Started with a dry bilge...ended with water

M

Madifonzo

New Member
Sep 30, 2013
716
Boston, Ma
Boat Info
2005 280
Zodiac Zoom 310 9.9 Honda
Engines
Twin 5.0 MPI with Bravo III Drives
I started my day today with a totally dry bilge...and I mean bone dry. Went out for a few hours and enough water collected so that is barely touches the lower pump in the middle stringer. At first I would suspect a bellows issue but it seems to only happen when operating the boat. I am in my bilge often with engines running and can't locate any leaks.mmi have twins so it is tough to really get down there. I am looking to rule out the usual suspects.

i know it's not rain water or water moving from other parts of the boat. I have examined sea strainers for engines and AC and have not observed any leaks.
 
Typical gooseneck issue, it's under a lot more water pressure when the leg is moving thru the water. Get a light and a mirror and look for white water stains.
 
Could it be spray entering thru the bilge vent louvers? Also, do as scoflaw suggested and look for white water staining.
 
I chased water in the bilge on my 280DA the entire time I owned it. Fixed numerous points of entry but only solved the problem by selling the boat. At least you seem to have ruled out rainwater. I assume you verified that the water in the bilge is salt. My 280DA with twin 5.0s sat very low in the water. When I would come off plane the entire swim platform would get swamped. Water would enter through the rub rails that were not well sealed. Another possibility is the steering pins although these will also leak when you are not underway.
 
The only water I get in my bilge is when I hose out the cockpit without using a nozzle, as in full garden hose flow. The one thing that I can think of is to check the depth transducer next time you have the boat out of the water. There is an o-ring that may need to be replaced.
 
Yes I have ruled out rainwater and stationary leaks. Only seems to happen when underway. And the water is salty. I have observed engines while running but not while underway. I have not found any obvious water leaks but as I mentioned it is tough to see behind the motors. Thanks for the input from all.

coming off plane there is a lot of backwash.

scoflaw, what do you mean by gooseneck?
 
I had a small crack in my water distribution housing that allowed water in as the pressure in the cooling system built up. It is low pressure but the housing is plastic and typically cracks at the seam or at the plug used to drain the system (if someone tightens it too tight)!
 
Same thing with one of my Engines, it took the Marina 4 weeks to get the part as it was on Back Order! Must be a problem with the Unit!
 
Madifonzo said:
I started my day today with a totally dry bilge...and I mean bone dry. Went out for a few hours and enough water collected so that is barely touches the lower pump in the middle stringer. At first I would suspect a bellows issue but it seems to only happen when operating the boat. I am in my bilge often with engines running and can't locate any leaks.mmi have twins so it is tough to really get down there. I am looking to rule out the usual suspects.


i know it's not rain water or water moving from other parts of the boat. I have examined sea strainers for engines and AC and have not observed any leaks.
Click to expand...

Check the seal/caulk between where your lower hull meets the upper hull at the rub rail at the back sides of your 280. Look especially beneeth the air intakes where the water can run up the sides of the boat when getting on plane. Some longer screws and 4200 sealant fixed me right up.
 
I am finding it tough to find the source as I need to be in the bilge when underway. I need a person to pilot the ship while I look....
 
I had a leak behind the rub rail on the starboard side when I bought the boat. Part of the negotiation was that it be fixed. It was a defect from SR. When the boat would come off of plane, not a lot of backwash, but enough that water came in there.
 
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