Do all I/O boats take on water?

[dbdupont]

Do all I/O boats take on water? Just wondering cause I can't seem to get mine to stay dry. I just recently replaced all the belows. There are no holes that I can find. Anything the goes through the hull or transom has been sealed with silicone. Is it just impossible to not take on water with and I/O somebody help and I'm going mad or is this just the joys of owning one????

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Do all I/O boats take on water?

You should have no H2O leaks if everything is correct.
Ihad a leak that drove me nuts, it was a hole that the previous owner had siliconed and painted over, did not put a stainless screw in it. It leaked and it was in a spot that I could not see. Look for hoses leaking, drains that leak, holes in the boat anywhere below water line,
My grandpa had a fiberglass boat that leaked until he put bottom paint on it, then it sealed it.

 

[mlrman]

Re: Do all I/O boats take on water?

How much water you taking in? My 1991 Sunbird cuddy cabin I/O takes on small amounts of water after a day on the lake.

Keep in mind, swimming, tubing, skiing, etc. will bring water in the boat.

As long as the bilge pump works, don't worry about it. It's normal to drain a few gallons of water after a day of boating IMO.

 

[commander315]

Re: Do all I/O boats take on water?

i agree a totally problem free boat shouldn't take on any water. f you can narrow down the areas where the water is entering that would be a big help. On I/Os its usually got something to do with the drive.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Do all I/O boats take on water?

Enging leaking at one of the umpteen hoses? Top of outdrive leaking? Thru u joint bellows? Look insibe boat around gimble bearing, Any drops of water on drive shaft going into coupler? Rust? Any water in your gear oil ? Enginre oil 4 that matter. Water supply hose that comes thru transom. ? Cooler leakn like a sum bch?

 

[oops!]

Re: Do all I/O boats take on water?

no boat should take on any water. period

it is normal with older wooden boats (big ones) but that is it....and in a perfect world...they should not either

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: Do all I/O boats take on water?

Got a trailer? One test is to fill the bilge with water and see if it leaks. Don't fill it to the point where it touches the engine or batteries.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Do all I/O boats take on water?

My 33 year old boat with new bellows takes on no water. I've never had the pleasure of using the bilge pump in my boat but I do know it pumps water because I've tested it.

Maybe do you have a rotted out transom allowing flex and leaks ?
Drive brand ?

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Do all I/O boats take on water?

"Do all I/O boats take on water?"

No.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Do all I/O boats take on water?

You talking about a couple of drops or a couple of gallons? A few drops is almost unavoidable due to condensation under covers, rain leaking around the edge of covers, etc.

If you have people climbing in and out of the boat (swimming, tubing, skiing, etc) that will put a HUGE anount of water in the boat from dripping people and bathing suits. Several gallons easily.

If you're getting more than a few drops of water and do not have wet people climbing in your boat, then it's getting in somewhere that it shouldn't be. Did you replace all the bellows, including the shift bellows?

 

[Hank496]

Re: Do all I/O boats take on water?

Water can come from a lot of unexpected places - right now I have a bad pressure relief valve on my hot water heater thats dumping water into the bilge. I've also had water get in from rain that was getting in because the covers for the engine compartment blower inlets was poorly caulked. The water ran down the canvas under the cover and into the blower conduit.

 

[SeanT]

Re: Do all I/O boats take on water?

Got a trailer? One test is to fill the bilge with water and see if it leaks. Don't fill it to the point where it touches the engine or batteries.

I've tried that with I/Os and that only helps the really obvious leaks.

If there's silicone involved, or seals that "partly" work, you need the pressure of sitting in a lake to show the issue.

Like other posters have alluded to, you need to have a "Dry" run in your boat. Take it out, cruise around at low speeds. Maybe sit and take a nap for a few hours. No one exits or enters the boat. Then pull it out and see what's up.

 

[kellmike626]

Re: Do all I/O boats take on water?

Only time I take on some water is when there is quite a bit of rain. Other than that, it's dry all the time.

 

[skargo]

Re: Do all I/O boats take on water?

How much water you taking in? My 1991 Sunbird cuddy cabin I/O takes on small amounts of water after a day on the lake.

Keep in mind, swimming, tubing, skiing, etc. will bring water in the boat.

As long as the bilge pump works, don't worry about it. It's normal to drain a few gallons of water after a day of boating IMO.

Um no!
Yesterday, even after my wife and I climbing in and out of the water over a course of 8 hours or so, when we retrieved, maybe a teaspoon of water came out of the drain hole. We drip dry for a bit before climbing all the way in though.

I was getting water in my bilge previously, and my engine mounted raw water pump was leaking, swapped it out and it's bone dry.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Do all I/O boats take on water?

Um no!

Um Yes!

With just me and my wife there's hardly any water. But try it with 4 or 5 kids climbing in and out on tubes and kneeboards and wakeboards and skis and swimming all day. No "drip drying" anywhere in sight. 2 or 3 climb in, 2 or 3 climb out. You'll see several gallons easily.

Put on your bathing suit, take a shower then climb out and stand on the bathroom floor without drying off. That's how much water a kid will put in the boat every time they climb in. You're dreaming if you think you won't see MUCH more than a "teaspoon" of water.

 

[SeanT]

Re: Do all I/O boats take on water?

^^^ Indeed

We drip dry for a bit before climbing all the way in though.

I've tried that with three kids. It just ends up ruining my day and theirs. It's a boat, so I let it get wet. Hence, water in the bilge.

Of course my real test is mooring. I can moor in the lake for a week and not take on a drop of water.

 

[howlnmad]

Re: Do all I/O boats take on water?

I didn't see where anyone mentioned the transom seal.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Do all I/O boats take on water?

Probably because he hasn't told us what kind of drive system he has.

Could be a giant O-Ring too.

 

[xeddog]

Re: Do all I/O boats take on water?

I have a 1987 Beachcraft 215c that I bought new. It has ALWAYS managed to get some water in it from day one. I don't think I have ever pulled the plug and not had a cup or two of water come out. I'm about 99.9% sure that there are no leaks, so I think the water may be from spray.

Wayne

 

[skargo]

Re: Do all I/O boats take on water?

Um Yes!

With just me and my wife there's hardly any water. But try it with 4 or 5 kids climbing in and out on tubes and kneeboards and wakeboards and skis and swimming all day. No "drip drying" anywhere in sight. 2 or 3 climb in, 2 or 3 climb out. You'll see several gallons easily.

Put on your bathing suit, take a shower then climb out and stand on the bathroom floor without drying off. That's how much water a kid will put in the boat every time they climb in. You're dreaming if you think you won't see MUCH more than a "teaspoon" of water.

OK whatever mister roll eye guy
When I bring my nieces and nephews we swamp the boat because they bring in 50 gallons each, you are right. I bow down to you.