Water in Aft Storage

[Skurks]

I'm a brand new AR195 owner, and this is also my very first boat of any kind.

We have the boat in a slip, with the Yamaha mooring cover. We've had some heavy rain over the past few days, and there is water in the two storage area's on either side of the engine. This area is carpeted from the factory, and I don't see any drain plugs. Two questions:

How did this water get in there?

How do I get this water out?

John

 

[mdchachi]

Could be from the cup holders if you haven't plugged the drains which are directly over the carpet.

If there is wet carpet and no standing water left I don't think you have much choice except to air/sun dry it. Of course if there is standing water in there you should sponge or shop vac it out.

Definitely don't keep the cushions on or keep it sealed. Don't want mold in there.

 

[Skurks]

Holy cow - it seems like quite a bit of water to be coming THROUGH the mooring cover, and into the cup holder. There is standing water in there now.

 

[MBrown]

Is there water in the engine compartment also? Is your bilge pump been running? Seems like a lot of water unless it is really raining hard.

 

[mdchachi]

Holy cow - it seems like quite a bit of water to be coming THROUGH the mooring cover, and into the cup holder. There is standing water in there now.

If so I'd guess it's not just the cup holders. Maybe it pooled in the back corner and the little lip under the cushion wasn't enough to channel the water to the deck.

 

[haknslash]

Yes seal the cup holders or run tubes to your bilge. The cup holders have nipples underneath it's just Yamaha does not run a drainage system for them and just let them dump into your storage areas soaking your carpet. Open your engine hatch and make sure you don't have water in there too. If so turn your bilge on. I'm not familiar with how the bilge actually works on the new models as its different than my boat.

 

[Skurks]

I had gone down to the boat yesterday to check on it. I turned on the bilge, and it ran for like 15 seconds. There is water in the ski locker as well, but I have that drain open.

I've pulled the boat out of the water twice, and removed the port and starboard plugs as soon as pulled it out of the water. Nothing has ever come out, except POSSIBLY when the tow vehicle accelerates.

There must be a lower portion of the hull that gathers water from the locker that the bilge also pumps? I had poured a bucket of water into the ski locker while it was on the trailer, and it did not drain out the back. It was pumped by turning the bilge on at the helm. The bilge didn't automatically turn on.

I'm a bit confused by all of this water coming on board.

 

[scubasteve87]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I think there is a set of plugs that goes from each compartment. I believe it goes Ski Locker --> Fuel Tank Compartment --> Engine Bay --> Bilge --> Rear drain plugs. I believe there are a set of plugs from each location. I would make sure all the water actually flows out properly. It may be worth getting the boat on the trailer and lifting the bow up pretty high to force the water to drain to the stern.

I have not go through each are myself but I have never had any major water issues. I have had some wet carpets in the rear but I believe I narrowed it down to the rub rails and cup holders. I haven't had any water in the engine bay or ski locker, my bilge pump has never kicked on by itself and when I manually turn it on only a little bit of water has trickled out here and there.

 

[haknslash]

You have to get the boat on a very steep incline to get waterto come out of the transom plugs. I never leave the cockpit drain plugs out if on the water. I think owners manual says to leave them screwed in. Yes the drain system is how @scubasteve87 mentioned.

 

[MBrown]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I think there is a set of plugs that goes from each compartment. I believe it goes Ski Locker --> Fuel Tank Compartment --> Engine Bay --> Bilge --> Rear drain plugs. I believe there are a set of plugs from each location. I would make sure all the water actually flows out properly. It may be worth getting the boat on the trailer and lifting the bow up pretty high to force the water to drain to the stern.

I have not go through each are myself but I have never had any major water issues. I have had some wet carpets in the rear but I believe I narrowed it down to the rub rails and cup holders. I haven't had any water in the engine bay or ski locker, my bilge pump has never kicked on by itself and when I manually turn it on only a little bit of water has trickled out here and there.

I don’t believe that the compartments drain into each other. I believe that they drain into a common bilge area below each compartment. You have to have the boat on a steep incline to get all the water in the common bilge area to move to the back drain plugs. Best way to find out is to put it on the trailer and do some experimenting.

 

[mdchachi]

I tried to find the relevant diagram on the parts site but I couldn't find the diagram that contains the fuel compartment or storage locker plugs.

