Taking on Water

[duckman]

I'm trying to figure out if we're taking on water...<br /><br />First off it's a 23ft Century Deep V, 89 4500 LX bowrider hull.. with a merc 454 (7.4L) and Bravo 1 outdrive, raw water cooling, standard everything, except through prop exhaust (standard on later bravo I)...<br /><br />We just replaced the bilge and I'm starting to notice that I can run the pump and get some water... not alot... but a quart or so.... now this is while water skiing... but I'm wondering what the best method would be to determine if I am taking on water... test for a hole in the drive boot, etc.. it does have a bilge drain plug.. so that can be removed to get a very dry hull... she's on a hydrahoist, so I'm not too worried about her sinking in the slip.. but I'd like to find out if we have a leak...<br /><br />Would drying the boat and filling the bilge with water be an adequate test? or draping the entire boot in black canvas and then doing the bright light in the boot be an idea... I'm just kind of new at this...<br /><br />thanks

 

[dhammann]

Re: Taking on Water

Does your boat have the cowling vents mounted on the rear above the rub rail? Making hard turns and crossing your wake can cause water to enter these vents. The best way to check the hull and transom anb bellows is to let the boat sit at the dock for awhile and see what happens. Also people getting in the boat from swimming can add a lot of water to the bilge. Water can get trapped between the stringers and will take some time to drain or spill into the bilge pump area.