boat taking on water

[Bosts1]

I have a question for you guys. When your boats are in the water all day and you pull them out, how much water is in the bilge. I pulled mine out and it seemed have like a gallon of water in it atleast. The bilge never did go off i guess cause it didn't settle in the back until i pulled it up the ramp. But i was wondering if that is normal. Also the only thru hull fittings are the ones from the scuppers that are at the water line. Any ideas, Thanks in advance.

[chumbucket]

There are so many ways for water to find its way into your bilge. A gallon or two, I don't find excessive. Just be sure your bilge pump is working properly and you shouldn't have any worries. If you start getting more than that, I would start to investigate.

[macojoe]

Is this just sitting in the water, or you mean as you drive around?? Is it a Out Board or a I/O ??

My V got water a few different times. There was a screw that the old owner put in the bilge to mount the pump (pump long gone) But he went all the way thur the hull! After years it rusted out and left a 1/8 hole.
Another time it was a thru hull that was leaking.

How I found both leaks was fill the hull with a hose, and then watched for the water leaking.

[Airslot]

I concur. Many times rain water, that may have fallen in the rod holders, settles in the middle portion of the boat. It finds its way to the stern when the boat takes on its attitude in the water. More than likely, the water you found was already there.

'Slot

[randlemanboater]

Mine doesn't get any in it at all. I'd check the hoses going from the floor to the thru-hulls. If they are ok, then do like MJ said, fill it up on the trailer and watch for drips.

[macojoe]

I guess I did not read the question right?? If its after a ride in the water like the rest say there are ton's of ways for water to get in!! It will never stay dry! And yes unless you have it in a garage you will always have rain water in it.




Randle, you must run that boat in a bubble!! You get water in it when you pull the anchor, spray from the water, rain water, ect... ect... ect...

[parishht]

I always get a about a gallon or two at the end of the day.
I've watched at the ramp and all the boats that come out have water in the bilge.

Oh MJ, don't forget about rogue waves!!!!

[nipper]

I don't think a gallon or two is anything to worry about. Could be rain water, or just water that gets into the boat from spray, swimmers, skiers, anchors, etc.

[macojoe]

Oh MJ, don't forget about rogue waves!!!!

Yea you should have seen that!! I can tell you I am most likely to be the person with the most water in there v20 and still float!!
How many gallons of water does it take to fill a V20 to the gunnles any way?

[THEFERMANATOR]

I know my flat's boat will fill with enough water to turn the pump on(about 15 gallons worth) in about 90 minutes in the water. When I first got it it would kick the bilge pump on every 15 minutes. You would be amazed at how much water will come through such a small place. My current leak is from one of my livewell pumps, where the cartridge goes in doesn't seal up very well. A gallon or two is nothin.

[Blue_Runner]

Its wierd for me....sometimes hardly a drop then others I'll have a gallon or so. I agree that 1 - 2 gallons is next to nothing.

[randlemanboater]

Randle, you must run that boat in a bubble!! You get water in it when you pull the anchor, spray from the water, rain water, ect... ect... ect...


I meant I don't get any leaking in.

Sure I get plenty on the floor when we are swimming off the V or waterskiing but it mostly goes out the scuppers.

I guess if it rains hard I might get a little through the rod holders into the bilge.

I keep my anchor rode in a plastic container in the "livewell" so no intrusion there either.

What can I say, I run a tight ship.

[macojoe]

so does my wife!! :cry:

[Stillrunning]

I have a funy story about bildge water.

We had been out fishing all day and the back floor compartment where I keep my fish on ice drains right into my bildge. Well we put the boat on the trailer and my buddy started to pull up the ramp. That was just enough to trip my float and my pump went off squirting this man and lady right in the face with this nasty slime water. I could not help myself and I busted out laughing which was not the best thing to do. They were ticked and he, his wife and their friend thought I did this on purpose and came running after us. I yeld up to my buddy driving to hit the gas and lets get out of here. He had no clue as to what happened and thought I just wanted him to move up out of the way so we could prepair the boat to tow home. He pull up about 100 feet and stop and I yell no go man go and he would pull up some more and stop again as I yelled for him to go. Finally I ran to the front of the boat and told him I tcked off some people and if he looked in his rear view mirror he would see them coming after us. He finally took off and stopped about a 1/2 mile up the road and I jumped in the truck and off we went. I can still see the look on their face as that water hit them and then their change of expression as I started to laugh. That was the first and last time we ever use that ramp.

[Blue_Runner]

Classic! They shouldn't have been standing so close LOL

[tsubaki]

In responce to Still's post:
Daddy told me of about the same thing happening with the V I've got when he had it.
He stopped at a light about the same time a "gentleman" on a bicycle did, as he started from the light the bilge pump activated and a 1" stream covered the bicyclist. As you can imagine, the passenger in the truck with Daddy was bewildered as to why this guy on the bike was wanting to whip both of them. It took Daddy several minutes before he could explain what happened.:you:
The floor coolers in this boat drain into the bilge, just so you get the picture.

[Bosts1]

Thanks for all the input guys. After i checked it out. i think it could be left over rain that didn't get dumped until i pulled it out. the bilge works, it just must take a fair amount of water to engage it. Thanks for everything.

[Stillrunning]

I just wish my buddy had seen it happen because it would have giving him more to laugh at then just the people chasing us up the ramp and around the parking lot.