I cant find the leak!

[443joshc]

Ok I am new to boating and after a couple trips to the lake I have noticed water in the ski locker. It is a 16ft Sea sprite open bow with a 100hp outboard. I turn on the bilge pump to remove it all full speed but never really is enough for it to suck it out. Ok so being anal and obsessive as soon as I noticed when I got home I filled the back hull with some soapy water where the plug goes in to see if it was the plug or a leaking insert. Well good that it wasn't either but, now where should I look. Would it be less frustrating and not costly to take it to the marine to have them find it. Please let me know what you guys think. When I take people out it tends to make them a little skeptical when they see water in the locker. Thanks

 

[rbh]

Re: I cant find the leak!

morning-
put the muffs on, fire up the engine and look for the drips. or take the hose and start on one side of the hull, one end to the other and see were the leak is coming in
kind of a two person job.
rob

 

[burp]

Re: I cant find the leak!

Baby powder sprinkled around in the bilge may be useful in locating the path or general area that the leak is coming from.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: I cant find the leak!

How is the boat stored? Bow up and plug out?

Also more water than you think is brought into the boat by swimming,pulling tubes and people climbing in and out.
If its not getting enough for the pump to even pick it up its probably nothing to worry about.

 

[443joshc]

Re: I cant find the leak!

Yes When I take the boat out its on the trailer bow up and plug out. I think it might be more than the excess from swiming, tube and such.

 

[azlakes]

Re: I cant find the leak!

... check around the bow eye and caulking all around the rub rail. if you really need to pinpoint, i'd suggest small cotton balls semi soaked in food coloring placed at suspect areas. drench and spray with hose or go to the lake as normal, look at runoff when draining.

 

[443joshc]

Re: I cant find the leak!

How should I place the cotton balls? From the outside of inside. Sorry if this sounds dumb I just really want to get the issue fixed.

 

[terrywilson88]

Re: I cant find the leak!

Mine did the same thing when I bought it. What kind of drain plug do you have? When I bought my boat it had an old drain plug and it filled up the locker too. I bought a new plug and had to turn it very tight and it worked. Now the new plug is kinda stripped out so I put a nut on the threads and I install the plug and then turn the nut from the inside with a socket so it stays tight and it works fine.

 

[zach103]

Re: I cant find the leak!

i have a twisty plug i like it better too.. but i had the same problem.. how much water did you fill it with.. i put hte hose in there for a good mins.. and i found it.. do it while its still flat on the trailer

 

[DaveHawkins]

Re: I cant find the leak!

Finding water leaks can be really frustrating. One way to approach the problem would be to tape up (probably duct tape) every possible infiltration place on the exterior of the boat...the entire rub rail, cleats, bow tie, stearn ties, lights, etc. Splash the boat, drive around a while and systematically remove tape, each time driving the boat between removals and checking for water.

 

[443joshc]

Re: I cant find the leak!

DaveHawkins, Should I dod this at the lake or just with the garden hose?