water intrusion
 

Hi, I have an '81 V20 with outboard. I am getting too much water in the bilge (definitely not rainwater). Are there problem areas for this on the V20, like leaky scuppers? I couldn't really see where the water is coming from. Thanks, Larry

Double check and see, but I believe 81 drained the deck to the bildge. It wasn't until around late 83 or 84 that outboard models drained outside the baot, and it wasn't until 86 when WELLCRAFT raised the deck that they become more or less saelf bailing. Look at your deck drains and see if they run into the bildge or if they go overboard and go from there. Also check you livewell as many of them drained into the bildge as the deck was to low for it to discharge overboard. Quite a few boats have sank because people didn't realize that all of the livewell water has to go into the bildge and then be pumped out by the bildge pump on early V-20's.

my boat is an '81. originally the deck drained into the splashwell. Check and see if one of the hoses are cracked. Also check the lower motor bolts.

I've got an 87, the deck drains overboard, but a couple years back I noticed the thru-hulls on the drain were leaking, the caulking, sealant had dried up and flaked out letting the thru-hulls leak. Removed and recaulked with 5200 no more problems....Didn't find it except by accident, I just happened to be trying to retrieve something I dropped when I noticed it!!!

Same exact thing with mine 87 I was trying to retrieve a screw I dropped and saw the drains leaking I also 52ed it and was good as new.

I do not know about the 81--but is there a acess panel in the area in front of the engine? If so check the o-rings around that round plate/cover--that will leak like a pig as well.

interesting that you say self bailing hulls were not around till the 80's, my 77 airslot has scuppers that drain the deck through the trasome. i'm pretty sure they are original. I like to concider my airsolt as "revolutionary" and "way ahead of its time" though.....

i always have problems with it back washing and filling the deck. i had to stick corks in the holes as a tempory fix untill i get the inline vavles...

My 79' self bails to the splashwell, actually a better design than the later V's that bail out the side.