Challenger Owners!!!! Quick Survey

[Corwin38]

I have a brand new 230 SE 510 HP. I'm on the phone with BRP right now. They are trying to convince me that over a gallon of water in the bilge after running the boat for just two hours on calm water is normal. Of course, this is an operator with "no technical expertise" (heard that 5 times during this phone call). The dealer has told me that water is washing up over the swim platform and into the bilge outlet and won't look any further into it.

If you will, please tell me:

1. What kind of boat you have and how old
2. What kind of water you run it on
3. How long you generally run it on a normal day out
4. How much water you drain out of the drain plug at the end of the day (how long it takes to drain if you are not sure of the amount)

Thanks

 

[RFoster130]

I don't have a challenger, but a 98 speedster. That sounds acceptable to me though. Sometimes I take it easy and have water in the boat.

 

[rich9426]

1. What kind of boat you have and how old
A.) 2007 180 Challenger SE


2. What kind of water you run it on
B.) Fresh water


3. How long you generally run it on a normal day out
C.) 3 to 4 hours


4. How much water you drain out of the drain plug at the end of the day
D.) none

 

[Charliem]

I have the 09 - 230 SE 510 with about 45 hours on it. My engine well is always dry. I check the engines for oil, leaks, etc,.. after every weekend of running. I use the boat on the Chesapeake bay which sometmes 2-3 ft waves. I do not get any water from the swim platform.

 

[moosehead]

Your situation could indeed be normal. That said, it definitely is worth confirming exactly how you are taking water on, and that the bilge pump is working properly if the boat isn't otherwise taken out and drained.

Even if the dealer is correct, and especially if you are a complete noob, you have every right to confirm the source, if for no other reason you just paid a handsome price for a brand new craft when few are doing so. It is good to stay after BRP, but one would think that the dealer would be bailing your bilge personally.

The carbon seals may be as likely a source as the water washing back up into the bilge over the platform theory, but I don't otherwise have Challenger experience.

FYI, see recent xpost below. Hope it is a non-issue, you have one killer boat.

http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?t=22637&highlight=hot+water+in+bilge

 

[murray5p]

230 Challenger SP 2-215s Yes I have about 1.5 Gal after 7 hrs on the water, I thought maybe that was normal but now that you mention it

 

[Dr Honda]

Seadoo uses carbon seals on the driveshafts, and they leak to keep them selves cool. I can drain 2 ~3 gallons after an day of play. Any more water than that... the bilge pump will take care of it.


ALSO... where is the bilge outlet on that boat? On my boat, it's below the swim deck, so if some one is sitting on the swim deck... water comes in.


It's all normal.

 

[murray5p]

So probly not a good idea to leave the boat in the water over night, I have a lift for mine , but what about the guy that don't know about this leaking throw the carbon seals. G that sure is a bad idea.

 

[Dr Honda]

So probly not a good idea to leave the boat in the water over night, I have a lift for mine , but what about the guy that don't know about this leaking throw the carbon seals. G that sure is a bad idea.

SeaDoo says not to leave it in the water when not in use.

People do... but every once in a while, we get reports of sunk boats.

 

[Scott0321]

Not a Challenger.....but I'll chime in

Typically when we go out it's for the day. We mix it up by relaxing, tubing, fishing and long sight seeing trips. I would say on average there is usually a gallon or two that pours out when we get it on the trailer.

I guess I've always figured it was normal. I know the bilge never kicks in and figured it was water coming over the swim deck.

I undersatnd the concern but don't think you have an issue. Just my two cents

 

[timeman]

2006 Challenger 215 4tec. I get some water, certainly never more than a gallon, after several hours on a fresh water lake...

 

[Corwin38]

Thanks for the input everyone. Opinions seem so varied here. Think I am just going to try and sell it since Seadoo feels there is nothing wrong (can't send it back and can't get it worked on).

Lesson learned. Getting away from jetboats but keeping my PWC. See you in that forum.

 

[RFoster130]

You are gonna sell it because it has a little water in the hull when you are done??

OK...you are right...It is a defective POS. I will trade ya my boat and $5000 for it.

 

[Corwin38]

No, I am going to sell it because it is a brand new, fresh off the assembly line, boat that LEAKS! Did I also mention that for the first month the dealer had the boat more than I did? Left engine wasn't shimmed....at all....so the carbon rings failed within 1 hour. Left pump continued to cavitate so the ride shoe had to be replaced. Both pumps were removed and replaced. It looks like The Blob is on the back end of my boat because of all the sealant they used

Had enough!

 

[BMANN06]

My 98' Speedster has been sitting in the lake at the cottage since April this year and it hasn't sunk yet! Definately get water in there though, all i do is leave the battery on and test my auto bilge about once a week.

