06 sx230 h.o. general newbie question

[Newbie]

Hello all,

I am a very new to watersports owner of a 2006 sx230 H.O. New like - first time on the water and first time boat owner yesterday. So Im fairly mechanically inclined, did my intial inspection and research on MR1 engines before I purchased, did the sea trial..everything seemed to beed good. Took the boat out for the first time yesterday for about 4 hours. Pulled out of the water , removed the drain plug and had about 3-4 of drain water, warm but not hot like off the engine hot. So I dug into the forum and joined. Thanks in andvace for all the help and support. My 1st question is that ammt of drain water excessive.. I did not run the bilge pump at all, I was told that it is not an auto pump and will burn up if left on while in the water. So question #2 is should I have that switch on while in the water? Thanks to all

 

[Babin Farms]

Congrats on the purchase
First thing, make sure if your boat is in the water your bilge pump switch is ON. The pump will not burn up. That’s not a crazy amount of water depending on what you were doing. A lot of times the access hatch by the clean out ports is not sealed up and any water washing over the swim deck will let some water into the bilge. Is the scupper valve new, plastic or stainless steel? Have you inspected all of your hose clamps to make sure you don’t have one that rusted out leaking cooling water into the bilge?

 

[Dave burke]

Agree with @Babin Farms. I’d also invest in an automatic bilge pump. They’re not that expensive. That way you don’t have to worry about turning it off and on all time.

 

[Newbie]

Congrats on the purchase
First thing, make sure if your boat is in the water your bilge pump switch is ON. The pump will not burn up. That’s not a crazy amount of water depending on what you were doing. A lot of times the access hatch by the clean out ports is not sealed up and any water washing over the swim deck will let some water into the bilge. Is the scupper valve new, plastic or stainless steel? Have you inspected all of your hose clamps to make sure you don’t have one that rusted out leaking cooling water into the bilge?

The scupper is plastic and I will be ordering the S.S... I have not inspected the hose clamps and will be doing that this afternoon, I did make sure that water was flowing out of the port side making sure the engines were cooling, they appear to be working properly. With that said, I thought the bilge is where the engines are so I was periodically checking the engine bay to make sure no crazy ammount of water was entering...after reading some forums, I belive im wrong... so am i correct that the bilge is behind and below my engine bay?

 

[WREKS]

Hello @Newbie The bilge pump should be automatic. Check your owner's manual for operation. Owners manual 2006 SX23

 

[Babin Farms]

The bilge is under the engine bay. There is no way to separate the two the way Yamaha designed these hulls. If you open the clean out hatch and remove the access panel you will be able to see the exhausts and all of the clamps in that area and if replacing the scupper you’ll have to get in there. Some put a second bilge pump in that area, I put mine in between the engines. When reinstalling the access hatch make sure to seal it up with some cheap caulk or removable caulk for easy access the next time otherwise water can leak in there when you slow down fast & give the swim deck a good washing. With the water in the bilge I wouldn’t be too concerned over it yet due to the fact that sometimes I take my boat out and get no water when I pull the drain plug in other times I get a gallon or two that will come out. There’s no rhyme or reason that I have for this and just deal with it.

 

[Newbie]

The scupper is plastic and I will be ordering the S.S... I have not inspected the hose clamps and will be doing that this afternoon, I did make sure that water was flowing out of the port side making sure the engines were cooling, they appear to be working properly. With that said, I thought the bilge is where the engines are so I was periodically checking the engine bay to make sure no crazy ammount of water was entering...after reading some forums, I belive im wrong... so am i correct that the bilge is behind and below my engine bay?

Also I meant 3-4 minutes of drain. Just to clarify

 

[Newbie]

The bilge is under the engine bay. There is no way to separate the two the way Yamaha designed these hulls. If you open the clean out hatch and remove the access panel you will be able to see the exhausts and all of the clamps in that area and if replacing the scupper you’ll have to get in there. Some put a second bilge pump in that area, I put mine in between the engines. When reinstalling the access hatch make sure to seal it up with some cheap caulk or removable caulk for easy access the next time otherwise water can leak in there when you slow down fast & give the swim deck a good washing. With the water in the bilge I wouldn’t be too concerned over it yet due to the fact that sometimes I take my boat out and get no water when I pull the drain plug in other times I get a gallon or two that will come out. There’s no rhyme or reason that I have for this and just deal with it.

? sounds good and thank you.. I had about 3-4 minutes of drain.. im hoping that if I run with the bilge pump on next time it will be significantly less..

 

[Babin Farms]

In our pre launch I’ll have one of my kids turn blowers & bilge pump on. It’s habit to the point they ask to do it.

 

[Newbie]

Great idea, I have 2 kids they will each get a switch???

 

[Newbie]

In our pre launch I’ll have one of my kids turn blowers & bilge pump on. It’s habit to the point they ask to do it.

Bilge pump on for the win, out on the water all day today with about a gallon or 2 when I pulled the plug! Thanks for the support

 

[Julian]

The ECUs on these boats are their Achilles Heal....they aren't sealed well, and if they get water in them....bad things happen. I'd put flashing over the top of them and/or tape the tops and sides. (ECU= 2 is electronics boxes on back of engine compartment)

 

[Nightmare]

The 2006 Models are a different hull design from my 2011. But we were on the lake for 5 hours today, pulling a tube and 9 people getting in and out of the boat.
I opened the drain plug on level ground and literally not a drop of water back there. It did find some water in the middle of the hull somewhere, but not much.