Leak in my Bass Tracker boat

[ewalden444]

Hello,<br /><br />I have a 1988 17' TX Bass Tracker boat. It takes on water. Does anyone know how I can tell where the water is coming from. Please advise me how to fix this problem. <br /><br />Thanks in advance<br /><br />Ed

 

[DJ]

Re: Leak in my Bass Tracker boat

Is this boat aluminum or fiberglass?

 

[ewalden444]

Re: Leak in my Bass Tracker boat

The boat is aluminum !<br /><br />Thanks

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Leak in my Bass Tracker boat

The obvious places to start are at the through-hull fittings at the back of the boat and any hoses attched to them on the inside. Engine mounting bolts with a bad seal. A bad livewell pump can allow water into the boat. The drain plug may not be tight or the fitting is leaking. The best way to find a leak is get it on a trailer, level the boat, stick a garden hose inside and let the water run. Check the bottom of the boat to see where its coming out.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Leak in my Bass Tracker boat

I find that a lot of such leaks occur where the hose fits onto the livewell pump. They are weak plastic fittings and like to break at the least provocation. I wish they'd make them with a metal sleeve insert. As soon as somebody drowns as a result of a sunken boat with such a failure and somebody gets sued for millions, they will. But then they'll probably blame the installer, or the manufacturer of the hose clamps. <br /><br />Did you see that Atwood, Rule, Mayfair, etc? Yeah, I'm talking about YOU! Go ahead, sic your lawyers on me. I DARE you!!! (Is that Libel or Slander?)

 

[HeadHunt]

Re: Leak in my Bass Tracker boat

I had a 1987 TX-17 that leaked through the rivets on the bottom of the boat. Had to get them welded.<br /><br />HeadHunt

 

[AJ168]

Re: Leak in my Bass Tracker boat

Filling the hull with water while the boat is on the trailer will rarely work unless the boat's really taking on a lot of water. Garbage from the bilge will plug up any holes, unless those holes are massive. If the boat is riveted, the rivets are probably coming loose. You may have to rip apart the boat and figure out a way to redo the rivets. That's what I'll be doing this winter to my boat, except mine is actaully missing rivets.

 

[AJ168]

Re: Leak in my Bass Tracker boat

Beat me by 2 minutes Headhunt. What do you mean you got them welded? Did you have to gut the boat and work from the inside to do this? I'm not looking forward to this winter and having to totally disassemble my boat. It would be nice if there were another way, even if I had to pay a little more for it.

 

[HeadHunt]

Re: Leak in my Bass Tracker boat

Originally posted by AJ168:<br /> Beat me by 2 minutes Headhunt. What do you mean you got them welded? Did you have to gut the boat and work from the inside to do this? I'm not looking forward to this winter and having to totally disassemble my boat. It would be nice if there were another way, even if I had to pay a little more for it.

AJ,<br /> I ended up with about ten loose rivets. It was hard to find the source of the leak because most of it came in while running down the lake while the rivets were under pressure. I ended up filling the hull with water and getting under the boat and checking each rivet. When I applied pressure, some of them would leak, just a little. They leaked alot more running 25MPH.<br /> I found a local guy with an shop that welded aluminum. He marked the leaking rivets, flipped the boat over and welded them from the outside. I kept the boat 10 more years and never had any more water intrusion. Hope this helps.<br /><br />Good Luck,<br />HeadHunt

 

[HeadHunt]

Re: Leak in my Bass Tracker boat

By the way, the guy only charged me $250. what a deal!!

 

[DJ]

Re: Leak in my Bass Tracker boat

"Gluv IT" works great for aluminum repairs.<br /><br /> http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=72274 <br /><br />West Marine part number: 133892

 

[bitsy4643]

Re: Leak in my Bass Tracker boat

Filling the hull with water while the boat is on the trailer will rarely work unless the boat's really taking on a lot of water. Garbage from the bilge will plug up any holes, unless those holes are massive. If the boat is riveted, the rivets are probably coming loose. You may have to rip apart the boat and figure out a way to redo the rivets. That's what I'll be doing this winter to my boat, except mine is actaully missing rivets.

Malarkey. Filling boat with water will show all leaks. I have been repairing trackers for years and have never failed to find a leak. Boat must be totally suspended as trailer runners may hide leak, but there will definitely be drops or moisture tracks on rivots or area where the leak is. I have found that encasing leak with good quality silicone is cheap , efficient, and will last longer than you think.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Leak in my Bass Tracker boat

Almost a 5 year old thread......