question about taking on water

[tad7777]

i have only boated with a small jon boat, until this seaon,today i was out in a 14' fiberglass, small lake boat.. do i need a pump to drain water or is it normal to take in 6-8 gallons???

 

[catfish1]

Re: question about taking on water

6-8 gallons in what, a week? no its not normal, boats are not designed to leak <br />if there has been some patchwork done on the hull,it could be coming from there. or maybe from the the engine mount bolts, or the drain plug. a bilge pump wouldnt be a bad idea. but you should locate the leak and fix it.

 

[tad7777]

Re: question about taking on water

today when i was out i got alot of water in my boat, i forgot to mention the very heavy rain,it scared the hell out of me,,i dont know if this boat was ever patched ,i dont think so,,i almost sank, i had close to 50 gallons on board, the drain plug might leak a little,but not that much,, maybe your right about it getting in where the motor is mounted,, this boat usally gets a few gallons in it after being out a couple hours,, i never cared until today,, can i just caulk ,where they bolted the motor?? Tad

 

[tad7777]

Re: question about taking on water

i am exagrating probably closer to 20 gallons,, when i got home the garbage can lid had about 2 gallons in it,,in that small of a area,,so now that i think about it,i think the 20 gallons was mostly rain

 

[Solittle]

Re: question about taking on water

If you have a trailer, put the boat on it and put 4-6" of water inside. Look on the outside for leaks.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: question about taking on water

Heavy downpours can put a lot of water in a boat real quick. The guy who lives across the inlet from me had his boat sink after an all day rain-fest a month ago. If you are out on a sunny day, you should have no water coming in your boat. I leave my boat in the water and there is never a drop in it. I also keep a cover on it to prevent rain from getting in (although it does not rain during the summer here). You should check every bolt below the waterline, as well as checking for any damage. Also, when you are running at speed, check the back of the boat. Sometimes outboards throw wierd sprays when not quite at planing speed. Mine throws water straight up until I am planing, but it collects in the splashwell. Good luck...

 

[catfish1]

Re: question about taking on water

tad7777, you have to get the boat dry! take the plug out and raise the tongue of the trailor and let it sit for a day. it sounds to me like you dont know if the water was already there, or from rain, or leaking in. after you get the boat dry put it in the water. if you have access to look at the inside transom, look for leaks at the transom. basically just see if its leaking!

 

[magster65]

Re: question about taking on water

Tad, boats aren't suppose to leak. The only acceptable leak that I know of is a slow drip in a stuffing box for a prop shaft.

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: question about taking on water

Many boats, unbeknonst to the operator will take on water if trying to go in reverse very fast, if you lose something, or in retrieving a downed skier never back up, just go around. With many boats (especially in rough water), it is best to only use reverse when absolutely neccessay, and then go slowly. Many times after a day of boating an operator will find water in the boat, and wonder where it came from, and they had backed up from the dock, or from shore,or backing up to a snagged fishing line, trotlin, or anchor, while still looking ahead, and did not see the water slopping (sometimes pouring) in over the transom.

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: question about taking on water

In the old days, there were very few factory made boats, and were usually to expensive for the average family man, we had to build our own boats. Very few fishermen had their own boats, and they went to the lake, and rented a boat for a couple of dollars a day. Factory made fishing boats (scows or tubs) were usually made of sheet steel (before aluminum), but the home made ones were of wood. after completing the boat, we would have to set it in the back yard on saw horse, and fill it full of water, so it would soak up the wood, and expand to close the leaks, before putting it in the water. Then when marine plywood come along, you could much easier build one that was without leaks.

 

[tad7777]

Re: question about taking on water

Thanks for the respondes i will put the plug in & put about 4 inches in it , then i should be able to find the leak, i know this boat takes on a little water,nothing to worry about,,but a lesson learned being out in a mon soon rain,, plus the fact that this old boat takes in a little water..i think it was a coombination of everything, i need to do somthing,to prevent this,, seriuosly i almost lost it ..i am planning to get a new plug , a 12volt pump, & repair any leaks,,even the tinyest,plus the water entering as i am traveling,, i think everything together almost sent me down,,tad