Bilge water making carpet wet

[mikeyg]

I have done some searches on here on this topic and have found alot of common problems.

I have already sealed up my rub rail.

If i take a real sharp turn the water in the bilge that would then be at the rear of the boat is sloshing up under the gas tank and causing the carpet in the corners to get soaked.

I have observed this while underway with someone else driving.

Is this common?

I plan on looking the boat over while hooked up to the hose at home tomorrow and then while it is in the water to see if there is anything that is seeping water.



From my searches I know that there will be some drips at the shaft bushing and maye some at the rudder.

hopefully nothing major

After a day of skiing and running around the lake all day how much water is in everyones bilge?

Are you having to run the bilge pump at all thru out the day?

I usually flip mine on once a day and it will spew out a stream for maybe 10 seconds or so.

I don't expect it to be dry in there but would like to have the least amount of water possible.

[proporjet]

No idea what boat you have. Have an 08 X2 with 30 hours on it and I get almost no water in either bilge area mid or rear. Depending on number of hours on your boat, you could have a prop shaft packing leak. This is common and a wear type seal/item. I had to replace the packing on my old boat after ~150-200 hours. I have seen posts explaining certain boats with some slight leakage around rub rails... It would be helpful if you let everyone know what type of boat you have.

[mikeyg]

ya- sorry about that

1991 ps190 - 280 hours

[flipper]

If your profile is right, '91 prostar 190, it's pretty much normal. I have to run mine a few times a day. Between the little bit of spray, people getting in and out, and the little bit that the packings leak, you're going to get some water.

If you want less water, you may consider going to a dripless drive shaft. If you tighten the packing nut until it doesn't drip, you'll cause damage and be out some $$$

[JimN]

Remove the rear seat and the panel behind that so you can check the speedo ballasts. These are brass cylinders that temper the pressure changes from the pitot tubes. If the ballasts aren't cleared in fall, freezing can cause the ballast tubes to burst. Then, when the water pressure builds up, it leaks onto the bilge. The good thing is that if they do burst, you can use a MAPP gas or propane torch to solder them closed.

[mikeyg]

I've located the brass cylinders - I will keep an eye on those as well.

[bbeach]

MikeyG

I just went through this exact same thing with my 90 prostar 190... Chances are if your packing isn't dripping lots of water into the bilge you will find that one of your exhaust hoses has loose clamps under the gas tank in the bilge where the exhaust hose meets up with the thru hull mount. You can go the long route and do what I did - which was pulled both exhaust mounts, cleaned and resiliconed and reinstalled. Then tighten the hose clamps back down really well and you should see a significant decrease in water in the bilge. Or you can just tighten the hose clamps and call it good.

I had "lots of water" meaning 4-5 inches in the bilge when I'd pull the boat out and sometimes it would even kick on the auto bilge. now I have maybe a half an inch if I don't run the bilge at all.

Good luck let us know what you find. Could also be a leak around one of the swim platform bracket mounts, but I seriously doubt it - the holes aren't very big!

[mikeyg]

Thanks for the info - I will check the hoses too.

A half an inch would be a great improvement!!!

[hirschaj]

A half an inch would be a great improvement!!!

That's what she said!!! Sorry, I couldn't resist. :D