I'm brand new to boating - question about boat taking on water

[Djan]

We just bought our first boat, a 1978 Del Magic Cougar, and just finished our first weekend at the lake.

The boat was in the water for almost three days. The first morning I didn't notice any water, the second morning there was some at the back of the boat, this morning I had to scoop about 8 gallons or so out. When I took the boat out of the water, it drained out of the bottom plug hole for probably an hour.

Where do I start trouble shooting? New drain hole plugs? Is it common for a fiberglass boat to take on some water? This seemed like an awful lot to me.

Thanks for your patience with a new boater!

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: I'm brand new to boating - question about boat taking on water

Welcome aboard..Ya found the best darn rootin tootin boat website in the world..If it cant get fixed here, it cant get fixed!

What type of motor? Outboard? I/O? 8 gallons is a LOT of water for any boat to have in her...

Cracks in the glass will allow water to seep in from numerous places, transom, keel ectera...

You don't have an automatic bilge pump I assume???

 

[scipper77]

Re: I'm brand new to boating - question about boat taking on water

bellows??

 

[zach103]

Re: I'm brand new to boating - question about boat taking on water

same problem lol.. do what i did.. if you have a ski locker or anywhere u can see the hull see if you can find any leaks.. if not take it on the trailer put a hose in it and fill it up .. be careful tho.. esp if you have an inboard motor.. .. than check the edge around your drain hole.. i found 2 1/8 holes this way and now my drain hole is leaking.. so you can try that

 

[Djan]

Re: I'm brand new to boating - question about boat taking on water

It has an 85 horse outboard. No bilge pump.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: I'm brand new to boating - question about boat taking on water

It has an 85 horse outboard. No bilge pump.

WHOA!!!!! I would consider that boat not useable if it doesnt have a bilge pump in it. Even if you do find the leaks, get a bilge pump ASAP, an automatic one.

 

[P 0 P E Y E]

Re: I'm brand new to boating - question about boat taking on water

Welcome to this fine forum, to the wonders of boating and my new haunt...Iboats.com

Hope you can find the leak. Lots of ways for water to enter a hull.

I would suggest you start by checking all the things that stick out first.

By stick out I mean attach to or go thru the hull.

The bow u-bolt or eye, the drain plug and drain plug flange, A transducer or thru hull if equipped.

The deck to hull connection (usually concealed by the rub rail)

Look for the obvious first.......and they are right as usuall....get a bilge pump

 

[ezmobee]

Re: I'm brand new to boating - question about boat taking on water

I stuck a hose in my bilge while the boat was on the trailer to see if I could find my leak. Sure enough a pin hole started streaming water out almost immediately.