and was good to go.

 

[dontask]

Re: Boat taking on water...need help

After you get this leak fixed you might want to consider a high water alarm and an automatic switch for your bilge pump.

 

[Jenfulks]

Re: Boat taking on water...need help

Thank you everyone for your help. I am going to pick up my boat this week and go through it based on your advice. I am feeling hopeful I will find the leak. Your guidance is greatly appreciated.

JonesG and Dontask......not that I owe an explanation but....thank you for your kind words. I am a single mom that was given the boat as part of my divorce from the judge...payments, insurance, taxes and all...no gift. I scrounge monthly to meet all my debt requirements as I DID not ask for a penny in child support or alimony. I am upside down in the boat so doesn't make sense to off load it and have the debt with no use of the boat.

I have owned a boat for over 9 years and I do very well maintaining it...I did not buy in over my head and I do know what I am doing. This has just baffled me...and again I try to work on everything myself to save money. Shame on you for judging people you don't even know.

 

[dontask]

Re: Boat taking on water...need help

Thank you everyone for your help. I am going to pick up my boat this week and go through it based on your advice. I am feeling hopeful I will find the leak. Your guidance is greatly appreciated.

JonesG and Dontask......not that I owe an explanation but....thank you for your kind words. I am a single mom that was given the boat as part of my divorce from the judge...payments, insurance, taxes and all...no gift. I scrounge monthly to meet all my debt requirements as I DID not ask for a penny in child support or alimony. I am upside down in the boat so doesn't make sense to off load it and have the debt with no use of the boat.

I have owned a boat for over 9 years and I do very well maintaining it...I did not buy in over my head and I do know what I am doing. This has just baffled me...and again I try to work on everything myself to save money. Shame on you for judging people you don't even know.

Jenfolks the line at the bottom is a tag that many iboat members will attach to their signature, that's why there is a line across the screen. Its the same thing that is posted every time a member responds unless they change it. See your "user cp" at the left hand side of the menu bar. You can put something to your own signature. Top area is the response to a post and the area below is the "signature" of the responder. Good luck with the boat hope its something simple. Also glad to here you not throwing in the towel and selling the boat.

 

[Viking...]

Re: Boat taking on water...need help

Shame on you for judging people you don't even know.

It's ok.
I'm sure they judge people they know also.


BTW, when I read the title "Boat taking on water...need help", I had to chuckle.

The thought that came to mind was: Hope someone answers before she goes under!

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Boat taking on water...need help

Jen that's alot of water to acumilate in just a couple hrs. bellows would be first on my list, you should be able to tell if the water is comming in from front and running back or just coming in the back from the bellows or transom seal. Where are you from maybe we have some locals.

 

[dontask]

Re: Boat taking on water...need help

It's ok.
I'm sure they judge people they know also.


BTW, when I read the title "Boat taking on water...need help", I had to chuckle.

The thought that came to mind was: Hope someone answers before she goes under!

Your absolutely correct. But I do like your signature too.

 

[markk888]

Re: Boat taking on water...need help

I did this with my boat. I didn't think it would reveal much. Boy was I wrong. Turned out I had a pin hole that was streaming water out. Not dripping....streaming. Slapped some JB Weld on there and was good to go.

I did the same. Plug in. Boat raised up. Poured water in. Found an incredibly small leak by a screw on the drain. Hopefully sealed now. Good luck.

 

[Jenfulks]

Re: Boat taking on water...need help

The boat shop filled the engine area with water and NO LEAK....they are most certain it is the hose and or design of the bilge hose...they are going to put on a coiled hose to see of that works...can't wait to get on the water If you don't hear back from me I am on the bottom of the lake.

Thank you again to everyone....if this does not do the trick it will be in my driveway and I will be going over every hose, clamp, screw, eye....everything. Bummer to be missing out ont he 105 degree weather!

I apologize for my comments on judging people...I did not realize that was a tag line......I guess I am a bit sensitive.....people are always on me about owning that boat....but I refuse to give it up, only thing I can afford to do with my children.

You are all very nice and helpful....THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU! I will let you know how it goes.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Boat taking on water...need help

but I refuse to give it up, only thing I can afford to do with my children.

Good point. Heck anyone seen the price of movie tickets lately?? (or tickets to pretty much anything for that matter)

 

[Numlaar]

Re: Boat taking on water...need help

If you don't hear back from me I am on the bottom of the lake.

Good lord I hope not!!!

Good luck with it, and be safe!

I am glad to see your kids have something fun that you can do together. Family first!

Definitely let us know how it goes.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Boat taking on water...need help

If your looking for a companion having a boat will definately be a good tool, if you know what I mean LOL.

 

[Jenfulks]

Re: Boat taking on water...need help

So I thought I would let you all know the escapaed of finding the leak....they fixed the boat, all the mes that was caused by it almost sinking and re-did the bilge hose as that is what was thought to be the culprit.

We take it out....sure enough the first hour we have water.....I put the engine cover up and drove and stopped quickly and gallons of water were pouring in each stop.....well......Tahoe has a lovely design on their coolers on the back swim deck. Every time you stop water rushed over the swim deck and fills up the coolers...and the coolers drain into the engine compartment, not out by the bilge spount like my friends Tahoe boat. put some plugs in the ice chests and took it out...no water. Such a simple thing and caused so much turmoil.

I just wanted to thank all of you for being so nice and wonderful and helpful.

Your all the best!!!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Boat taking on water...need help

Even worse is that we've actually heard of this problem before with a complete different brand! QC told us about his friend's Chapperal that did the exact same thing. Weird. Quite the oversight I'd think.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boat taking on water...need help

that's the thing about boats--a $2 plug in the cooler could save your $25000 boat--or perhaps your life. Likewise, a $10 sea **** fails and you lose it all.

But that cooler in the swim platform design--it's just wrong for so many reasons, and I hope the manufacturers figure it out!

Like the thread above about gadgets adding value--I'm always sceptical of stuff like that.