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Got a newb question about drain plugs and bilge pumps

Gooch

Jet Boat Addict
Messages
65
Reaction score
58
Points
92
Location
Stoddard WI
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2021
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
25
We got the boat out for the first time yesterday and I’ve got a couple of questions. I noticed my bilge pump coming on when I slowed down. I popped the engine cover and there was a little water around the pump. The few times it came on, it only ran for a minute or two. Is it normal to have the water coming in like that?
Second question: when we pulled the boat out and unscrewed the drain plug, there was quite a bit of water coming out. Or at least it seemed like a lot of water. Is this normal as well?
 
Your bilge pump is doing what it is supposed to do. Some have had water come in at the anchor locker drain where the fitting penetrates the hull.
 
We got the boat out for the first time yesterday and I’ve got a couple of questions. I noticed my bilge pump coming on when I slowed down. I popped the engine cover and there was a little water around the pump. The few times it came on, it only ran for a minute or two. Is it normal to have the water coming in like that?
Second question: when we pulled the boat out and unscrewed the drain plug, there was quite a bit of water coming out. Or at least it seemed like a lot of water. Is this normal as well?

It is not normal for your bilge pump to be coming on while you are out on the water, especially in a new boat.

As far as water coming out of the drain plug, on my boat this varies, sometimes I get a gallon if I’ve been washing down the deck a lot, other times I don’t get any.

Since the boat is new I’d have the dealer look into it.
 
Check to see if your drain plug threads have trash in them or on the o-ring of the drain plug. These boats are notorious for having leftover manufacturing debris in the bilge. It would probably do you some good to open the drain plug(s) and then run a hose in the bilge from the clean out tray to wash out your bilge and get all that crap out. The anchor locker drain was a known poor construction area on the previous 24-series boats. Not sure if they fixed that or not on the new 25-series but I would look there as mentioned. IMO it’s not abnormal to get water in the bilge of these boats due to some of their design and manufacturing ....but it is abnormal to have so much water that it flows up to the engine compartment hole where the bilge pump is.
 
Last edited:
Check to see if your drain plug threads have trash in them or on the o-ring of the drain plug. These boats are notorious for having leftover manufacturing debris in the bilge. It would probably do yo some good to open the drain -out and then run a hose in the bilge from the clean out tray to wash out your bilge and get all that crap out. The anchor locker drain was a notorious poor construction area on the previous 24-series boats. Not sure if they fixed that or not on the new 25-series but I would look there as mentioned. IMO it’s not abnormal to get water in the bilge of these boats due to some of their design and manufacturing ....but it is abnormal to have so much water that it flows up to the engine compartment hole where the bilge pump is.

Thanks @haknslash, I should have said that as well.... I had some crap in the bilge when my boat was new and rinsed it all out the way you suggested.
 
Ok. Thanks for the info.
 
We got the boat out for the first time yesterday and I’ve got a couple of questions. I noticed my bilge pump coming on when I slowed down. I popped the engine cover and there was a little water around the pump. The few times it came on, it only ran for a minute or two. Is it normal to have the water coming in like that?
Second question: when we pulled the boat out and unscrewed the drain plug, there was quite a bit of water coming out. Or at least it seemed like a lot of water. Is this normal as well?
Ideally you shouldn't get any water in the boat unless you have water splash over the sides. You might get some coming in around the transom access panel. I ran a bead of silicone around the panel and now my boat is bone dry every run. I think water pushes up the drain and spills into the cleanout tray area. Most of it drains back out, but some will easily run under the access panel since it's not sealed, just screwed down.

You might also have a loose clamp somewhere and water is leaking from the cooling system. Is the water warm, or cold like the lake/river?
 
Check to see if your drain plug threads have trash in them or on the o-ring of the drain plug. These boats are notorious for having leftover manufacturing debris in the bilge. It would probably do you some good to open the drain plug(s) and then run a hose in the bilge from the clean out tray to wash out your bilge and get all that crap out. The anchor locker drain was a known poor construction area on the previous 24-series boats. Not sure if they fixed that or not on the new 25-series but I would look there as mentioned. IMO it’s not abnormal to get water in the bilge of these boats due to some of their design and manufacturing ....but it is abnormal to have so much water that it flows up to the engine compartment hole where the bilge pump is.

I had quite a bot of debris coming out of mine still. It started with plastic shavings. I thought I had it all clean, then today after a few hours on the water I had metal shavings coming out as well.
 
I had quite a bot of debris coming out of mine still. It started with plastic shavings. I thought I had it all clean, then today after a few hours on the water I had metal shavings coming out as well.
Probably some spare fasteners lingering in there too lol. My 192 had everything in there.
 
Probably some spare fasteners lingering in there too lol. My 192 had everything in there.

Probably so.. And honestly, I am glad I have a 2020 that was built prior to Covid. Seems the quality went to shat for 2021 models..
 
I appreciate the help.....it’s going back to the dealer on Monday.
 
Got back from the dealer today. Turns out it was the anchor locker plug. It didn’t have the rubber seal. Thanks everyone for the help.
 
There is no rubber seal. For years the anchor drain is nothing but a white press in plastic tube that is too short to make it into the locker liner so it just dumps water in the bilge. That plastic tube needs to be replaced with a 3/8 stainless thru hull fitting. That is the proper repair. Not sure what the dealer did. Prob just pumped some silicone in the hole. It blows my mind that yamaha has still uses that press in fitting when they know its an issue
 
Got back from the dealer today. Turns out it was the anchor locker plug. It didn’t have the rubber seal. Thanks everyone for the help.

Glad to hear the problem was found!
 
@mrcleanr6 not sure what you mean by a “thru hull fitting.” Please explain.
 
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