Last year my boat started taking on water...

[glennj3]

Inside front (mid cabin cruiser) soon as I walk down the steps there is a cover with a bilge pump and a low area for it. Last year it started filling with water while riding. I crawled underneath (last year) and rubbed a white caulk into every little crack I found. So riding for the first time yesterday all stayed dry for a while but then it came back. Fortunately the bilge worked because it was coming in at a reasonable rate. I did hit a log pretty hard so I need to crawl beneath and recheck it.
Question is what should I use to cover those cracks (fine cracks) or do I need to file into them and fill with a fiber glass product? Seems if I put water inside while on the trailer water should flow in reverse??
Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Seems if I put water inside while on the trailer water should flow in reverse??

Ayuh,..... You'd be more apt to crush the trailer, than find the leak,.....

'n it's more likely the leak is from a mechanical hull penetration, than a little crack in the glass,....

 

[mr 88]

Have to repair from the bottom side. Caulking on the wrong side of the water pressure is going to do nothing. And caulking like that is going to have little adhesive properties to keep water out Marine Tex would be a better way to go if prepared correctly [ from the bottom side ] Do you see the water leaking in while underway or is it just accumulating there and may have another source as Bondo noted ?

 

[Chris1956]

Those pesky I/Os can leak water while motor is running and also while motor is off. Have you checked engine compartment for water leak?

 

[Sprig]

Before yo do anything you have to identify the source of the leak. That often can be a challenging undertaking. The “cracks” you mention sound like hairline cracks in the gel coat and I doubt that is the source of the leak. I think more likely is a leak from the engine or outdrive (bellows).is the culprit. Also check carefully everywhere that something is bolted on to the bottom and transom .Find the leak then determine the remedy.

 

[garbageguy]

Inside front (mid cabin cruiser) soon as I walk down the steps there is a cover with a bilge pump and a low area for it...

Not sure if your situation is the same, but my 1998 Wellcraft 240SE (small cruiser with forward and mid-cabin) has the steps, cover, and low area you describe. When it rains hard, I get a little water in there, Couple years ago, I traced it to smashed couple inches of bow rail, suspect that's where it comes in occasionally. It's easily manageable, so that's how I've left it for now.

 

[Scott Danforth]

potential sources of leaks:

• rub-rail / cap joint
• ports and hatch leaks
• leaking bellows
• dropped shutters in y-pipe wearing hole in y-pipe
• rotten transom
• hull breach
• thru-hull fitting leaking

you have to find the source of the leak because boats are not designed to have water on the inside.

being a 33 year old boat, my first thought is the transom or leaking bellows

 

[tpenfield]

Got any pictures to share ??? I'm sure we all have different visions of what you are describing.

 

[glennj3]

I apologise for not responding back after all oh your help! The water still appears in the same place. Also water is coming into the engine compartment. The engine compartment is lower than the inside of the boat so hard to believe it is coming from there, plus there is some oil in there too!
The exhaust bellows are disconnected at the boat end but my mechanic said that does not matter, it will just be more loud.
I may need to check the drive bellows but that would require removing it, correct?

 

[Chris1956]

The drive bellows can be checked with the outdrive on. Tilt the OD up and look for cracks in the rubber. Also check the shift cable bellows.