 

[WOOSAB]

I have a 2010 Cahllenger se and i leave my billage pump on at all times while in the water. I am usually in the water on the weekends from 11am-9-10pm and at the end of the night when i pull out i have hardly any water that runs outs the plugs. Maybe for 5-10seconds. How many gallons that is no idea. I know my pump might kick on maybe ever 20-40min when a little water gets in the boat. But i think most of my water comes from my 2 boys climping in and out getting water all over... or pulling the tub in the boat..

 

[RFoster130]

No, I am going to sell it because it is a brand new, fresh off the assembly line, boat that LEAKS! Did I also mention that for the first month the dealer had the boat more than I did? Left engine wasn't shimmed....at all....so the carbon rings failed within 1 hour. Left pump continued to cavitate so the ride shoe had to be replaced. Both pumps were removed and replaced. It looks like The Blob is on the back end of my boat because of all the sealant they used

Had enough!

You didnt mention all that in your original post. Those things could be the reason it has more water than what you want in it. Any of those repairs could cause water to come in. If you had all that done, then I would be in contact with BRP till it is all fixed.

 

[Ryan818]

I have a 230 Chal. SP which I just bought this year. I leave it in the water docked. Some water does get in. As Dr. Honda said the boats are actually made to leak. Stand around a dock for about 15 min. and you'll hear all sorts of boats pissing in the water. Scared me at first also. Then again, you did get insurance - didn't you? Let it sink and get a new boat. Just keep all your records of how Sea Doo would not help.

 

[Corwin38]

Well the latest is that BRP is telling me that I have to go through a dealer, the dealer is telling me ways to find the leak MYSELF, and both are telling me this is "probably normal". Still can't seem to get any info from a BRP engineer. As far as keeping records, it's just what I write down from the phone calls. BRP refuses to communicate with me via email although I have requested it several times.

Big lesson learned.

 

[WAJetboating]

1. What kind of boat you have and how old

2001 Seadoo Challenger 2000.

2. What kind of water you run it on

Freshwater lake, everything from mirror flat to huge waves from wakesurfers and tubing.

3. How long you generally run it on a normal day out

Anywhere from 30 minutes to 5+ hours depending on what we're doing and how many people are doing it. We live on the lake, so we take the boat out almost every single day.

4. How much water you drain out of the drain plug at the end of the day

Zero. Absolutely zero. I have fluffs of dust in the engine compartment that have been there for weeks. They blow around when I turn on the exhaust fan. It's totally bone dry, which is exactly as it's supposed to be. The only time I get water in the bilge is when I do a "sub-move" and intentionally fill the boat with water; at that point some leaks around the ski locker door seal and drains back to the engine compartment.

Last year I noticed a small (less than 1/4 cup) accumulation of water around where the scupper valve exits the hull. This spring I reinstalled the scupper with 3M under-waterline sealant. It was obvious that Seadoo had not properly sealed the valve when they installed it. Since then I have had absolutely no water leak into the engine compartment. Not one drop. That's how it should be, and that's how it is.

 

[WAJetboating]

Well the latest is that BRP is telling me that I have to go through a dealer, the dealer is telling me ways to find the leak MYSELF, and both are telling me this is "probably normal".

If water will leak UP, it will also leak DOWN. Put the boat on the trailer, dry it thoroughly, and dump a bunch of water in the engine compartment. If there's a leak, it should drip out and reveal itself.

 

[WAJetboating]

ALSO... where is the bilge outlet on that boat? On my boat, it's below the swim deck, so if some one is sitting on the swim deck... water comes in.

The bilge hose should have a big vertical loop in it that prevents that from happening. Mine came from the BRP factory that way, and I duplicated it when I replaced all the hoses this spring.

I can't believe they'd build it so that someone sitting on the swim deck would permit water intrusion. It's not like they couldn't anticipate the boat being used that way! {grin}

 

[Brett B]

If water will leak UP, it will also leak DOWN. Put the boat on the trailer, dry it thoroughly, and dump a bunch of water in the engine compartment. If there's a leak, it should drip out and reveal itself.

Yes, this is a very good point. With that substantial of a leak, it should be very easy to pinpoint where it is coming from.

Unfortunately it sounds like the dealer is not on your side, and therefore BRP thinks you are just complaining about an issue that doesn't exist based on the dealer comments. Identify the leak yourself using the above technique, take a few pictures, and it should be pretty easy to get the ball rolling and get your boat fixed under warranty. It's possible one of the repairs wasn't done correctly and the dealer doesn't want to redo their own shoddy work.

 

[Brett B]

Any update on this? Were you able to discover the source of the leak and/or get it fixed?

You also mentioned that there was a bunch of silicone goobered up where the dealer had fixed something. Do you have any pictures of this, and have you determined if their repair was the source of the leak?

 

[timhood]

I've had varying amounts of water after a day of play, but never really that much. I open the plugs on the ramp and water runs out for a few seconds (on average) and then slows to drips. One time, almost no water came out.

The last time I was out, we dropped the boat in the water, played, left it in overnight, played all day the next day and took it out with no more than the usual few seconds of water coming out. That without even turning on the bilge pump.