How much water if any?

[gmayes]

First let me say Hello to all. I've been reading posts for about a month now and this is my first. I'not new to boating just thaven't owned my own boat till lately. OK my question is how much water should be coming out when you pull your boat out of the lake and pull the plug? I'm not getting alot of water it runs out for about 15 seconds then stops.

 

[AguaSki]

Re: How much water if any?

15 seconds of water could be tracked in by wet swimmers. Any water that gets in through a leak is bad, but water that is brought in by wet people is normal. I would not worry about 15 seconds of water.

 

[DJ]

Re: How much water if any?

That's a lot.

If you are skiing, wakeboarding, or whatever, you have wet people getting in the boat. That accounts for some.

If you're not, you have a problem.

You need to start thinking about where water can get in. The most frequent culprit is the drain plug itself, or the housing that the plug goes into.

If you have an inboard outboard engine, I'd ne looking at the drive bellows and/or the shift cable seals.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: How much water if any?

What type of boat do you have? Is it 15 seconds of draining everytime? For example I have a bass boat that sets low in the water, if the rub rails/where the top part of the hull meets the bottom, that could be where you are getting water if those areas are not sealed. My boat tends to take on a little water but not every outing, and I also count how long it drains for and I have counted up to 20 seconds. The boat will float in the water for days with no problem but it will take on some water every once in a while. If you ask me, I'm not worried about my boat, and I believe everyboat will take on water at one time or another, maybe not everytime.

The whole thing is, you could put a brand spanking new boat in the water and when you go to pull the plug out it will sometimes have water.

Do you have a live well? If so check that for leaks.

 

[ruf1967]

Re: How much water if any?

If no one is swimming, skiing or I didn't get caught in a massive downpour, no water comes out of the boat, after the plug is pulled.

 

[gmayes]

Re: How much water if any?

Thanks for the replys. It is a 1976 Galaxy bow rider. I've had it for just over a month. We do alot of swimming I have 4 kids that are in and out of the boat into the water all day and we do some tubing. I also turn the pump on when we are stopped and most of the time I get several seconds of water coming out from the pump. I was just wondering if this is something I should have checked out or not.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: How much water if any?

Hello back, and welcome to Iboats by the way.

 

[109jb]

Re: How much water if any?

To put it in perspective, a couple weeks ago on vacation, my boat was in the water for 4 straight days. It didn't rain and most use was fishing or cruising. One outing with the tube, but only my 8 year old tubed that day. Never had anything come out the bilge pump although I checked it every morning and afternoon. When the boat came out of the water, no water came out of the drain. If you are getting 15 seconds of water, you either have lots of wet people getting in the boat, or you have a leak.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: How much water if any?

I pull the plug after each outing and it's always dry. When sking the I have the kids always drip dry and towell off while still the swim platform, I have had a shot of water come out after boats sits (in garage) when condensation happens, some areas of the country have higher condensation dew points.

 

[mike64]

Re: How much water if any?

Like DJ said, it could be your drain plug. I was getting some water in my bilge, so I took a close look while the boat was in the water and saw a slow drip from the plug. It's a rubber type plug you turn and it expands-- I wasn't turning it enough.

 

[Irv964]

Re: How much water if any?

I pull the plug after each outing and it's always dry. When sking the I have the kids always drip dry and towell off while still the swim platform, I have had a shot of water come out after boats sits (in garage) when condensation happens, some areas of the country have higher condensation dew points.

I will get water in mine only if we have been swimming, tubing or skiing. I have checked several times with my new boat as my last boat leaked quite regularily and I hated it.
70, you mention you make sure you kids dry off before entering the boat, what is your main concern with them coming in still wet? I didn't think it was an issue but now I am somewhat concerned? Can this cause damage to the floor, carpeting etc over a period of time? I believe my boat has either Marine grade plywood or an aluminum floor, can they not take getting wet periodically? I do try and make sure the floor has dried up some before putting my cover back on because I am slightly afraid of mould forming on the carpet. I assume it can happen?..........Irv96

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: How much water if any?

I guess you could go for a ride only for a couple of hours. Leave the tubes and swimsuits at home and see if you get water.

You've got 4 kids in and out all day. That could be the answer but you also say your pump runs at times plus you have water at the end of the day. Kinda iffy on if it's the kids or a problem. But it does sound like a lot.

See what happens when just boating. It could be a bad plug (I've had plugs that leak) or something else (my 18' tinny leaks live a sieve).

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: How much water if any?

