Engine compartment flooded after plug blow out. Please help.

[Jakek]

First of all, this forum has been extremely helpful over the past year of owning my 2016 Yamaha AR240. I wish my first post was under better circumstances but I need some guidance and detailed help. Today I had a plug blow out and by the time I could feel that something was wrong and turned the engines off and checked, the engine compartment had filled to about the level of the oil filters. Immediately we began pumping water out with a hand bilge. During this, I checked the bilge current on the system control and it was receiving current but wasn't working. I pulled the bilge to find it was jammed and would not spin. Once we hand pumped the compartment dry, we attempted to start the engines. One started and the other sounded liked it wanted to turn over but wouldn't and an engine error message came up on the Connext. We had to be towed back to our lift.

This far, I have done the following with the help of this forum:
-gently rinsed engine compartment with fresh water and salt away. Once dry, sprayed EVERYTHING down with CRC marine.
-left compartment open for the day to dry out
-removed all spark plugs and cranked engines. No water shot out but the plugs on the starboard motor were a little wet.
-removed air filters, a couple inches of water drained from the enclosure.
-checked dip sticks, oil was NOT milky for either motor

Any guidance as to what my next steps should be before contacting my insurance company and dealer's service department would be greatly appreciated! I live in Cape Coral, Fl (yes, it was salt water). Thanks in advance!!!

 

[Julian]

What was the error message on the Connext screen?

If you are certain there is no water in the engines it is likely just a wet connector. You want to unplug every connector and dry it out.

 

[Jakek]

What was the error message on the Connext screen?

If you are certain there is no water in the engines it is likely just a wet connector. You want to unplug every connector and dry it out.

I believe it was an "engine comm error." That was prior to removing the air filters and having additional water drain from those enclosures. I am not certain that there is not water in the engine but from what I have read on here, nothing points to definitely having water in the engines. They were submerged for probably around the 45 minutes that it took to hand pump all of the water out. Which connectors should be disconnected? The ones directly on the motors or the ecu boxes on the back wall of the engine compartment?

 

[djetok]

And buy some ez locks

Cobra EZ-Locks

CJS EZ Locks for Yamaha Jet Boats are truly the first and only "easy locks" to prevent cleanout plug blowout!

cobrajetsteering.com

 

[Jakek]

And buy some ez locks

Cobra EZ-Locks

CJS EZ Locks for Yamaha Jet Boats are truly the first and only "easy locks" to prevent cleanout plug blowout!

cobrajetsteering.com

Definitely plan on it. Along with replacing the bilge and adding a second one.

 

[Gym]

As @Julian mentioned open all electrical connectors, check for moisture or salt residue, clean and spray any that appear to have been wet with silicone spray. I would do one at a time then close them. That way you won't forget to reconnect any or cross connect any that may be in a bundle.

 

[Julian]

And you have to reconnect the clean out plug hose.

 

[buckbuck]

I would agree with the others and say it is just a wet connector. Not that familiar with the 1.8 motors but water to the oil filter does not sound too alarming. Take @Gym advice and I think you will be back to having fun with your family.

 

[Cambo]

Any yamaha should have a water alarm it’s such a simple item . I have had one with a float switch now I just added an inexpensive one from amazon

Zip tied the sensor to the bilge wire and Velcro zip tied the alarm siren near the hatch it took 2 minutes . If the bilge pump doesn’t come on for some reason like stated above or you don’t notice it’s pumping out the audible tone will let you know .

Instapark water leakage alarm

 

[Julian]

Any yamaha should have a water alarm it’s such a simple item . I have had one with a float switch now I just added an inexpensive one from amazon

Zip tied the sensor to the bilge wire and Velcro zip tied the alarm siren near the hatch it took 2 minutes . If the bilge pump doesn’t come on for some reason like stated above or you don’t notice it’s pumping out the audible tone will let you know .

Instapark water leakage alarm

I agree....had one in my last boat and it is on my mod list for the boat but haven't gotten around to it yet. I installed a Rule high water alarm.

Testing your bilge operation should be an annual, if not more frequent checkup.

 

[TX Drift Away]

My boat as new purchase had a lot of debris in the bilge area. I had to vacuum and clean several times to get all of it out. I was afraid it might clog up the pump. Still after almost two years and I get stuff coming out of drain plug hole.

 

[Babin Farms]

I have a 2009 and still have debris that I pull out of the bilge. It's common with these boats.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Testing your bilge pump should be part of your pre-trip inspection. Most pumps have the thumb lever to manually trigger them...listen for the impeller to spin and you're good to go. It's also advised to exercise your bilge pump while cleaning the boat post trip, just give it water and let it do its thing. Like others have said above: Cobra EZ Locks and a bilge alarm are a must on these jet boats.

 

[TX Drift Away]

Testing your bilge pump should be part of your pre-trip inspection. Most pumps have the thumb lever to manually trigger them...listen for the impeller to spin and you're good to go. It's also advised to exercise your bilge pump while cleaning the boat post trip, just give it water and let it do its thing. Like others have said above: Cobra EZ Locks and a bilge alarm are a must on these jet boats.

Do the Cobra EZ Locks work on stock plugs 2019?

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Do the Cobra EZ Locks work on stock plugs 2019?

No -- ez locks work through 2016 boats. Sorry about that!

 

[Julian]

Do the Cobra EZ Locks work on stock plugs 2019?

Also, not heard of a plug blow out with the new twist in design. We have had a few get stuck in .... so keep them maintained well! (out when not in use - lubricated - clean)

 

[David Martin]

Change oil anyway, sounds like you shut down in time..........it can have water in oil that has not yet foamed......dont risk it. Dry out every drop of water from bilge dry out connectors use fans if necessary......change oil , oil filters, air filters ect.............remove plugs and after she is dry turn over engines as soon as possible to remove any possible water in cylinders.(not likely in your case ) but better to be safe than sorry.

Install new plugs and fire her up.........I would do another oil change after just an hour or two just to be safe.

 

[Cambo]

Another boat flooding issue that could have been 100% prevented with a $20 water alarm you can get three for $20 if one goes bad replace it. Its such a cheap simple item that could notify you of an impending problem that's about to occur . I hope you have no major or long term effects caused from the engine compartment filling with salt water

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IWTCLHA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1