10 replies to this topic

[JasonZDel]

Hello all. Long time reader, but first time poster here. I have an emergency situation and would appreciate any and all input!

We took our '98 Speedster to the lake for the weekend and had a blast. We decided to leave it tied up at the dock overnight, the first time ever, instead of trailering and relaunching the next day. However, the next morning the boat wouldn't start.

All of the gauges, horn, etc worked, but the engine wouldn't turn over. I assumed the battery was low and opened the engine compartment to take a look. To my surprise, the ENTIRE engine compartment was full of water. The water was even covering the top of the engines. I then pulled open the storage hatch in the floor and it too was full of water. We immediately had a friend pull us to the ramp where we trailered it and opened the drain plug which was completely screwed in. It took what seemed like 30 min for all of the water to drain. I have always read that when leaving the water it is good practice to fire up the engines for a few seconds to drain any remaining water. I tried to fire them up a couple of times, but they would not even turn over.

Two questions:

(1) Anyone have any insight as to why the boat took on water?

(2) This is the most important as I'm sure time is of the essence. What do I need to do make sure there is no permanent damaged to the engines?

Thank you all in advance for any insight and help!!!

[Kevin Leclair]

This might be a silly question but did you get any rain overnight that might have got in the boat? Secondly and more importantly even if the boat did take on water why wasn't your auto-bilge working or was it?

Now to answer your two questions:

(1) To my knowledge it isn't uncommon for the boat to take on "some" water, but it shouldn't take on as much that you have described. Typically the little bit of water it might take on the auto-bilge should take care of. I would take it to your dealer to have it looked at as soon as possible, it could be that you have some faulty seals or drain plugs.

(2) Take a look at this post, http://seadoosportbo...-my-cyclinders/, regarding what to do about the water in the engine.

Keep us posted!

[JasonZDel]

This might be a silly question but did you get any rain overnight that might have got in the boat? Secondly and more importantly even if the boat did take on water why wasn't your auto-bilge working or was it?

Now to answer your two questions:

(1) To my knowledge it isn't uncommon for the boat to take on "some" water, but it shouldn't take on as much that you have described. Typically the little bit of water it might take on the auto-bilge should take care of. I would take it to your dealer to have it looked at as soon as possible, it could be that you have some faulty seals or drain plugs.

(2) Take a look at this post, http://seadoosportbo...-my-cyclinders/, regarding what to do about the water in the engine.

Keep us posted!

Kevin,

Thanks for the link. Tonight I will try what is described. Can you direct me to a picture or diagram of what they are describing here: "I would take off rubber coupling between waterbox and exhaust manifold and let drain in both engines." Specifically, what is the "waterbox"? I'm looking in the operators guide and the service manual and don't see this.

To answer your question, we did not get any rain overnight and I have no idea why the bilge didn't work. This may be the problem, but first things first. Let see if this thing is salvageable.

[Kevin Leclair]

You're welcome. I think that might be some "loose" termanology. Attached is what I see in the shop manual regarding the exhaust manifold.

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Sounds good, keep us posted on your findings!

[JasonZDel]

You're welcome. I think that might be some "loose" termanology. Attached is what I see in the shop manual regarding the exhaust manifold.

Sounds good, keep us posted on your findings!

Ok here's an update:

I got the mufflers and exhaust manifold apart and drained all the water, which was ALOT. I then removed the spark plugs and turned over the engines a few times. This shot all the remaining water out. WARNING for future DIY follks. Make sure you stand clear of the top of the engine, because all of the water (mixed with gas?) will spray forcefully out. It even hit the ceiling of my 20' tall garage with room to spare.

After doing this several times to get as much water out as possible, I reassembled everything. While I had the plugs out, I went ahead and put new ones in. I then tried to start the engines which now turn over fine, but they will not start. Everything turns over normally as if it were to start but neither engine quite ever ignites.

Do I need to spray something in the engine? Any other input out there!?!?!?! Thanks again.

