Smokercraft Livewell leak

[JBC49]

Hello;

I own a 1998 Smokercraft Spitfire (16.5ft and 75hp merc). This spring I detected a leak and have isolated it to the livewell overflow. Water is comming in very slow, but a leak is a leak. As a temporary measure I plugged the hole in the transom so that I could continue to use the boat this summer and not have to pull it out of the water. Now that fall is approaching, I figure that when the time comes to winterize and put the boat away for the winter I'd also like to fix the leak.

Has anyone had to do this, can you provide any tips or guidance? I figure that the hose between the transom and livewell has a small hole or crack and that I will have to replace it. To do this I believe that I'll have to remove the floor at the bow to get at the livewell connections. Not looking forward to that. I've never done anything like this before so any help would be appreciated.

 

[JBC49]

Re: Smoker craft Livewell leak

Re: Smoker craft Livewell leak

What I really need to know is;

1. can the bow flooring be removed without destroying it
2. can I replace this hose by removing only the bow flooring, or is it secured in various places along its length.

I heard from one source that back in 1998 smokercraft screwed and glued the floor down so that removing it was not a simple task.

Also, I guess it's the livewell drain hose that has the leak not the overflow, it's the hose that connects back to the transom that leaks. This means that the hose is about 10-12 ft long.

Thanks

 

[JBC49]

Re: Smokercraft Livewell leak

Appears that a lot of folks have read my post but nobody has a response to my questions.

Would have thought that someone from Smoker Craft might visit this site, but I guess not.

I'll try and contact the manufacture directly.

thanks anyway.

 

[NJS0930]

Re: Smokercraft Livewell leak

JBC:

Sorry for the belated reply; I don't check iBoats frequently enough to have spotted your post timely.

I do not know how the flooring in your Spitfire is attached. On my Osprey, its screwed, but not glued down. I have had the center section of my flooring out and I have seen the livewell drain tube you mention. If you have not already done so, contact Smoker Craft directly at 503-769-2996. You can ask for "Dan," he has helped me with tech matters in the past. Anyone of the tech people should be able to help you though.
Good luck, let us know how it turns out.

Nick

 

[JBC49]

Re: Smokercraft Livewell leak

Thanks for responding, much appreciated. After calling Smokercraft they advised that my boat was manufactured in their Indiana plant. (574-831-5900) I spoke to a Tech named Joe, he siad that my bow flooring was just screwed down but that I might have to loosen the console to remove it. Also, I found out that my main hull flooring is rivited not screwed.

From what I gathered from Joe replacing this hose isn't an easy job. He suggested that I might try cutting out and installing a new access plate to get at the hose connection to the livewell, to be honest I'm not sure there is room to do that as i have a dry storage compartment right beside the livewell.

Anyway, I've already put my boat away for the season so I'll have the winter to mull over my options. Thanks again.