Entire engine bay full of water (With Pics)

[tahmad575]

Hello I put my boat back in the water, after about an hour of running it I noticed about of foot of water in the boat with the bilge motor turned off, so then I turned it on and it got most of the water out.

I decided to leave the boat at my slip overnight with the batteries and bilge pump off to see how much water would come in... The whole engine Bay filled with water.

I know it's not the drain plug because I tightened that yesterday before putting the boat in.. Any suggestions?

 

[haknslash]

scupper been replaced/upgraded? BTW just because you tighten a drain plug doesn't mean it's going to seal. If the oring is damaged or there is trash in the oring groove, no amount of tightening would matter and it would still leak. You have a pretty large leak and should be easy to find if you pull the boat out of the water and fill the bilge with water. You'll see it drip from the source.

 

[Betik]

I would put a go pro in random places with a wrong “flashlight” while the boat is in the water and see if you find the source. Long and tedious but you will figure it out

 

[Beachbummer]

You need a bilge float and bilge pump yesterday!

The other technique is to put the boat on the trailer and fill the engine bay with water from the hose and watch to see where it leaks outside. Be careful of the water level so the water does not enter the engines!

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Probably the intermediate bearings are toast and allowing water to get in That would be the first place I would look

 

[Liveto99]

Hello I put my boat back in the water, after about an hour of running it I noticed about of foot of water in the boat with the bilge motor turned off, so then I turned it on and it got most of the water out.

I decided to leave the boat at my slip overnight with the batteries and bilge pump off to see how much water would come in... The whole engine Bay filled with water.

I know it's not the drain plug because I tightened that yesterday before putting the boat in.. Any suggestions?

Don’t do that again it is not a good idea.
I’m not trying to boss you around, but because u did that. I’m assuming no one told you it was not a good idea.
I’m talking about leaving the boat in the slip overnight with the batteries and bilge pump off when you know you have a leak.

 

[swatski]

I decided to leave the boat at my slip overnight with the batteries and bilge pump off to see how much water would come in...

I had to read the sentence a couple of times, was not sure you're serious.
Well, I'd echo @Liveto99 sentiment.

--

 

[Recoveringfiberglassaddic]

I’m talking about leaving the boat in the slip overnight with the batteries and bilge pump off when you know you have a leak.

Maybe he slips the boat in only 10" of water ?. Thanks for that post. Perfectly stated.

 

[Betik]

He does have bigger testicles than most of us for sure.

 

[Chillypilot]

My bet is failed scupper.

 

[tahmad575]

@Betik Thanks LOL? now it gets me thinking, will 6 cleats hold up a boat full of water? ?

@Chillypilot & @haknslash no I have not changed the scupper, but I'm going to order that $57 attwood 1 1/2 inch stainless steel one tomorrow. Do I really need to make a special wrench to get the old scupper out or can I just use a pipe wrench?

@Beachbummer I think I'm going to add a second bilge pump just in case, thanks that's exactly what the marina manager told me he would do if I decide to let them find the leak, he said it sarcastically because he knows I can do it myself based on all the work I've already done

@Cobra Jet Steering LLC Hey when I bought my boat a couple months ago it came with the Cobra steering fins?
How long will it take me to change both the port and starboard intermediate bearings?! Is it a difficult job? I can handle most things even if it it'll require special tools

@Liveto99 I appreciate it and yeah this is my first time owning a boat I only have 3 months experience, I definitely won't be doing that again and in hindsight it was pretty dumb I could have flooded the ECU's again and got water in the intakes and sank my boat, I feel like any other boat brand would never have this kind of community and support I really do appreciate it dudes

@swatski do you think I should start a thread on here for all the things "Not to do" for new owners / boaters ?

 

[tahmad575]

Also the other night I found this random bolt laying around in the middle engine compartment bilge area (you know how there's like 3 compartments in the bottom of the engine bay) ...I'm notorious for forgetting to mention key details. Couldn't find where the bolt came out of but it looks important. It has a number 8 on the head

 

[Betik]

@swatski do you think I should start a thread on here for all the things "Not to do" for new owners / boaters ?

I am sure @robert843 would have loved to put that in video LOL


I think @swatski is more familiar with his boat trying to kill him instead of him trying to kill his boat. You guys are like Yin & Yan.

 

[tahmad575]

@Betik a half parody half serious video of what to avoid while owning a jet boat would be amazing

That's too funny I think @swatski wanted to shoot me after I dragged on an engine problem thread for 3 pages with out mentioning that I put high output ECU's in a non ho boat

 

[Betik]

death by @swatski is an honor my friend. If you were to compere the average boater a scale from wall mart, @swatski is like an atomic scale used by NASA or something along those lines.

That bolt, I doubt it caused the leak. Although it might be a good idea to put it back on. Given the speed of water intrusion I am sure it is one of the items mentioned above.

 

[tahmad575]

@Betik at slow speeds I can steer the boat in a pretty straight line now! AND I'm the only one in my marina that reverses into my slip ? (because I like to enter from the swim platform) I guess I have a long way to go before I'm at @swatski level

I guess the only way to find where that bolt came out from is to feel for an exposed hole on the bottom of the engines

 

[Betik]

@Betik at slow speeds I can steer the boat in a pretty straight line now! AND I'm the only one in my marina that reverses into my slip ?

I am tempted to say " in a world of blind people; the cyclone is the king", but I cannot even go on the straight line at speed let alone a no wake

 

[Betik]

@Betik
I guess the only way ......... is to feel for an exposed hole on the bottom ...

Sorry I could not resist with boats being referred to as "her" and yours being all wet inside inside. What can I say; you bring out the worse in me.

 

[tahmad575]

@Betik LOLL I was originally going to say "I'll need to finger every exposed hole at the bottom of the engine bay" I don't like to refer to my boat as a her because my boat is too masculine idk maybe I'm a meninist

After some research, it seems that boats are referred to as "her" because like a female..boats are unpredictable ?

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Cobra Jet Steering LLC Hey when I bought my boat a couple months ago it came with the Cobra steering fins?
How long will it take me to change both the port and starboard intermediate bearings?! Is it a difficult job? I can handle most things even if it it'll require special tools

You have to pull the pumps and move the engines forward. It is a pain in the neck Also check ALL hose clamps closely they rot and fall off but the scupper is definitely one good idea also and the age of the boat may lead to the intermediate bearings those leak mostly when you are anchored. The rubber detaches from the housing allowing water to get in.