16 replies to this topic

[thumper]

took boat out for the first time this year - noticed a cuople of probs
guages seem to have died over winter - should get sorted on warranty

unscrewed drain plugs while on slipway and quite a bit of very warm water came out - its obviously warm because its just under the engine - but how did it get there?????

there wasnt enough to start the bilge pump while underway- but just wondered where it came from - the only way water can go from the deck to the engine bay is through the ski locker and we didnt do any sub moves - so was wondering if the exhaust cooling system has an 'overflow' inside the engine compartment or maybe it has a leak????

any ideas - has anyone else noticed this????

[cAn'T sWim]

took boat out for the first time this year - noticed a cuople of probs
guages seem to have died over winter - should get sorted on warranty

unscrewed drain plugs while on slipway and quite a bit of very warm water came out - its obviously warm because its just under the engine - but how did it get there?????

there wasnt enough to start the bilge pump while underway- but just wondered where it came from - the only way water can go from the deck to the engine bay is through the ski locker and we didnt do any sub moves - so was wondering if the exhaust cooling system has an 'overflow' inside the engine compartment or maybe it has a leak????

any ideas - has anyone else noticed this????

I hope it wasn't yellow? Were you by yourself or did you have others on board?

See if it happens again............. Shouldn't be any overflow but if it wasn't much and doesn't happen again, I wouldn't worry too much. Did you wash the boat lately or anything like that? Did you have the drain plugs out before you put the boat in the water, and what I mean is did you tow the boat with the drain plugs out and back half way down the ramp before putting the drain plugs in?

Basically what I am saying is, did you check the engine bay before you went out?

[thumper]

the engine bay was bone dry before it went in it always is, as i drive to the ramp with the drain plugs out, at the ramp put them back in and then go out, as soon as we come back in and the boat is back on the trailer i take them out again so that it can drain on the slipway, the boat is then washed down and i drive home with the drain plugs out and the engine bay is bone dry when we get home, then it stays in the garage with the bay open until we next go out, it also get a quick spray of bombardier lube to all the metallic parts and the cables, still a little bemused ........ will take a bucket next time to see how much comes out and see if its salty or brackish........

[Figz]

I experience the same thing with my C180, I notice that water gets in the ski locker as well. I think the water is going from the ski locker to the bilge and the bilge pump on mine must be in a bad spot. Everytime I hit the button nothing comes out but when you pull the boat out of the water and pull the plugs then a lot of warm water comes out.

[thumper]

as long as its not just me! im happy

[fialoe]

I actually just posted a similar problem I discovered on Saturday. I was out and about and before I knew it I had a cargo of water. Not a huge amount but enough to make me concerned. I left it fill a bit and although it is very cold here the water was warm. I pulled it up the slipway and noticed there was a trickle of water coming out the back left exhaust, not the flue itself but the seal around the edges. I got into the boat today with a torch and screw drive and tightened all the duty clips. I was upside down doing it but when I backed it into the water after there was no water getting in, t least for the short while I had it in the water. I will put a sealant in that area in about two weeks and 'watch this space'.
If anybody has had a similar problem I am sure we would all like to hear howw they got past it. Also in my situation, what way does the exhaust seal in that area. Is it like a sock and boot effect? Do these parts perish and where would I get a new one and what part number is it?
Thanks,
Brian

[thumper]

thanks for that brian - i will have a look next time im in the water, there is a post here about seadoo parts catalogue and where you can order them aswell ,do a search....

[thumper]

I experience the same thing with my C180, I notice that water gets in the ski locker as well. I think the water is going from the ski locker to the bilge and the bilge pump on mine must be in a bad spot. Everytime I hit the button nothing comes out but when you pull the boat out of the water and pull the plugs then a lot of warm water comes out.

thats probably because there isnt enough water to set off the flaot switch - and dont worry these things can hold a bit of water before the flaot switch is activated - in the past i have chocked the trailer wheels and put the jockey wheel on a bin and then wound it right up so that all the water from the hull can drain out its surprising how much water these hold before they set off the bilge pump, nowadays i just leave the drain plugs out on the way home as half the trip is up very steep hills so its bone dry when we get home.

[lghb]

I am a new owner. I dry dock my boat and they insist that the drain plug doesn't need to be taken out after boating. Is this true?

[thumper]

i always drain the bilge after a trip, and flush it with fresh water, and then lube the metal bits and cables in the engine, dont like the idea of any of it rusting away.

[tda3]

I am a new owner.  I dry dock my boat and they insist that the drain plug doesn't need to be taken out after boating.  Is this true?

Well....in the truest sense, that's correct. However, letting water sit in a bilge isn't what I would do. And I would find it hard to believe that you never get water in your bilge.

I'm like Thumper in that after the boat is on the trailer, I unscrew the drain plugs. Besides, when we get home, the boat gets washed before it's put away. And just prior to launching, the plugs are put back in. Truth be known, I do it 'cause that's what my Dad used to do.

OTOH, leaving your drain plugs in all the time would prevent one from forgetting to screw them back in. However, no self-respecting boat owner would be caught dead with a dirty bilge! I mean, c'mon.....what's that say about you as a captain??

Tom

[tda3]

Thumper - Something I happened to think about........

Does your onboard cooler drain into the bilge?? If so, that could be your source of water.

Tom

[thumper]

next time out i am taking a bucket with me and will drain the bilge into that - to see wheather its salty or not or whether its coolant - i was under the impression the cooling system was sealed, it would have an overflow for expansion purposes but it that amount of expansion took place i wouldnt imagine there would be any coolant left! - but i will test nect time out - thanks for the thought

[tda3]

next time out i am taking a bucket with me and will drain the bilge into that - to see wheather its salty or not or whether its coolant - i was under the impression the cooling system was sealed, it would have an overflow for expansion purposes but it that amount of expansion took place i wouldnt imagine there would be any coolant left! - but i will test nect time out - thanks for the thought

After you test the water that you collected from the bilge, let me know how coolant and salt water taste and whether you'd recommend it with meat or fish. LMAO

Tom

[thumper]

with the boat on the trailer and on the ramp at a steep angle i drained the bilge and about 2 cup fulls came out of each drain plug, it wasnt coolant, it was just slightly brackish water - no oil or fuel in it so that was a relief - did see someone else having a bit of trouble over the weekend - brand new chris craft - launched off trailer - guy ties it up then parks up came back to pontoon to find his bilge pump running and the stern sitting very low in water - ooh - forgot you drain plug sir

[Yuji]

Thumper, there are two cooling sytsems on your boat...one for the engine which is closed loop and uses coolant. The other is open loop and cools your intercooler and exhaust (in that order). This open loop gets water from your jet pump and feeds it to your intercooler then goes to your exhaust manifold and then to the waterbox. At this point the exhaust gases and the cooling water both exit thru the same pipe and out exhaust. This water gets warm obviously by the time it exits your boat so you might have a small leak on your exhaust. Start at the waterbox and work your way to the transom where the exhuast exits to see if any of the hose clamps are loose. The other thing to remember is if you do get some water in your bilge due to normally occuring stuff such as sub moves etc. the engine bay gets purty' warm and would heat any water that happens to be laying at the bottom of the hull.

I probably confused you more then helped you...but oh' well, I tried.

[thumper]

thanks yuji - i think maybe there may be a small leak on the water box clamps - i wll check next time i am out - cheers