[hrdtduck]

If your engines were completely under water you are going to have to check the carbs too they should be OK but take the air boxes off and the flash suppressor (looks like a wire grated rectangle, it lifts right out with a little persuasion) out of the cast part that is bolted to the carb tops so you can see if raw gas is being squirted in while working the throttle. Also was your electronic control box underwater, it should be OK but if fully submersed it could be a real $$$ problem?...check the fuses to see if any are blown.. Check the ignition boxes for water contamination (one on each side of the engine bay, the ones with the red cable coming out of them). you can use WD-40 "Wire Dry" spray or similar to displace the water that may be in electrical connections.

Are you sure you got all the water out of the engine casings?...2 stroke engines pass the intake fuel charge thru the engine casing and are pressurized. (the engines act like a air pump aided by the tuned exhaust pipes) The crankshaft bearings, piston wrist bearing and cylinder wall lubrication depend on the oil in the air charge to lubricate. This is a serious issue and you do not want to be running the engines until you are sure all the water is gone, and the internals are free of water contamination. Otherwise the engine will not survive when you get them running. Sorry but there is no easy solution to a water flooded engine...

You will also need to check for water in the fuel tank (not highly likely but possible).

Wish I could be more optimistic, but you have a lot of work ahead of you...

[RFoster130]

Hope your boat manged to be salvaged and is still running. I just wanted to add something here to help you maybe this year. These boats will leak water in sometimes, that is normal. The bilge pump is designed to take care of the problem. On my 98 Speedster though the bilge pump was originally connected to the battery switch. If the boat was left in the water and the battery switch was left off, the boat would fill with water. I got lucky and found the ski locker full but the engines werent under water.

I figured out the problem and fixed it myself. You need to take the battery switch out and remove all the wires from it. Fill the engine compartment with a few gallons of water till you see the pump covered. Then touch the wires on the battery until you find the one that turns the pump on. That red wire needs to be moved on the switch so that it is always positive. That will fix it so the pump can always turn on even with the battery switch off.

[Ron K]

Newbie dumb question/suggestion... Any petcocks open? (from winterizing or some such?)
I had this on a 23 ft slickcraft long ago.

[Don K]

Two days ago, my 2007 speedster with the 215hp went under at the dock. I pressed the bilge pump switch and the water started to pump out to where boat was emptied. But engine went under in salt water. Got boat on trailer and washed the entire engine and compartment with fresh water. Pulled the plugs and found water in cylinders. Took my oil change suction pump bought at westmarine and sucked as much watrer I could out of each cyl. Then turned over engine numerous times which blowed the water off to a point and sucked more water from cylinders. Then sucked all of the engine oil out and poured a capful of oil into each cylinder. Replaced oil and was able to start engine after some time. Then as it ran a little while, I shut it off and sucked the oil out again. Did this procedure of replacing with new oil[ cheap 10-40] and running a while then changing about 5 times until oil after running was the light brown and not white cream color. After the final good oil change with all starting and running good, I took it out to blow out any other moisture and to heat up engine and compartment. Boat is back to normal operating condition.

Obviously, the auto bilge pump float switch is faulty. Verified this with boat on trailer and doing final wash and rinse and filling compartment with fresh water to the point of the switch being under water.
Also, looked around outside and under boat for any evidence of water leaking out........NONE??????
Drained engine compartment of fresh water. Started engine with exterior water hooked to flush fitting in jet housing area. Looked for any leaking of water in system for that water........NONE????????
Boat wast docked overnight for this sinking.

SO WHERE IS THIS WATER COMING AT???????????? Drive shaft seal????? Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[bryckhaus]

I hope you got them running. For the leak check the boot around the exhaust port exiting under the rear deck. I had to replace mine on a 98 speedster this season. The leak was about a one cup per min.

[j1g1c1]

...
Obviously, the auto bilge pump float switch is faulty. Verified this with boat on trailer and doing final wash and rinse and filling compartment with fresh water to the point of the switch being under water.
Also, looked around outside and under boat for any evidence of water leaking out........NONE??????
Drained engine compartment of fresh water. Started engine with exterior water hooked to flush fitting in jet housing area. Looked for any leaking of water in system for that water........NONE????????
Boat wast docked overnight for this sinking.

SO WHERE IS THIS WATER COMING AT???????????? Drive shaft seal????? Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Every year, while winterizing my 150, I fill the hull with enough water to trigger the float switch. Just to make sure it works.