Boat deck plash down pump6/14/2023 Many larger boats are equipped with self-bailing scupper drains for the interior floor of the boat. Any old sealant or silicone will need to be removed, and a fresh application of marine silicone should be used to seal the new pump you are installing. If this happens, you will need to remove and replace the through-hull pump. It is not uncommon for these pumps to crack and allow water to leak into the bilge. Most livewell pumps are attached through transom fittings that are plastic. Items such as hoses for livewell pumps and drains can become dry rotted and split, or as I found on a boat several years ago, the livewell hose can get chewed through by rats that have decided to make a nest deep inside the bilge. The holes in the transom were wallowed out, and to further complicate the problem, the bolts had not been properly sealed with marine silicone when they were initially installed.Īnother, sometimes more difficult to find, source of water leakage is the below-deck plumbing. As we were inspecting the hull, we found that the two bottom engine mounting bolts were loose. Recently I had a boat in the shop with a water-leak problem. Through-hull fittings for live well intakes or drains, drain plugs, wash-down pump through hulls, screwing holes for depth-finder transducers and even the mounting bolts for your outboard motor could be a source for water leakage. By following that leak back to the source, I can determine what needs to be repaired.Īnything that penetrates your boat hull is a potential water leak. It may show up as a flowing leak or it might just be a trickle of water. In the dim light of dusk the spot light will make finding leaks much easier. I use a handheld spot light to illuminate the bilge and search for water leakage. I make sure that the bilge is dry first, then I launch the boat very carefully so as not to splash any water over the transom into the bilge. One method that I have used with great success is to wait until late in the evening, just before sunset. It is difficult to see down into the bilge compartment, especially in the bright sunlight. Slow water leaks are sometimes hard to find. If the weight of the water exceeds the capacity of the trailer, you could possibly blow out the tires or collapse the frame and springs. A 16-foot boat can easily hold hundreds of gallons of water. I don’t advocate using this method for tracking down leaks. He then reinstalled the drain plug and watched for any signs of leakage in the bottom of the boat and around the drain plug there were no leaks. While the boat was on the trailer, he put a garden hose into the drain hole and added water to the bilge.
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