I have a 1991 Sea Swirl that is taking on a good amount of water.

[CenterConsolefisher]

I have a 1991 Center Console Sea Swirl with a 90 hp Johnson outboard of same year. I have been doing minor repairs and adjustments getting ready for the coming boating season and have noticed it takes water. If I got out for 3-4 hours I will find 15-20 gallons of water in the bilge.

I figured it must be leaking through the transom somewhere and today backed it down the launch and took a flash light and watched the bolts that attach the outboard and the bolts where I attach my straps. I thought for sure that would be the leak and it was not. No one was around so I put on waders and completely walked around the boat looking for bubbles and didnt see any. I could hear a blip sound, could be a bubble or a drip I am not sure, was really hard to tell where it was coming from. And yes it still took on water on the trailer at the launch.

I took the boat home and put about 10-12 gallons of water in it and raised the front and watch the plug and all the areas in the rear of the boat and no water was coming out. So next I set the trailer hitch on the ground and had the noise of the boat very low to see if water would show anywhere in the front of the boat and I couldnt get any water to leak out of the boat.

There is some what I would call minor rash on the bottom of the hull, perhaps 4-5 spots. The biggest one is 2x3 inches others are size of a nickle. Its right where the boat would scrap if someone were to beach land it. I would guess 1/16 of an inch is scrapped away. It seems really solid, I banged it with my hand and tried to scrap it with my nail and it seems solid. I would think the fiberglass would be super thick at this spot. Or is this enough to take on water?

I am not sure what the next step should be. I really want to find and fix this leak. Please help.

I think the picture makes the rash look worse then it really is.

 

[CenterConsolefisher]

Re: I have a 1991 Sea Swirl that is taking on a good amount of water.

I have a 1991 Center Console Sea Swirl with a 90 hp Johnson outboard of same year. I have been doing minor repairs and adjustments getting ready for the coming boating season and have noticed it takes water. If I got out for 3-4 hours I will find 15-20 gallons of water in the bilge.

I figured it must be leaking through the transom somewhere and today backed it down the launch and took a flash light and watched the bolts that attach the outboard and the bolts where I attach my straps. I thought for sure that would be the leak and it was not. No one was around so I put on waders and completely walked around the boat looking for bubbles and didnt see any. I could hear a blip sound, could be a bubble or a drip I am not sure, was really hard to tell where it was coming from. And yes it still took on water on the trailer at the launch.

I took the boat home and put about 10-12 gallons of water in it and raised the front and watch the plug and all the areas in the rear of the boat and no water was coming out. So next I set the trailer hitch on the ground and had the noise of the boat very low to see if water would show anywhere in the front of the boat and I couldnt get any water to leak out of the boat.

There is some what I would call minor rash on the bottom of the hull, perhaps 4-5 spots. The biggest one is 2x3 inches others are size of a nickle. Its right where the boat would scrap if someone were to beach land it. I would guess 1/16 of an inch is scrapped away. It seems really solid, I banged it with my hand and tried to scrap it with my nail and it seems solid. I would think the fiberglass would be super thick at this spot. Or is this enough to take on water?

I am not sure what the next step should be. I really want to find and fix this leak. Please help.

I think the picture makes the rash look worse then it really is.

Just to clear it up. The rash areas remained completely dry with water inside the boat as did the rest of the boat. When I said I could hear the blip sound I was inside the boat with my head inside the rear compartment looking for leaks. Couldnt hear or see anything from the outside. Also could be a bit high on the amount of water, but will gain 10 gallons in 5 hours on the water.

 

[CenterConsolefisher]

Re: I have a 1991 Sea Swirl that is taking on a good amount of water.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: I have a 1991 Sea Swirl that is taking on a good amount of water.

Think you better start looking the drain plug in the stern. The rash looks like it just needs some fiberglass patching, not a big deal. Can you post more pictures of the entire boat. Also look for livewell drains, thruhull fitting etc. 15 to 20 gallons in a short period of time makes me believe the drain plug is leaking.

 

[CenterConsolefisher]

Re: I have a 1991 Sea Swirl that is taking on a good amount of water.



Ok here are pictures of the bilge area where u can see the plug hole from the inside, a pic of the plug hole from the outside. And inside my actual center console I removed the floor and took a pic looking towards the front of the boat.

Can you tell anything from just looking at the plug pics?

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: I have a 1991 Sea Swirl that is taking on a good amount of water.

View attachment 179030View attachment 179028View attachment 179029

Ok here are pictures of the bilge area where u can see the plug hole from the inside, a pic of the plug hole from the outside. And inside my actual center console I removed the floor and took a pic looking towards the front of the boat.

Can you tell anything from just looking at the plug pics?

Yes, the transom drain doesn't have a plug in it. seriously though I am assuming you know that.

Post up pics of the boat from the outside. Showing both sides, stern and bow. And also some interior pics so we can see the layout and maybe something that is letting water in.

The inside of the boat looks good other than the stern compartment is a little moldy/dirty/oil soaked. I would be looking for a busted thruhull fitting. It may be where you can not get to it from the inside or see it. The plastic ones can get sheared, they can also get brittle and break if there is water in them in the winter.

The scraps on the bottom once in the water can weep water through if it sits in the water a long time or while your running it may have a small hole somewhere in those scrapes. I would check them carefully, regardless, you want to patch them.

Other things like rub rails, bow rails, anchor lockers, thruhull fitting, fish wells, storage compartments, access hatches, these can all let water in the hull.

It is also possible that if it is a topside leak, that it can get trapped in the forwrd hull and not run to the stern until it is put in the water. Rain water could be the culprit.

Just throwing things out there. But some people will back the boat down at an angle that lets water come over the stern or fast enough for that to happen. If there is a access hatch in the stern, water can get in that way. Sounds stupid, but it happens.

If it was taking on water as you said while backed down in the water on the trailer, I would take your camera and see where the water is flowing from from the same location you took them above. Good luck.