It's amazing how many places there are for some boats to get water in them. So far on my 1981 fish-n-ski I've found a loose hose clamp on a livewell drain, a poorly sealed livewell overflow, a cracked hose on a livewell drain ( I really really hate through-hull hose connectors on an otherwise perfectly good boat - they just seem like a leak waiting to happen.), drippy drain plugs (through the screw threads in the center of the plug - still haven't been able to totally eliminate that one), a screw hole through the hull from previous owner's attempt to mount a bilge pump, water coming under the rub rail when I get into large wakes, and last but definitely not least wet swimmers and skiers.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: How much water if any?

I will get water in mine only if we have been swimming, tubing or skiing. I have checked several times with my new boat as my last boat leaked quite regularily and I hated it.
70, you mention you make sure you kids dry off before entering the boat, what is your main concern with them coming in still wet? I didn't think it was an issue but now I am somewhat concerned? Can this cause damage to the floor, carpeting etc over a period of time? I believe my boat has either Marine grade plywood or an aluminum floor, can they not take getting wet periodically? I do try and make sure the floor has dried up some before putting my cover back on because I am slightly afraid of mould forming on the carpet. I assume it can happen?..........Irv96

Well I'll tell ya, I had to replace alot of rotted wood mostly in the rear, there was a trail of rot from the boarding ladder side of the swim platform, when dripping wet persons come in across the rear bolster over the seats and onto floor most of the water goes right in behind the seat bases and rear bolster, I had to replace the bases on the ladder side and also the entire bolster across the back so I'm paranoid about getting it all wet, I know it's a boat and a little water never should hurt anything but I just like to keep it dry as possible and toweling off before entering I think isn't too much to ask.

 

[oops!]

Re: How much water if any?

That's a lot.

If you are skiing, wakeboarding, or whatever, you have wet people getting in the boat. That accounts for some.

If you're not, you have a problem.

You need to start thinking about where water can get in. The most frequent culprit is the drain plug itself, or the housing that the plug goes into.

If you have an inboard outboard engine, I'd ne looking at the drive bellows and/or the shift cable seals.

the above is correct.......

can you please post and tell us if it is an outboard motor on the back or other?

if its an i/o.....we can help you track it down.....

if its an ob.....well.......we can help with that one too.......

15 seconds....out of a garboard drain is over a gallon of water......if i jump out of the water into my boat......soaking life jacket.....a pint mite make it to the bilge.

the first thing to do.....is look, monitor...and look some more

 

[gmayes]

Re: How much water if any?

It is an I/O Mercruiser inline 6. Any help you guys could give as to where to check for leaks will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Wvawitrado]

Re: How much water if any?

It is an I/O Mercruiser inline 6. Any help you guys could give as to where to check for leaks will be greatly appreciated.

I have the same motor in a cobalt 1973 look just underneath your outdrive is a usual culprit also just make sure your sealed on the outdrive if you feel that you might not be tap in check for dry/wet rot and if ok just throw a sealant around the outdrive and you should have solved the problem but it could be coming in from other areas...I swim ski tube all that all day and I never have a drop of water in my hull thats just me though....MAYES- have you had water in there with the plug in to just see if its something around the outdrive or to show that the water is coming out of somewhere in particular?

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: How much water if any?

Sounds like bellows and the shifter cable might need some attention?
Whens the last time they were replaced?

Just a thought.

 

[carpaediem123]

Re: How much water if any?

In my opinion, you are definately taking on more water that you should. The 15 sec of drain would not be too alarming (considering wet kids climbing in and out) IF you had not also stated you are running the bilge pump from time to time and getting water out that way as well.
With my I/O, it can sit in the water for an entire weekend and have several hours of use, with 5-6 adults getting in and out (wet) and I have stopped even trying my bilge pump (cause there is never any water---if it werent for getting caught in a rain storm two weeks ago---i would have suspected it didn't work)

At the end of a long weekend and a thousand beers later, when I pull the boat from the water, put the bow HIGH, and pull the plug, I get maybe 8-10 seconds of drain thru a small drain hole.

You got a leak somewhere man! Find it, fix it!

 

[wca_tim]

Re: How much water if any?

I recently finally (because of reding someone elses post) found where I was getting water in the boat. It's leaking through the rivets under the rub rail and running down the side in a couple of places... The outdrive stuff is more likely and really important to check as it can cause a lot more damage if it's leaking and not handled properly...

amazing how hard you can work to make everything watertight and it still finds a way to get in... at least it's a problem that can be addressed....