Another Clean-Out Plug Thread

[drewkaree]

Ok. Thank you. I am going to try the wax tomorrow and am prob going to rebuild the plug. If those don't work, then yeah, prob going to chalk it up as "it is what it is". It doesn't seem to hurt the performance and it hasn't sunk. Thanks for the feedback. We can definitely say it is something we deal with across the country...I am in Atlanta.

You stated that you "rode with the tray off". Pics of the area and indicators of what tray you're referring to will help. There's the cleanout tray hatch, the cleanout tray itself, and an inspection hatch that you could be referring to

The beeswax will help to keep your cleanout plugs from sticking in the tubes if you happen to leave them in, and will keep the seals supple, but it's just beeswax. Your issue is that the water is coming past the seals, filling up the cleanout tray area, and THEN getting into the bilge. The ultimate issue will be most likely due to the tray not being sealed, and/or the inspection hatch allowing water past if it builds up that high. The beeswax may slow this process down, but you've got water getting into the bilge, which points to other areas that are leaking further down the troubleshooting chain.

The tray can easily be sealed with DAP Seal n Peel or silicone. Silicone will be a bigger PITA to remove, but if you can't find the DAP, you can definitely source silicone. If you're still getting water in the bilge from that area, buying or DIY-ing a riser for your inspection hatch seems to be the solution to that issue.

Rebuilding your plugs may or may not solve the issue, but more likely than not, it WON'T, or at best, it will solve it for a period of time. The less expensive solution is to seal the cleanout tray first. I'd try adding the riser second, and if those two don't stop your water intrusion issues, THEN rebuild your plugs. At the very least, if you DO decide to rebuild the plugs, save the seals for "just in case" reasons.

 

[DaveShip55]

You stated that you "rode with the tray off". Pics of the area and indicators of what tray you're referring to will help. There's the cleanout tray hatch, the cleanout tray itself, and an inspection hatch that you could be referring to

The beeswax will help to keep your cleanout plugs from sticking in the tubes if you happen to leave them in, and will keep the seals supple, but it's just beeswax. Your issue is that the water is coming past the seals, filling up the cleanout tray area, and THEN getting into the bilge. The ultimate issue will be most likely due to the tray not being sealed, and/or the inspection hatch allowing water past if it builds up that high. The beeswax may slow this process down, but you've got water getting into the bilge, which points to other areas that are leaking further down the troubleshooting chain.

The tray can easily be sealed with DAP Seal n Peel or silicone. Silicone will be a bigger PITA to remove, but if you can't find the DAP, you can definitely source silicone. If you're still getting water in the bilge from that area, buying or DIY-ing a riser for your inspection hatch seems to be the solution to that issue.

Rebuilding your plugs may or may not solve the issue, but more likely than not, it WON'T, or at best, it will solve it for a period of time. The less expensive solution is to seal the cleanout tray first. I'd try adding the riser second, and if those two don't stop your water intrusion issues, THEN rebuild your plugs. At the very least, if you DO decide to rebuild the plugs, save the seals for "just in case" reasons.

Yeah, I’m not sure if Jacob sealed his tray, or added the Jet Boat Pilot riser, but I did both. In fact I think I way over did my tray itself, using 3M 4200, along with a bead of regular silicone around the edge after sealing down the tray itself, LOL! I’m guessing it’s going to be a royal PIA to get that tray out if I need to. (Oooh, speaking of I want to replace my Scupper this season, hopefully I can get to everything thru the hatch access)
But even with all that I’ve done, I still get water in the bilge when going over about 40mph, and when I immediately open the hatch, both tubes a full to the brim, as well as some water in the tray itself.
Not exactly sure how the water is getting in the bilge, maybe thru the lid of the riser (not sure how water tight that is), or maybe thru the clean out tubes themselves, but they seems unlikely.
Maybe it’s getting in a totally different way? And just a coincidence that the clean out ports leak?
I open the engine compartment after going over 40, and it’s bone dry…. Plus I slip the boat for days, and no water in the bilge after sitting in the slip.
To tell you the truth, I’m confused!….

 

[Jetboat_Long Island]

There has been lots of discussion about water on top of the clean-out plugs and that its fairly normal. Many people believe that water gets into the inspection port area from the swim platform when stopping, etc. and it fills the clean-out access tube.

I used to subscribe to that theory as well.... until I purchased the 275SD. The inspection access covers and clean-out ports sit pretty high up off the swim-platform. You would need to stop dead from 50mph or have a 3 foot wave come over the back of the boat to get water on top of the clean-out plugs. When I first started using the boat I had water on top of my clean out plugs. I wasn't too worried about it since I had seen this with previous Yamaha boats.

However, I had at one time theorized that water getting on top of the clean-out plugs was from some blow-by getting past the plugs. I might have now just confirmed that this is actually the case.

Before my 10-hour service, I was getting water on top of my clean-out plugs. No big deal... and I would just remove the plugs and let the water drain after ever outing. After I had my 10-hour service, I noticed the dealer coated the clean-out plugs in bees wax (aka a toilet base gasket). After the 10-hour service and the bees wax around the clean-out plugs.... no more water on top of the clean-out plugs.

As I got closer to the 30-hours I started getting water on top of the clean-out plugs again and I could see the bees wax was starting to fade away around the plugs. I was using some waterproof lube on my clean-out plugs that I also had used use on pool pump o-rings before the bees wax. Trouble with that lube is that it is tough to get it to stay on the clean-out plugs.

