Water flooding into engine compartment

[bigtexan99]

I took the boat out today for the 2nd hour of break in after my engine rebuild. Engine ran flawlessly, and my adjustment of the bellows on the driveshaft stopped the small dribble I had on my first outing.

This time, all stayed dry and good. when done I backed the trailer in and loaded the boat to leave. After I had the boat secured, I opened the hood to turn off the fuel, and wow, water was coming in fast. I pulled the trailer/boat out of the water and let it drain. Backed it back in and it did the same. I pulled it out of the water and did not open the drain plugs, thinking I would see water coming out of somewhere, but no...nothing.

Drained the bildge again and backed it slowly into the water, checking every half foot for water intrusion. Got it to the point where water was coming in and then noticed that because of the angle of the ramp and the trailer, the swim platform was submerged and the rub rail was also underwater. It seems (but I'm not sure) that the water was coming in thru the rub rail portion.

Pulled it out again (no one at the ramp, lucky me) drained it, and this time unhooked the boat from the trailer so that when I backed the trailer in, the boat immediately floated instead of submerging the swim platform. Boat stayed dry. Started the engine and ran for a bit, boat stayed dry. Pulled out and headed home.

Whew, long story. Anways it seems like it only happened when the swim platform was submerged. Has this happened to anyone else? Should I be concerned or no big deal?

 

[bigtexan99]

bump. Anyone?

 

[BMANN06]

Check your exhaust seals. Where your exhaust through hull fittings are. I had this problem, my seals were all dried and cracked allowing water entry with I was "Bow up" loading unloading my boat. If this does prove to be the culprit the are a pain right in the nuts to change. Although I think you might only have one engine so you'll have a ton more room to work with.

 

[bigtexan99]

Hmm, worth checking. Also, next time I go, I will back the boat up just enough to submerge the exhaust and jet pump, but not the rub rail and see if there is any water intrusion.

 

[Dr Honda]

Sorry I missed this one.

Yes... it is semi-common for the seam of the boat to leak. It can be leaking at the joint... or it could be leaking where the rivets go though the hull. It's a pain-in-the-ass job to do... but if you have a seam leak... you have to remove the entire rub rail.

You can try to clean, and seal it from inside... but it's not easy to do either, and it doesn't normally hold.

 

[bigtexan99]

Poked around the boat yesterday and can pretty much rule out the exhaust seals as they are submerged when the boat is floating in the water.

I believe it to be the drivers side rear corner at the rub rail. Since that part of the boat is normally above water, and my bilge pump works fine, I'm going to not worry about this water intrusion.

 

[seadogg]

Sorry I missed this one.

Yes... it is semi-common for the seam of the boat to leak. It can be leaking at the joint... or it could be leaking where the rivets go though the hull. It's a pain-in-the-ass job to do... but if you have a seam leak... you have to remove the entire rub rail.

You can try to clean, and seal it from inside... but it's not easy to do either, and it doesn't normally hold.

I have the same issue, and the above quote was the culprit... I have not yet repaired the issue I just make sure the pump works and get the boat in the water fast and have no issue's. I will fix the seam before I put the boat back in this year. You can easily feel under the seam and see the gaps in the corners.