Tracker Grizzly 1754sc with leak

[g8tors]

Hi, I bought a tracker grizzly used two years ago and have a leak somewhere I cant find. I took it to a local place last winter that does the warranty work for Bass Pro and they filled it with dyed water and said it would not leak. I did not take it out on the water until several months later, but it definetly takes on water. I had someone else look at it this winter and they said it had another motor on it before and it looked like the mount holes were not properly sealed. They also re-siliconed any transducer brackets and other mounts. (They also could not get it to leak) It still takes on water, and Im not talking about just a little trickle in the bilge area. Just at a loss for what I can do to find leak. It has the decks and floor in it so you cant see the hull from inside. The first place I took it to said it wasnt a noted "bad year" for the welds failing. I also dont understand if it is a bad weld on the inside rib, how it leaks water. Is there something I can do to the outside hull to help?
Thanks in advance for any tips. It is a 2003-04 so no warranty.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Tracker Grizzly 1754sc with leak

Is your boat equipped with a livewell, and if it is have you had that system checked?

Have you removed the decking and had a "look see" at everything below for yourself?

Post some pics of your boat so we can see what you have to work with.

 

[g8tors]

Re: Tracker Grizzly 1754sc with leak

Is your boat equipped with a livewell, and if it is have you had that system checked?

Have you removed the decking and had a "look see" at everything below for yourself?

Post some pics of your boat so we can see what you have to work with.

I do have a live well, but have not used it. I can see where the livewell intake line runs and it is not leaking. Removing the decking is a major ordeal with it being welded. I will try to post some pics.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Tracker Grizzly 1754sc with leak

Is it an aluminum deck?

Is the console welded to the hull?

Tracker boats usually disassemble pretty easy, they're built that way... most aluminum boats are.

 

[g8tors]

Re: Tracker Grizzly 1754sc with leak

Is it an aluminum deck?

Is the console welded to the hull?

Tracker boats usually disassemble pretty easy, they're built that way... most aluminum boats are.

The side console would be fairly easy to remove, but the deck which is aluminum. is welded in place.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Tracker Grizzly 1754sc with leak

I had some pin hole leaks in my live well lines that were so tiny I almost missed them when I found them. I'd be looking at all of your through hull outlets/intakes and hoses. This is an outboard correct?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Tracker Grizzly 1754sc with leak

The only thing I can tell you is to do a leak test yourself. Park the boat on a level hard surface and fill it with the garden hose, keep an eye on your trailer tires and when they look loaded turn the water off. No need for colored water, if you have a hull leak you'll see it. If you don't see a leak right away let the boat set awhile... maybe a day or 2 if need be.

I suspect you have a cracked weld or a crack in your hull that is being sealed off from the inside by the floatation foam preventing the water from draining out, but when the boat is out running on the water... water is being forced into the crack and the boat under pressure.

If you find the leak your problems still aren't over if it's what I suspect, there's still the problem of welding up the crack without setting the foam on fire inside your hull. Talk to whoever is going to do the repair to make sure they know what they're up against.


The allure of having an aluminum boat with no rivets to leak and no wood to rot sounds inviting to a lot of people, but when you have a problem like your it's a huge problem and a lot more complicated than just replacing a few rivets or some rotten decking.

 

[g8tors]

Re: Tracker Grizzly 1754sc with leak

I had some pin hole leaks in my live well lines that were so tiny I almost missed them when I found them. I'd be looking at all of your through hull outlets/intakes and hoses. This is an outboard correct?

Yes it is an outboard. I will check all intakes/outlets again. Thanks