Bowrider taking on water

[cvtech1]

I have had this boat for several months been out about 10 times and this last time I started taking on water. It seems to always come over the transom, but this time it was coming onto the deck. The boat is a 1977 Glastron Bowrider and the bilge pump stop working, but I have never really used it before. The bay was slightly choppy. Is it normal for water to come over the transom to this level or is there some unseen issue here. Any ideas?

 

[arks]

Re: Bowrider taking on water

Assuming the boat wasn't overloaded, there is definitely something wrong here.
First, GET THAT BILGE PUMP WORKING! You shouldn't take the boat off the trailer until you have this fixed.
Next, if you're not overloading, maybe you need to trim the boat better. Basically, that means moving things around so the boat sits level in the water. If you have too much weight in the rear or one side then it could take on water.
If that isn't the problem, then I would look hard at the boat itself. Chances are good that you either have a leak or the boat is structually saturated with water.
Good luck.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Bowrider taking on water

Trim your motor up a notch and see if that helps.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Bowrider taking on water

i/o?
o/b?
inboard?

what do ya have?

 

[cvtech1]

Re: Bowrider taking on water

It has a 140 Johnson outboard. It has two batteries in rear with a 18 gallon gas tank. The transom has a hole for water to escape which seem to always splash over. I had only three people on boat and we weighted no more than 500 lbs.

 

[cvtech1]

Re: Bowrider taking on water

I will get the Bilge pump working first then try all suggestions. If I have to I will purchase a larger pump. Any ideas on an auto pump vs a manual?

 

[superpop]

Re: Bowrider taking on water

Does the boat pop up onto plane pretty quick or is it a dog out of the hole. Also, look at how low it sits in the water. Could be a case of waterlogged foam, and if that is the case then you probably have rot as well. You would be shocked at how heavy water in your foam can make the boat, thus making it ride lower in the water and as a result, more water splashing in. And obviously, get the bilge pump fixed, I like the auto on units so you never have to worry about turning it on.

 

[cvtech1]

Re: Bowrider taking on water

This is my first boat so I am not really sure how it is supposed plane out. When I push it full throttle it takes about 10-20 seconds to plane out. It is a 1977 Glastron Bowrider which had new floors put in according to the previous owner so I would hope it was inspected for foam or rot.

 

[cvtech1]

Re: Bowrider taking on water

Also the transom area sits about 6-8 inches above the water.

 

[oceansbreeze]

Re: Bowrider taking on water

10-20 seconds to plane? I'm worried somebody just slapped on a new floor, and didn't check the foam.... even if there was no rot, the waterlogged foam would add tremendous weight... that boat with 140hp should be planing in2-5 seconds at best. I get my boat on plane in about 3 seconds with a 70hp. Transom 6-8 inches above water also seems a little low..

I'm assuming you've pulled the plug on this when she is on the trailer?

 

[superpop]

Re: Bowrider taking on water

"new floors", can mean a lot of different things to different people. Worst case the previous owner realized that the floor was all spongy and decided to put down a new floor, so they went to Home depot and purchased a sheet of plywood and some deck screws and a roll of indoor outdoor carpet and simply cut and screwed the plywood to the old floor. glued down the carpet and called it good enough for craigslist. I would call them and ask them if the sub structure including stringers and transom was checked for rot before a new floor was installed, and was all foam checked for water as well. This could be a huge deal or not but you want to know now before you risk further damage as the skeleton of the boat rots around the boat. If the boat has a ski locker in the floor you should be able to see underneath and get a pretty good idea of the workmanship that went into the new floor. If you take the ski locker hatch off and discover two layers of floor then I would be very concerned.

 

[cvtech1]

Re: Bowrider taking on water

Bought a whole bunch of water home ONCE! I do pull the plug every time now. I may have overstated the time it is less than 10 sec. I think but I will time it next time. It will run about 37mph when I get it going.

 

[cpubud]

Re: Bowrider taking on water

37 mph seems slow for that boat . my guess is you are hauling a lot of water weight.

 

[Philster]

Re: Bowrider taking on water

Um, isn't it OBVIOUS that this boat is UNSAFE, as it has water in it and is on its way to sinking! THE BILGE ISN'T WORKING.

