Bass boat taking in water.

[msotelo]

I just bought an 82 fiberglass bass boat and I took it to the lake this past weekend. A couple of hours later I noticed it had taken in a considerable amount of water and I can't figure out why. I made sure to put in the transom plug and to plug up all the other places that'll take a plug. I guess my question is, knowing that it is taking in water even though all the plugs are in place, which is the best way for me to find the "leak" once my boat is out of the water? Thanks for any input.<br />Mauricio

 

[DJ]

Re: Bass boat taking in water.

msotelo,<br /><br />The easiest way to determine where the water is coming in is to put some water in the boat while it's sitting on the trailer.<br /><br />Bass boats have a lot of through hull fittings, for livewells and such.<br /><br />Also, livewell plumbing is notorious for leaks. Did you use them when you were out?

 

[msotelo]

Re: Bass boat taking in water.

Sure did, sir. Figured I'd check that everything was in working order. Good thing the bilge pump was working perfectly and drained most of the water right away. I was just thinking that maybe I should change the toggle switches just in case the aerator switch or others are staying stuck in the on position. I'll fill it up with water like you said and make sure all the plugs are in place to see if the leak is somewhere else. Thanks for your advice. On a different topic, I have friends that go fishing on a channel that connects to the gulf of Mexico and was wondering if I can use my bass boat just on the edge (where the channel itself and the gulf merge) where there are no waves and such. Will it be ok? Thanks,<br />Mauricio

 

[DJ]

Re: Bass boat taking in water.

Mauricio,<br /><br />You'll be OK, just be very aware of water/weather conditions. Bass boats do not offer much freeboard, thus waves can be disasterous.<br /><br />Make sure you flush the engine after salt water use.<br /><br />By the way, you should be able to hear your areator pump(s) running in a quiet boat. I would be more suspect of the livewell plumbing connections or a blocked livewell overflow.

 

[msotelo]

Re: Bass boat taking in water.

Will do. I'll be checking all the hoses and such tomorrow morning. Thanks so much for your advice, sir. I'd be lost without all the help I've been getting at this site, from extremely generous people like yourself. Thanks again for your help, and happy boating!<br />Regards,<br />Mauricio

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Bass boat taking in water.

msotelo, seeing that you have a '82 model boat, I would say it also has 2 valves somewhere in the back of the boat to shut the livewells off to keep them from draing while you are underway.<br /><br />Don't know for sure, but one of these valves might be broke and when you turn the livewell on, the water it going back to this valve and leaking out into the boat.<br /><br />Also, in the bottom of each livewell should be a drain hole that you can plug up to stop this untill you can fix the valve.<br /><br />If you have these, move them to the shut(close) position and dump water into the livewells, one at a time, and see if you see any water coming to the back of the boat.<br /><br />These are a pain to change and that is why people will just plug up the livewell and let the water out of it when they pull the boat out.<br /><br />Hope this helps.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Bass boat taking in water.

P.S.<br /><br />Plug the outlets of the livewells where they drain out at the rear of the boat.<br /><br />Should be 3 holes back there.<br /><br />Main drain and 2 livewell drains, one on either side of main drain.

 

[muskyone]

Re: Bass boat taking in water.

i knew i'm saying the obvious but you didn't say how much boating experience you have and i've seen newbies do it the holes next to the top of the moter should not be pluged you said you had all the plugs in and of the four boats i've ever had there was only one plug for water there was plugs for the live well but thats it i'm not saying there isen't more i've seen boats with 2 drains but didn't want to overlook the obvious

 

[blifsey]

Re: Bass boat taking in water.

In addition to filling up bilge with water to look for leaks, plug the thru hull fittings (drains and overflows) for live well drains and then fill livewells until above overflow holes (if livewell has them). On previous boat, the overflow hose was leaking into bilge when livewell was in use. Another way I checked to see if I had leaks (don't know how effective this is since I "thought" it up myself) was to leave boat strapped to trailer and back it down ramp far as I could. I did this on weekday when ramps wasn't busy. Then I opened bilge compartments and looked for leaks.

 

[RICKRICK1]

Re: Bass boat taking in water.

Didnt see it posted so-- Plug the livewells and fill with water and leave water in over night, if the livewells are cracked or leaking they will leak down to the level of the crack. If it leaks down to empty then your drain fitting may not be sealing or you have a crack in the bottom of the live well or around the fitting. also check to see if the livewell areators are leaking around the pump areas.<br /><br />just my .02