Plug Question - Chasing down a leak

[Geo2008]

I have a 1999 Procraft Combo 175 and am trying to diagnose a leak in my boat.

It seems to be leaking a bit but there is no visible clues as to where from, this led me to consider the plug.

The plug is the rigid black plastic screw in type.

I noticed that it did not seem too awfully tight or well seated so I put some plumbers tape on it and tried it, darn if it did not leak worse than before.

Although, hard to tell exactly because we were wakeboarding and bringing in a bunch of water on our clothing that seeped into the bilge area too.

Irregardless of the cause, there was indeed more water drained out at the ramp last time than any time before.

I am thinking there may be something up with the plug and I really hope it is that simple.

Do I need to go back to the manufacturer for a plug or is this a generic sort of thing.

The only reason I ask is that this is my first power boat and I do not have anything to compare to.

Also, if you have any ideas about how to track down the leak then that would be cool too.

By the way, if you click the small thumbnail image it will blow up the photo size.

 

[txmntman]

Re: Plug Question - Chasing down a leak

do you have an access panel into the bilge? How much water are we talking about over what period of time? In essence, how bad is the leak?

 

[Geo2008]

Re: Plug Question - Chasing down a leak

I have never looked in here prior to draining, is this what you are talking about?

I only know how much water we took on by seeing how long it takes to drain water out the plug hole on the ramp immediately after putting boat on trailer.

Is this the access panel you are referring to?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Plug Question - Chasing down a leak

well it looks like you have a bilge pump, suggest you use it. also the #1 place boats leak, is the joint between the hull and cap, under the rub rail. have someone run a hose, against the side of the boat, get inside and watch for water coming in thru the joint. yes water does get that high, especially when taking off and slowing down. wake boarding especially. you would also not believe how much water comes off you body and clothes.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Plug Question - Chasing down a leak

Check all you live well intakes and fittings too. Being almost 10 years old and they do crack and leak. Being a procraft....... check the hull carefully for cracks. I will not go into detail but procraft did a buy-back form me for a cracked hull about 15 years ago.......

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Plug Question - Chasing down a leak

Look at these plugs.If yours is this style but plastic you may want to replace it with the brass plug.It lets you get it tighter without breaking it.
http://www.iboats.com/Marine_Store/...674545--submit.Search--submit.x.0--submit.y.0

 

[J JACKSON]

Re: Plug Question - Chasing down a leak

while its on the trailer you may want to put some water in the bilge area not a lot but enough to cover the plug area and see if it leaks out around the plug

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Plug Question - Chasing down a leak

How about making sure it is dry before launch, then have lunch or some other 1-2 hour time-killing activity; check afterwards to see if there has been any leakage from just sitting in the water.
If it is still bone-dry, the finger points directly at the wakeboarding or similar cause of taking on "ballast".

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Plug Question - Chasing down a leak

Good advice I agree.
You stated know nothing other than water comes out when you pull the plug after you've been out wakeboarding, get out there and check it out some, then maybe we can help you.

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Plug Question - Chasing down a leak

Perhaps you could ditch the plug and use an industrial strength suction cup instead

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Plug Question - Chasing down a leak

With all of the plumbing in the bilge, look in there when the boat is in the water. Nearly everything you see is below the water line so leaks in any fittings or the pumps will put water in the bilge.

 

[AguaSki]

Re: Plug Question - Chasing down a leak

Also check the plug fitting. I chased a leak for a long time and eventually found out my fitting needed to be resealed. Once the fitting was resealed I put in a new plug and now I have zero water in the bilge.

 

[rainman5]

Re: Plug Question - Chasing down a leak

My brother suggested to me on my boat was to just take a garden hose and fill the boat with water and watch for leaks!