Taking on water

[Blackacid]

Hello. I have a 1989 19' Spectrum Fish/Ski Aluminum boat that i bought used over the summer. For the price that I paid... its been one heck of a boat.

Unfortunately it seems to be taking on water (by my standards, alot) and I haven't really been able to figure out where. Can some of you provide some ideas on how to locate the source of my leaks?

When I say it takes on water.... we ran the bilge until it stopped pulling water out, while docked. We left the boat docked, and returned about 4-5hrs later. Engaging the bilge again, it dumped water for a good 2 minutes. The lake was calm that night and no traffic at all.

 

[jrs_diesel]

Re: Taking on water

What kind out drive do you have? If it's an I/O, check all of your bellows, as that is a common point of leaks.

 

[jmarty10]

Re: Taking on water

and........it doesnt sound like you have an auto pump. Be careful about leaving it on water that long before finding the leak without and auto pump. You said its aluminum........and now I'm guessing you have an outboard? Its probably a hull leak? Inspect all around the water line and if you cant pin point it, you may have to start filling her up and seeing where your leak is. If its a hull leak, youre next post will be how to patch it. Answer.......marine tex

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Taking on water

check through-hulls, rivets, places where a piece of equipment was removed--a screw hole from a transponder cable. Check the corners of the hull and transom, and the plug.
Put it on the trailer, let it dry, put the plug in, and fill with water; look for drips. However, this is not a perfect process because you don't get the same pressure.

 

[Blackacid]

Re: Taking on water

This is equipped with an outboard, sorry... and, I do not have a float switch for the bilge. I am definitely going to pick one up this off-season and install it though.

I have the boat on the trailer now. I think maybe I'll try filling it up and seeing if anything of note happens. It seems like the leak is in the rear, as the more weight we have in the back, the more water it seems to take on.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Taking on water

How's the deck on the boat? This might be a great opportunity to install a new deck after you get this leak fixed.

There is a product called Gluvit, available here at iboats, that is perfect for sealing leaky aluminum rivets and seams. It's great stuff.

Have you taken a good look at the bottom of the hull? A missing rivet can be easily replaced, prior to coating the interior with Gluvit if it is not a major crack in the hull somewhere.

You can put some water in the boat to see where it's dripping in the driveway as a last resort to find the leak.

Good luck!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Taking on water

That will probably reveal it for you. I had the same problem on my last boat. I did the stick a hose in on the trailer trick not really expecting to find anything. Well within seconds water started STREAMING, not dripping but streaming from a pin hole I had right under the stern knee brace. I slapped some JB Weld on that and solved about 80% of my leakage issue. Slapping some JB on a number of my other questionable looking rivets solved the rest of it. I like this pump with a built in float switch. I've had it on both the boats I've had http://www.iboats.com/SeaSense-Auto...3198811--**********.004792030--view_id.392307

 

[Blackacid]

Re: Taking on water

How's the deck on the boat? This might be a great opportunity to install a new deck after you get this leak fixed.

I am debating replacing the entire deck; even though it is mostly good shape. It is warped near the stern, and I believe that has to do with the leak. The debate is the current setup. The previous owner used the boat as mainly a tube tugger. I mostly fish from it. So things like rod locker, tackle storage, etc... all appeal to me. I'm also thinking about adding a second, smaller live well.

Have you taken a good look at the bottom of the hull? A missing rivet can be easily replaced, prior to coating the interior with Gluvit if it is not a major crack in the hull somewhere.

I've checked it out and haven't noticed anything glaring. I've got a good gash in the bottom that I did (water issue was before that) but it didn't pierce the hull. I didn't notice any missing rivets or loose rivets, but I honestly haven't gone over it with a fine tooth comb yet[/QUOTE]

Well within seconds water started STREAMING, not dripping but streaming from a pin hole I had right under the stern knee brace.

Would several pin holes seriously bring in that much water? If so... it makes me wonder if the screw holes and others on the transom aren't my primary culprits afterall.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Taking on water

Would several pin holes seriously bring in that much water? If so... it makes me wonder if the screw holes and others on the transom aren't my primary culprits afterall.

Yes. I had to run my bilge pump like every hour and it was primarily due to that one hole.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Taking on water

Boats are funny like that. a pin hole will let in a boat load of water, but a wad of leaves can keep a 1 inch hole from draining at all.

 

[Blackacid]

Re: Taking on water

wow, well that is honestly good to know. I had been scouring my boat looking for huge gashes. I'm going to fill her up tonight and see what happens. I suspect the holes in the transom are the main culprit though. There are at least 6 screw holes that are not sealed. Guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Taking on water

Turn the boat upside down and hold it under water then look for the bubbles

 

[Beefer]

Re: Taking on water

In regards to small holes and water getting in, I recently read (here or another forum) that the garboard drain will allow 6,000 gallons of water per hour to enter. Now I'm sure based on that, someone will figure out flow rate for a pinhole, but I'll just say it's enough to be a problem.

 

[richlee3216]

Re: Taking on water

Just an idea, I have a 14ft aluminum Richline that I aquired and it leaked. I left the boat strapped to the trailer and slowly backed it into the water, a little at a time till I found a leak. Once I found a leak I marked with a pencil, pulled it out and with a friend we bucked the rivets. It doesn't leak anymore.

Good luck

 

[Blackacid]

Re: Taking on water

This evening I started filling the back end of the boat with water from my garden hose. Could see some water coming out of the screw holes I mentioned, but nothing outrageous. The more water that built up, the more hardcore the leaks became. To the point that I'm fairly certain that is where the majority of my issue is.

I lowered the trailer jack so the bow was nearly on the ground, and all the water rushed forward. Found a couple of seeping rivets as well.

Looks like I've got some work this fall.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Taking on water

If any of these holes went through the wood part of your transom....that will be rotted for sure.

 

[bitterboater]

Re: Taking on water

As was mentioned before, don't neglect the hidden leaks. The ones that might be in the live well systems on your boat. A cracked line in the intake can cause all kinds of problems.

 

[sokol]

Re: Taking on water

Hi there mister Spectrum. I myself actually have a spectrum 19FT fish and
ski with rivets. I've had the boat 5 years and mainly use it for fishing and the
occasional tubing expedition to send the girlfriend airborn. I absolutely love the boat but I must say that I too have a major leak on my boat. When I say major I mean the bilge cant keep up. It takes me 20 minutes to bilge 3 hours of fishing. When I pull my boat out of water I open the drain and water shoots for at least 5 minutes. A few years ago, It started by getting a few loose rivets , then I noticed a warped hull near the bottom front of the hull where my rivets were leaking. I replaced the rivets with new extra srtong truck rivets. It was a temporary fix untill I noticed my hull cracked and started warping more and loostening many rivets. I found a crack in the middle of the hull on the seem. So I removed the floor(I mean ripped the entire floor out with crow bar). I noticed the supports started to crack inside the hull of the boat causing a warp on the outside hull. So after a few F bombs i sacrificed a few fishing days and I had the supports and crack welded and replaced the loose rivets with NUT AND BOLT. Trying to secure the hull to the supports. Since my old floor was completely rotted form the water under the hull, I completely re-did the inside on the boat with Cedar 1X5.(Looks really nice).. BUUUUUT I still have a majore leak and its getting worst and worst. The warp is getting bigger and more rivets are loostening. I thought about flipping the boat and putting a few sheets of fiberglass over the entire boat, but im woried with the warp that it will crack.. Im at a loss verry soon and i will need a new boat soon. Sad because I love my boat.