3 replies to this topic

[Jwrape]

We bought a 96' Seadoo Speedster that had been sitting for 2 years on its trailer. It runs great and pulled great when we put it in the water the first day. We pulled a tube for about 3 or 4 hrs and we ran over the rope once I remember but didn't think too much about it but it did mar up the rope a little. Then later we went we started having cavitation issues pulling the tube out of the hole. But we could let off and then get back in and it would come back and keep going and eventually it just cavitated all together where we had very little power to pull us back to the dock so I said we will tie it to the dock and I will come pull it home on Monday and work on it then. So we leave on Sunday from the dock and Sunday at dinner we get MULTLE CALLLS from 3 people telling us our boat is sinking from the rear and is full of water. The batteries have died and the bilge is full over the tops of the motors with water.

Anyone know what could have happened? I am going out now to start disassembling the pumps now to inspect but any help would be appreciated.

[FJHIII]

YIKES, sounds horrible. Keep us posted.

 

Post pictures of the intake area on the bottom. Maybe the cavitation caused a gap by the shaft?

[Jwrape]

I took the rear ends apart. Looks like the water leak MOST likely was from the rope making a scar on the rubber piece where the shaft goes through the hull to the impeller. That's really all I could see that might leak.
When I removed the rear ( I don't know what you call them) pump directors, to see the impellers I could see the wear rings were worn and the rubber like ring was completely gone on the port side and almost like a cracked egg on the starboard side. I have new ones coming on Thursday. I sat my impeller housings in my freezer and then tapped the old wear rings right out with ease. This is really turning out to be a easy job. Every thing came apart easy and looks like it should go right back together and I just will have to make sure everything is sealed up good as I go.

[Premix]

Sounds like the through-hull shaft seal. If something went wrong with these it would allow an air leak into the drive pump and would definitely cause cavitation and slipping.  It would also cause a water leak when the boat is not running. Does your boat have two separate intake grates, one for each pump, or are both pumps drawing water through one intake grate. I'm trying to think why both shaft seals would give you problems beginning on the same day. Possibly age - dry rot of the rubber boot on the seal?