2007 Wake Edition: Water leaking into hull

[csmesenbrink]

Took my '07 Wake out for the first time of the year yesterday and discovered a leak in the right rear of hull. There is no noticable damage to the fiberglass hull. Looks like it's coming in from the bottom of the hull, possibly through one of the screw holes from the impeller plate. I've had Sea Doo's for over 10 years and have never heard of this kind of issue.

How common this is?

To me, it seems like the repair is to remove the impeller plate; clean surfaces (both boat hull and plate); and re-apply epoxy; and re-attach? Does this sound right?

What is the likelyhood of the leak actually being from where the rear plate connects?

Thanks
Curt

 

[Michael211_2000]

Curt what is an "impeller plate" exactly? That's a new one on me! There's an intake grate, a ride plate... but impeller plate? I'm drawing a blank here.

Why don't you use a waterhose to put 10 inches or so of water inside the hull (with the drain cock plugs closed) and see where water drips out underneith to confirm where the leak is?

- Michael

 

[csmesenbrink]

Curt what is an "impeller plate" exactly? That's a new one on me! There's an intake grate, a ride plate... but impeller plate? I'm drawing a blank here.

Why don't you use a waterhose to put 10 inches or so of water inside the hull (with the drain cock plugs closed) and see where water drips out underneith to confirm where the leak is?

- Michael

Pardon my ignorance, I'm referring to the metal plate that extends beyond the grate all the way to rear of the hull - so it's probably the ride plate that you referred to.

The water that gathered in the hull was not leaking out on it's own (had to open the drain plugs). All I can figure is that the pressure was not enough to force it back out whatever hole it was coming in from.

 

[dothadoo]

How much water are we talking? I have noticed on both of my boats, Sportster and Speedster 150 that they both leak when I am launching them and the stern rubrail is below the water line. For some reason, there is a hull to deck adhesive issue. It is usually about 3-4 inches or so in the bilge, but not really even enough to turn on the bilge and pump out. When I take the boat out and open the plugs, it pours out. I have bought some of that Flex Seal to try to see if I can resolve the issue, but haven't sprayed it on yet.

It sounds like yours may be coming from the underside of the boat though. I guess the first thing to do is to locate exactly where it is coming from and go from there.

 

[Michael211_2000]

Ok, the ride plate then I know what that is... how much water did you have in it? I'm suggesting like 10 inches or so of water being put into the hull in order to see it leaking underneith. There are 6 bolts that hold the ride plate on (I think, from memory), you think one of them is leaking for some reason? Have you checked that they're all there and tight? I filled my ride plate bolt holes recesses with marine epoxy and sanded each flush, the bolt recesses are like little anchors in the waterstream very inefficient. But if all the bolts are there and tight that really can't be it... are you sure you don't have a hole in 1 of the water hoses back there that could be sending a small stream of water into the rear corner? You might want to try running it on the trailer on flush port so you can make certain that's not the water source!

- Michael

 

[csmesenbrink]

It filled almost to the top of the battery in a the amount of time it took me to launch my other ski (about 2 or 3 minutes of ideling around). Had to tow back to shore and trailered and drained. Put it back in the water and ran hard for a couple of minutes. Conculsion, anytime the ski was not moving fast, it was taking on water. As mentioned above, water would not drain out on it's own (through hole that allowed it in).

Thanks

 

[csmesenbrink]

Ok, the ride plate then I know what that is... how much water did you have in it? I'm suggesting like 10 inches or so of water being put into the hull in order to see it leaking underneith. There are 6 bolts that hold the ride plate on (I think, from memory), you think one of them is leaking for some reason? Have you checked that they're all there and tight? I filled my ride plate bolt holes recesses with marine epoxy and sanded each flush, the bolt recesses are like little anchors in the waterstream very inefficient. But if all the bolts are there and tight that really can't be it... are you sure you don't have a hole in 1 of the water hoses back there that could be sending a small stream of water into the rear corner? You might want to try running it on the trailer on flush port so you can make certain that's not the water source!

- Michael

Thanks Michael - I will try that this evening...

 

[Michael211_2000]

Does it fill with water while running or just while sitting stopped in the water? If it's taking on water while just sitting stopped in the water after launching, then I'd strongly suggest getting under the hull with a light and checking to see that ALL the bolts are in place it sounds like you may have lost a bolt! Check the intake grate as well as the ride plate in this case.

If it's taking on water only while running then I'd guess you have a water line with a leak in it.

See what else you can find out.

- Michael

 

[csmesenbrink]

Turned out to be the resonator (exhaust assembly) that was drawing water into the hull while the engine was running... Discovered it by running it in the driveway with a garden hose hooked up... Not sure how this cracked (all plastic part), but it's fixed for now... Thank you for all of the comments / suggestions!!!
Curt

 

[Michael211_2000]

Cool beans Curt. Glad you found the problem. Have a great weekend!

- Michael