FIX THE BILGE PUMP AND DO NOT USE THE BOAT UNTIL THE BOAT HAS BEEN DRAINED AND IT HAS A FUNCTIONING BILGE PUMP.

EDIT: Insult removed - ezmobee

This isn't even funny: You never really used the bilge pump? And it stopped working.

Not sorry for being loud here: Life and death posts warrant a serious response. I know people who died doing dumb things, and I wish I would have kicked their asses and slapped them when I thought they were doing dumb things.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bowrider taking on water

ditto.
I'm wondering if the 140 is too heavy, too.

 

[cvtech1]

Re: Bowrider taking on water

Cpubud, you hit the nail on the head. The boat was full of water, the reason is the drain plug for the bilge was full of trash. I decided to put a wire in and OH MY. It was full of trash mostly wood chips, I hope this from ripping the old floor out not something worse. I took the drain cover off of the new floor and did not notice a second floor. But there was water from me washing the boat out I hope. This should also go to the bilge correct? I would like to think I am "not doing dumb things" because I stay close to shore no no more than 200yds because I don't know this boat yet. Thanks for all the helpful advice. It is a 1977 Glastron SSV-176 that I would like to keep if not in to bad of shape. any ideas what to check or do next would be helpful. The boat has been out about ten times with no noticeable/visable water problem.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bowrider taking on water

If you've had that much water trapped inthe boat for a while, you may have problems. You may have repeated the problems that were fixed in the last renovation.

 

[Philster]

Re: Bowrider taking on water

Please confirm you are adding a bilge pump and/or will be using it once installed.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Bowrider taking on water

Cpubud, you hit the nail on the head. The boat was full of water, the reason is the drain plug for the bilge was full of trash. I decided to put a wire in and OH MY. It was full of trash mostly wood chips, I hope this from ripping the old floor out not something worse. I took the drain cover off of the new floor and did not notice a second floor. But there was water from me washing the boat out I hope. This should also go to the bilge correct? I would like to think I am "not doing dumb things" because I stay close to shore no no more than 200yds because I don't know this boat yet. Thanks for all the helpful advice. It is a 1977 Glastron SSV-176 that I would like to keep if not in to bad of shape. any ideas what to check or do next would be helpful. The boat has been out about ten times with no noticeable/visable water problem.

Figure out a way to flush out that bilge really well. Your new bilge pump will get clogged up right away from the debris down there if you don't. Probably what killed the one that's in there.

Do you keep the boat in or out of the water? if out, you should pull the drain plug every time you take the boat out of the water, and leave it out until you launch it again. If you keep the boat in the water, well, now you see why you need an operative bilge pump. The fact that you went out at all that way, is disturbing. One really big wave over the transom could've sunk you in a heartbeat.

You NEED to take a safe boating course to give you a clue about how to operate that boat. Everyone's a newbie at some point, so please don't take this as an insult, but right now your ignorance makes you a menace to your passengers and other boaters.

Good luck with the boat.

 

[Bronc Rider]

Re: Bowrider taking on water

Cpubud, you hit the nail on the head. The boat was full of water, the reason is the drain plug for the bilge was full of trash. I decided to put a wire in and OH MY. It was full of trash mostly wood chips, I hope this from ripping the old floor out not something worse. I took the drain cover off of the new floor and did not notice a second floor. But there was water from me washing the boat out I hope. This should also go to the bilge correct? I would like to think I am "not doing dumb things" because I stay close to shore no no more than 200yds because I don't know this boat yet. Thanks for all the helpful advice. It is a 1977 Glastron SSV-176 that I would like to keep if not in to bad of shape. any ideas what to check or do next would be helpful. The boat has been out about ten times with no noticeable/visable water problem.

Howdy neighbor,
The wood chips you found would worry me. I just cant imagine someone putting down a new deck without properly cleaning the old stuff. Some people only do things half way so it may be of no concern but, you should verify it.

EDIT: Get a bilge pump that has a manual switch wired to a float. This way it comes on automatically when needed and it can still be manually turned on if you like.