Leaky boat

D

dizzyspots

Member
So...just returned after a few days fishing in Baja....had to run the bilge pumps several times per day every day

at the end of the last day...after running the bilge pump till "empty" ...pulled the transom drain and lots of water still came out...

seas were flat...no known or obvious hull damage...

boat is a 75 Wellcraft Airslot 185

where to start looking?...diagnosing?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Mike:rain:
 
Water intrusion can be difficult to track, but start with the most obvious and go from there:

1. All thru hull fittings
2. All near and below water accesses
3. The hull itself under close and complete inspection.
4. Transom and inside wells
5. Scuppers
6. Well pumps
 
If it's an I/O, check all the rubber going to the outdrive and if it has a heat exchanger, check the seal on the end caps. If you're down south it may never freeze but mine in Oregon did and it cost me $550 - and that was half the Mercury price, direct from the manufacturer.
 
All of the previous suggestions. Additionally, is the hull painted or bare. If it's painted, look carefully for any blisters on the hull with the paint around them cracked. Chances are that water could also be entering thru a cracked blister.
 
if you trailer your boat,take it back to the ramp an slowly back it down the ramp an have someone watch till water starts to fill , than you know the height of the water leak
 
Its an outboard...unpainted...and trailered but without a ramp nearby
I'll start by filling it with a hose and see where it goes
Thanks for the multiple replies..

Mike
 
dizzyspots said:
Its an outboard...unpainted...and trailered but without a ramp nearby
I'll start by filling it with a hose and see where it goes
Thanks for the multiple replies..

Mike
Click to expand...

My bet is that it's going to be a thru-the-hull fitting. Unless you cracked the hull somehow (hitting a bump while trailering or slamming down in a wave trough) it's really the only logical leak point. Good luck with the leak detection.
 
well...come to mention it...
enroute to Gonzaga Bay in Baja,,we dip hit a dip hard enough to lift the bow out of the bow chock on the trailer...
crawling under the boat doesnt show any obvious cracks
 
So...washing the boat after the Baja trip...found what I think is the leak...found a 8 inch gash on the inside edge of the port "sponson"..definitely wide enough to take on water...just forward of the port seating area..
guess Ive got some fiberglass work ahead...glad its in an area accessible to me under the trailer...
Thinking it was caused by trailer rash..courtesy of my expert helmsman skills trying to load it in a Baja current and crosswind...:(

Cheers

Mike
 
Last edited:
Well i did fix the gash but that was NOT the leak...turns out it is the starboard lower engine mounting bolt...so..is it as simple as pulling the bolt, coating it with sealant and replace?
 
I would use 4200 and fill the hole after removing the bolt and coating the bolt also. Put it back together and then put a coating on the inside and outside of the bolt. You will get absolutely NO water through that hole again, and will be removeable if you want.
 
The boat thanks you for fixing the gash. Nothing worse than trailer rash. Luckily, those repairs don't cost much cash. Water intrusion into the wood core of the transom will eventually lead to the demise of the structural strength of the transom. Seal that hole very well indeed. I love the old boats, give us a peek (photo):love:
 
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