I have now switched to bees wax and it sticks much better to the clean-out plugs and also lasts longer. I also stopped getting water on top of my plugs again so it appears the bees wax not only lubricates the plugs but helps keeps them sealed to prevent any blow-by from the pump. At least that's my theory of how water gets on the tops of my clean-out plugs on the 275.

When I start to see water on top of my plugs again, that is going to be my singnal to coat the plugs with bees wax again.




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View attachment 211804

There has been lots of discussion about water on top of the clean-out plugs and that its fairly normal. Many people believe that water gets into the inspection port area from the swim platform when stopping, etc. and it fills the clean-out access tube.

I used to subscribe to that theory as well.... until I purchased the 275SD. The inspection access covers and clean-out ports sit pretty high up off the swim-platform. You would need to stop dead from 50mph or have a 3 foot wave come over the back of the boat to get water on top of the clean-out plugs. When I first started using the boat I had water on top of my clean out plugs. I wasn't too worried about it since I had seen this with previous Yamaha boats.

However, I had at one time theorized that water getting on top of the clean-out plugs was from some blow-by getting past the plugs. I might have now just confirmed that this is actually the case.

Before my 10-hour service, I was getting water on top of my clean-out plugs. No big deal... and I would just remove the plugs and let the water drain after ever outing. After I had my 10-hour service, I noticed the dealer coated the clean-out plugs in bees wax (aka a toilet base gasket). After the 10-hour service and the bees wax around the clean-out plugs.... no more water on top of the clean-out plugs.

As I got closer to the 30-hours I started getting water on top of the clean-out plugs again and I could see the bees wax was starting to fade away around the plugs. I was using some waterproof lube on my clean-out plugs that I also had used use on pool pump o-rings before the bees wax. Trouble with that lube is that it is tough to get it to stay on the clean-out plugs.

I have now switched to bees wax and it sticks much better to the clean-out plugs and also lasts longer. I also stopped getting water on top of my plugs again so it appears the bees wax not only lubricates the plugs but helps keeps them sealed to prevent any blow-by from the pump. At least that's my theory of how water gets on the tops of my clean-out plugs on the 275.

When I start to see water on top of my plugs again, that is going to be my singnal to coat the plugs with bees wax again.




View attachment 211803


View attachment 211804

 

[Jetboat_Long Island]

Is there any real issue with water spilling into the clean out plug deck under the hatch whether it be from spill back from the transom or coming up through the plug? If it comes up through the plug does it bleed power off from not being sealed and water being redirected upward through the plug instead of directing out of the nozzle? Just curious I’m a new jet boat owner. I was told that area is self bailing and is designed to get wet either way ?? Thoughts

 

[Jacob L]

Yeah, I’m not sure if Jacob sealed his tray, or added the Jet Boat Pilot riser, but I did both. In fact I think I way over did my tray itself, using 3M 4200, along with a bead of regular silicone around the edge after sealing down the tray itself, LOL! I’m guessing it’s going to be a royal PIA to get that tray out if I need to. (Oooh, speaking of I want to replace my Scupper this season, hopefully I can get to everything thru the hatch access)
But even with all that I’ve done, I still get water in the bilge when going over about 40mph, and when I immediately open the hatch, both tubes a full to the brim, as well as some water in the tray itself.
Not exactly sure how the water is getting in the bilge, maybe thru the lid of the riser (not sure how water tight that is), or maybe thru the clean out tubes themselves, but they seems unlikely.
Maybe it’s getting in a totally different way? And just a coincidence that the clean out ports leak?
I open the engine compartment after going over 40, and it’s bone dry…. Plus I slip the boat for days, and no water in the bilge after sitting in the slip.
To tell you the truth, I’m confused!….

@drewkaree and @DaveShip55....when I rode with tray off I had removed the entire tray so I could see and look all around. I tried the bees wax on the clean out plug, and drewaree, yeah it's just bees wax. Makes the plug smooth putting in and taking out but did zip to stop the water. I did seal the tray back on using silicone (I had re-siliconed around and under the inspection covers in the past as I had seen water dripping in through the screw holes....i have two on sx190) and took it back out today. I give my work a solid A to A+ as even after long rides at higher rpm and about 1-1.5 hours of pulling kids on tub (teens so little bigger and of course want faster all the time, glad Dad can set speed limits to keep safe but have fun) no water into bilge area. It wasn't until I started coming off plane and stoping fast that I got water in there. I think that comes from the water going over the inspection covers and through that. Thank you for the idea of putting in risers. I have not heard of that before. I think I will run it a few more times and see if it happens again. I also may just plug the drain hole with my thumb and fill that area and see if it leaks anywhere. If it only goes in through the inspection ports, then the riser may be the final "fix all" for this mystery.

Thanks for all the advise and ideas. I will update in few weeks when have had time to try all this.

Now real quick funny part....seems I have the leak controlled and poss identified but the transducer seems to be going out on depth finder. So I may end up having to cut it all open to replace that. Good news is, I will know how to put it back right. Hahaha

 

[Jacob L]

Is there any real issue with water spilling into the clean out plug deck under the hatch whether it be from spill back from the transom or coming up through the plug? If it comes up through the plug does it bleed power off from not being sealed and water being redirected upward through the plug instead of directing out of the nozzle? Just curious I’m a new jet boat owner. I was told that area is self bailing and is designed to get wet either way ?? Thoughts

This is my first jet boat as well and I picked it up at the end of last summer and had time to enjoy it about 3-5 weeks. Like everyone has said, water in the clean out plug area is normal and does not hurt the performance of the boat. Where mine was having the problem (it seems might have fig it out) was as water came into the clean out tray area it was leaking around the tray and into the bilge.