There's some relevant info/discussion in this thread.
Note this post mentions the carpeted areas didn't get flooded even in very heavy rain. So how @Skurks got so much water in the carpeted area is still a mystery to me.

 

[thepiratemorgan]

With the water you've guys gotten down there recently I wouldn't be surprised at wet carpets, etc.
My SX192 is trailered in the driveway. I too get wetness/dampness (never standing) in each aft storage compartment after a heavy rain. I also get the occasional water in the ski locker as well and usually in relation to a heavy rain. I leave my plugs open while on the water, it's what the dealer instructed prior owner to do and it does seem to allow the ski locker to drain better if there is an abundance of water in there (think a couple quarts). I can tell you that this is the 4th summer for the Yamaha Premium mooring cover (grey) and it is like a sieve at this point. I think what happens is the water collects to the bilge, and it might just overflow to those aft storage compartments, not enough to have standing water because I jump in on the occasion and run the bilge pump and that pumps a good gallon or so out after rains depending on how heavy a pour it was. I also leave both aft cushions opened by sliding them forward to their respective captain chairs (I have SX192) to help the area dry out when the sun shines. I have hardly ever seen ANY water come out the transom plugs. It's weird that the bilge water collection at the pump either doesn't make it down to the transom drain plugs, or it's not supposed to, or the design doesn't allow for it on a trailer. In all honesty, I should keep the bilge and battery on all the time (I have an on-board charger plugged in all the time while in the driveway), but I would hate for the Mrs. to be on her way to work and get a blast of bilge water to start her day ;-) I think the best scenario for you would be to plan for some kind of charging system (solar?) and leave bilge on at all times.
And this thread reminded me to do something about the cup holder drains, either plug or piping. Thanks!

 

[mdchachi]

I think what happens is the water collects to the bilge, and it might just overflow to those aft storage compartments, not enough to have standing water because I jump in on the occasion and run the bilge pump and that pumps a good gallon or so out after rains depending on how heavy a pour it was.

So there's a drain hole in those compartments?

 

[Arcadyus]

My carpets get wet but that's from the rub rails and cleats, it doesn't rain like that in the PNW. I don't think water overflows to the storage compartments. I'd assume the bilge would come on before that. The new bilges are automatically turned on when they sense water. I even remember seeing a YouTube video that said they work with the battery switch off but I have e yet to test that. I know mine turns on automatically.

 

[thepiratemorgan]

So there's a drain hole in those compartments?

That's only an assumption on my part. I haven't put an eye on one. But there could be some kind of connection/openness to the engine compartment (where bilge pump sits) back at the transom. Next time I'm in the boat I might dig a little deeper

 

[thepiratemorgan]

My carpets get wet but that's from the rub rails and cleats, it doesn't rain like that in the PNW. I don't think water overflows to the storage compartments. I'd assume the bilge would come on before that.

That's IF the battery switch and bilge are both on. I'm talking when boat is being stored short term and neither are being left on so a collection of water occurs. Just how much does the bilge pump area hold before the water seeks another area to level to.... That's the question.

 

[Arcadyus]

That's IF the battery switch and bilge are both on. I'm talking when boat is being stored short term and neither are being left on.

What do you mean bilge being on? You don't have to turn the bilge on at the helm on the 2018s. And I saw a YouTube video that said even if the battery was off the bilge would still come on. Not sure tho if that's true.

 

[thepiratemorgan]

Not sure about the 2018's ... My 2015 = battery switch off = no light at the bilge switch = no bilge pump and that's how I keep it stored. If the OP's boat has a bilge that runs even with battery switch is off then I think he needs to dig deeper as to the cause and worry about battery drain if he's not using boat often. I would start with cup holders, fix them and go from there.

 

[Arcadyus]

Well I know the 2018 switch doesn't have to be on as my 2018 pumps without the switch on. I'm going to test it today when I get home to see if it still turns on when battery is off as there's a button you can press on the pump that will cycle on the pump to test it.

 

[MBrown]

I tested mine bilge pump in 2018 SX195 with the battery switch off. It ran when I pushed the test button. One other thing to remember on 2018 is that you have to get to about 2.5” up on the pump before the pumps kicks on. That’s probably why the OP was able to turn it on and pump for about 15 seconds when he checked it. The water will not move all the way back to the plugs unless the boat is on a significant slant. Raising the bow with the hand crank up front will not come close to the slope required.