Water in Bilge? - The Hull Truth

fishinguy · 03-09-2010, 09:20 AM

This has been driving me crazy for years. Where is the water coming from? There is always a half inch of water in the bilge. I know this does not seem like alot but it extends forward to the fuel tank and my concern is that it could rust the fuel tank which is a royal pain in the butt to replace. The only place other than the rod holders that it could be coming from is the thru hull for the live well (unlikely since I replaced it myself last year), the Garboard Drain, or a clam shell above the water line in the bow which is used to drain the forward storage compartment. If if helps the boat is a Scout 202 Sportfish. Wher could it be coming from?

fishman 77 · 03-09-2010, 09:27 AM

I was fighting this with one of my boats. Turns out water would drain down the rod holders and pool on the outside of the stringers. When you get in the boat or tow it down the street some would slosh over and run down into the bilge.

This is the best I can come up with after I replaced and resealed ever through hull on the boat.

Absolute · 03-09-2010, 09:51 AM

First, have you checked the water to determine if it is salt water or fresh water?

I had a safety valve on a water heater go bad once and it burbed the hot water into the bilge, no hot shower that evening!

fishinguy · 03-09-2010, 01:13 PM

It would have to be salt water because there is no water untill I put it in the water. I would expect water form the rod holders but what about on a sunny day when you check the bilge just prior to launching and it's dry. You launch the boat and there is water. I guess it it could be seeping through the garboard drain plug. Is my thinkink flawed?

matt_unique · 03-09-2010, 01:54 PM

Also consider rub rail...sometimes the holes for the rivets are drilled all the way through and if the inside of the rivet is hollow it can run in. Easy enough to check....

Capttater · 03-09-2010, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishinguy

It would have to be salt water because there is no water untill I put it in the water. I would expect water form the rod holders but what about on a sunny day when you check the bilge just prior to launching and it's dry. You launch the boat and there is water. I guess it it could be seeping through the garboard drain plug. Is my thinkink flawed?

Not sure about on that Scout but apparently many (include my Regulator) boats with transom scupper aren't sealed to the cockpit drains. When launching mine the external side of the scuppers are underwater and the water goes over the channel and into the bilge.
Perhaps it's coming over when you launch..

As for rain.. I made "Holder Hats".

Absolute · 03-09-2010, 03:20 PM

Still, confirm it is fresh or salt water. This will rule out top side or bottom side. There could be water entrained in the bilge area unseen prior to lauch, then appears once a float.

Absolute,

Suckin Sludge & Havin a Gas

prober · 03-09-2010, 05:42 PM

Might as well reseal the garboard drain anyway. Pretty easy to do and one less thing to wonder about. Be sure to rotate it a few degrees so the screws go into fresh holes and bed it well. Sometimes they don't bed them well at the factory and they leak.

vertigo · 03-09-2010, 05:49 PM

I had the same problem with my boat I didn't get as much water after a day out as you did, but I started at the garboard plug wrapped a few wrap's of teflon tape around the thread's for chit's and giggles, and voila no mo water..

KeyPineSavage · 03-09-2010, 10:38 PM

I agree with Absolute. Taste it and confirm if fresh or salt. Unless you keep under a roof, rain water is always a possibility. Not just through the rod holders (sounds like you've got those covered) but thorugh any seams in the floor where panels meet, around hatch covers, etc. Also leaks at or near the gunnel cap, if yours is built that way. Also, any source like that of rain intrusion will also allow hose water in from your after-trip washdowns. Just some other things to think about.