[tomtahoe]

We recently almost sunk our boat due to a combination of events. The bilge pump was bad so it blew the 5A fuse connected directly to the battery. 5A is kind of low when it pulls 5A when pumping water so if there is a bearing problem it will pull more current and blow the fuse leaving you without a bilge pump and you never new there was a fuse blown until you have a bunch of water you need to pump out. Good luck finding that fuse. I put in a 10A fuse, put in a new 1000GPH cartridge pump. Could not find a 1000GPH cartridge pump anywhere for less than a whole new pump. Go figure that one out. Installing a new pump is a PIA! Float switch was also defective. What caused all the water was the baitwell leaking. I plugged up my baitwell outlet hose while on the trailer and filled it to the brim with water and let it sit there awhile. Sure enough water showed in the bilge and it kept leaking until it got down the water inlet level. It is nearly impossible to work on this area due to location. I may need to cut in a new access hole in this area. I talked to Trophy boats and they said they have had some leak issues at the top of the baitwell seal to under the deck that goes bad. I did not have this issue since it kept leaking until below inlet hose area. I highly recommend you check all of the above. We were so full of water we could not pump out, we could only make about 10 MPH to get off the water not sure what our problem was.

[dadsaway]

I am glad you made it back okay. I am new my 1996 2002 FF WA. While it was up on blocks in my driveway I saw a plastic strainer on the bottom of the hull. Upon further investigation I saw that this was the pick up for the livewell. The previous owner had disconnected the livewell and stuck a rubber transom plug through the factory installed 3/8" plywood and into the fiberglass hull. Only about a 1/2" or so of rubber was to be between me and the Altlantic Ocean. I found a more appropriate solution was to install a bronze thru hull fitting and cap. In the future I can install a bronze seacock should I want to activate the livewell. My point is that I was not very impressed with either the factory's initial installation, not the prior owner's remedy. Perhaps you should see if your newer boat has a similar design at the pickup that may be causing your leak. Good luck.

[seren]

Originally Posted by tomtahoe

We recently almost sunk our boat due to a combination of events. The bilge pump was bad so it blew the 5A fuse connected directly to the battery. 5A is kind of low when it pulls 5A when pumping water so if there is a bearing problem it will pull more current and blow the fuse leaving you without a bilge pump and you never new there was a fuse blown until you have a bunch of water you need to pump out. Good luck finding that fuse. I put in a 10A fuse, put in a new 1000GPH cartridge pump. Could not find a 1000GPH cartridge pump anywhere for less than a whole new pump. Go figure that one out. Installing a new pump is a PIA! Float switch was also defective. What caused all the water was the baitwell leaking. I plugged up my baitwell outlet hose while on the trailer and filled it to the brim with water and let it sit there awhile. Sure enough water showed in the bilge and it kept leaking until it got down the water inlet level. It is nearly impossible to work on this area due to location. I may need to cut in a new access hole in this area. I talked to Trophy boats and they said they have had some leak issues at the top of the baitwell seal to under the deck that goes bad. I did not have this issue since it kept leaking until below inlet hose area. I highly recommend you check all of the above. We were so full of water we could not pump out, we could only make about 10 MPH to get off the water not sure what our problem was.

I have the same boat. I thought with the breaker, the pump would not need a fuse. Can you tell me where is the fuse? Also did you have the leak fixed? Was it where the hose connects to the baitwell or was it the hose itself leaked? I had some water inside the rear bilge area last year. But can't see all of that water from the rain. Other than that where the water came from? The water in the bilge also ruined the washdown/baiwell pump in there. The access to that pump is terrible. So I relocated the pump to the port battery area. I'll see how well will the pump work when I take the boat out of storage next week.

[mole2]

Make sure the seacock for the baitwell is closedwhen running. It may be forcing water up into the baitwell and overfilling it causing the water to run over the top and into the bilge. A lot of these boats don't have the baitwell sealed so the water will run over. Of course if you're using the baitwell then you want the changeover of water and want the seacock open. In that case then check the length of the baitwell drain tube. If it's too long it also will cause the baitwell to fill up and overflow. Cut it so the water doesn't get high enought to overflow. If you're like me and don't use the baitwell then leave the tube out and laying in the bottom of the baitwell so it doesn't build up water at all.

[Ghost Chaser]

Originally Posted by tomtahoe

We recently almost sunk our boat due to a combination of events. The bilge pump was bad so it blew the 5A fuse connected directly to the battery. 5A is kind of low when it pulls 5A when pumping water so if there is a bearing problem it will pull more current and blow the fuse leaving you without a bilge pump and you never new there was a fuse blown until you have a bunch of water you need to pump out. Good luck finding that fuse. I put in a 10A fuse, put in a new 1000GPH cartridge pump. Could not find a 1000GPH cartridge pump anywhere for less than a whole new pump. Go figure that one out. Installing a new pump is a PIA! Float switch was also defective. What caused all the water was the baitwell leaking. I plugged up my baitwell outlet hose while on the trailer and filled it to the brim with water and let it sit there awhile. Sure enough water showed in the bilge and it kept leaking until it got down the water inlet level. It is nearly impossible to work on this area due to location. I may need to cut in a new access hole in this area. I talked to Trophy boats and they said they have had some leak issues at the top of the baitwell seal to under the deck that goes bad. I did not have this issue since it kept leaking until below inlet hose area. I highly recommend you check all of the above. We were so full of water we could not pump out, we could only make about 10 MPH to get off the water not sure what our problem was.

Same happened to my 2003 2002. Crawled back at 7mph for 9 miles and a coast guard escort. Bilge completely flooded and bilge pump fuse shorted due to water level. Batteries were completley under water and I was certain the boat was going to sink. Made it back in one piece but ruined a Tuna Trip.

After calling AAA and settiing up a claim that was later denied because damage was under $300. Dealer claimed that Y diverter valve which switches from washdown to the baitwell under the seat had ruptured and flooded the bilge. A 20 dollar plastic part placed the boat in jeopardy.
When this happened I was running the baitwell under the sb seat.

Not satisified with the verdict I tested theh bait tank and sure enough it leaked plenty into the bilge. I felt the tank on the inside with my fingers towards the top only to feel about a handful of silicone between the tank
abd the fiberglass. Conclusion: horrible design on the bait tank. One I have read every once in a while but not frequent enough.

I now officially never use that bait well and even when using the washdown pump I get paranoid and use the aft bilge pump to make sure no water is in the bilge from a cheap Y diverter valve rupturing.

Don't get me wrong, still love the boat just will never use the baitwell again.
bought a 25 gallon aquaworld and it runs 20 times better than that factory excuse for a bait well. Trophy owners should speak out on these findings. Although there are few, its good for them to know and improve. I'll bet the same crappy problem exists with even the new models.