Excessive Water in Bilge

[wsrobert]

This past weekend I was getting excessive water in my bilge. Funny thing is that it was only a problem pulling slow (10-12 mph). As the speed increased, it became less and less. I pulled the engine cover off and did notice a little pin-hole allowing seapage on the side near the shaft seal. I'm hoping that isn't a leak in the hull. The shaft seal appeared fine (1 drip every couple of seconds). Neither seemed as though they could produce the volume of water I was seeing that quickly. At high speeds (30+ mph) the bilge would stay almost completely dry. Here's what I've done so far:
-On trailer, filled up bilge with water and checked for leaks (found slight drip from raw water intake). I've pulled it off and am going to reseal with 3M 5200. If that pin-hole was the issue, wouldn't I have seen it dripping out of the bottom at some point?
-Ran boat with fake a lake and exhaust appeared to be good.

I'm just running out of suggestions...any ideas???

[Gonzo]

At low speeds like that the transom sits lower in the water. I have leak in the rear of my boat that I think is the rub rail, but I am not taking on an "excessive amount" My carpet on that corner just stays damp.

[454Prostar190]

Originally Posted by Gonzo

At low speeds like that the transom sits lower in the water. I have leak in the rear of my boat that I think is the rub rail, but I am not taking on an "excessive amount" My carpet on that corner just stays damp.

Same story here. I found a leak in the rub rail from when the previous owner had apparently pulled the boat out of the water and the guide on the trailer hit the rub rail. I siliconed the bottom of the rail and this past weekend it stayed dry Finally!!!

[TMCNo1]

Originally Posted by wsrobert

This past weekend I was getting excessive water in my bilge. Funny thing is that it was only a problem pulling slow (10-12 mph). As the speed increased, it became less and less. I pulled the engine cover off and did notice a little pin-hole allowing seapage on the side near the shaft seal. I'm hoping that isn't a leak in the hull. The shaft seal appeared fine (1 drip every couple of seconds). Neither seemed as though they could produce the volume of water I was seeing that quickly. At high speeds (30+ mph) the bilge would stay almost completely dry. Here's what I've done so far:
-On trailer, filled up bilge with water and checked for leaks (found slight drip from raw water intake). I've pulled it off and am going to reseal with 3M 5200. If that pin-hole was the issue, wouldn't I have seen it dripping out of the bottom at some point?
-Ran boat with fake a lake and exhaust appeared to be good.

I'm just running out of suggestions...any ideas???

Are you refering to the flexible rubber tube between the hose clamps next to the thru hull fitting and the hose clamps at the brass jambnut, cap nut where the stuffing is? If there is a hole in it, the shaft will have to be pulled out enough, the shaft coupling removed from the end of the shaft to change out the entire flexible rubber tube.

[wsrobert]

No...Sorry, I actually worded that bad. The pin hole leak appears to be in the bilge itself. It looks as though there is a metal plate along the bottom and the fiberglass is formed around it. This is where the pin-hole is. I'll try to get some pics this evening.

As for the rubrail, mine doesn't get below the water line as I'm running.

[Gonzo]

Originally Posted by wsrobert

As for the rubrail, mine doesn't get below the water line as I'm running.

I doubt its the rub rail too, your describing too much water for that to be it. Rub rail leaks when running at low speeds though and the spray come up under the rail. I knew it would do it on my old I/O but was just informed the other day by No 1 that MCs will leak there too if not sealed right... just something to keep in mind.

[jmac197]

I had a similar problem. I was only taking on water while we were underway. Wound up that one of the kids left the shower on. Even though the pump wasn't on, the pressure was pushing the water through.

[NeilM]

ws, This problem drove me absolutely nuts. I was picking up LOTS of water in the bilge while pulling wakesurfers. On my MariStar 210, the outlet for the bilge is under water(!) while pulling wakesurfers. There is no check valve in the bilge line (ABYC says they could potentially restrict the flow of the bilge pump), so water pours into the bilge through the bilge pump outlet. I had all of my seals checked, I had the dealer install a dripless propshaft seal, I filled the whole bilge with water, I checked all of the rubrails, everything.. Then, one time while I was waksurfing behind the boat, I noticed that all three fittings (two for the ballast, one for the bilge) were underwater...
Now when we wakesurf, I stick a cork in the bilge pump outlet. Problem solved.

[wsrobert]

Thanks...that does give me some thoughts of things to check. Only thing is my bilge discharge is up towards the front. Actually right beside the captain's seat. I don't believe it's under water, but I'll check. I don't have ballasts or a shower. But thinking of that there may be some other things that are under that I wasn't aware. Thanks for the lead....

[gigem75]

A friends boat takes on water like mad when going slow. There is a break in the seal between the top and hull, You can see it pouring in down the inside of the boat on the port side up under the dash.