Pilot
Active Member
Seems like I always have 1-2 inches in the compartment, below where the bilge can pump it out. Is this normal? Anyone else have this? Its a 370 DA.
Thx
Thx
Water in engine compartment
- Thread starter Pilot
- Start date
- Oct 12, 2007
- 12,916
- Boat Info
- '89 Sea Ray 390 Express
'00 Sea Ray 185 BR
- Engines
- mercruiser 7.4L inboards
Mercruiser 4.3L/Alpha 1
Some people swear a bilge should always be dry. I’m not one of them. Invariably anytime you wash the boat, you’ll get water in the bilge. Dripless shaft seals are not exactly dripless, so you may get water when you run. Rudder shaft packing will tend to weep shortly after launch until it swells....
In my book, a little water is normal and acceptable. Now if it is gaining for no apparent reason, that would be cause for investigation. So in other words, investigate where it is coming from, but I wouldn’t lose sleep over it.
In my book, a little water is normal and acceptable. Now if it is gaining for no apparent reason, that would be cause for investigation. So in other words, investigate where it is coming from, but I wouldn’t lose sleep over it.
Little Ducky
Well-Known Member
- Jun 5, 2017
- 2,654
- Boat Info
- 1998 290 Sundancer
- Engines
- Twin EFI 5.0L w/Alphas
Kohler 4kW
If you are not looking to have a dry bilge at least know where the water is coming from so you can monitor through out the year..... and if it is a maintenance item that needs to be addressed at the end of the year or the next time you haul it out..... you will already have it on the list.
CliffA
Well-Known Member
- Dec 29, 2009
- 4,712
- Boat Info
- 2001 Sea Ray 340DA
Name: 'Happy Place'
4.5kW West. Generator
Purchased Nov. 2014
Fresh Water Use
- Engines
- Twin Merc. 6.2L (MPI)
640 hp (Total)
Raw Water Cooled
V-Drive Transmissions
i agree that a little water collecting in the bilge is nothing to be concerned over...I have a rudder shaft packing that has been weeping since I bought the boat a few years ago...it is not getting any worse...I slowed it down some by tightening the top nut but it still weeps a little....
this may seem a little odd but I think a little water coming in can actually be a good thing....this way the bilge pump gets exercised once in a while...I believe this helps insure the pump and float switch stay in good operating condition....
cliff
this may seem a little odd but I think a little water coming in can actually be a good thing....this way the bilge pump gets exercised once in a while...I believe this helps insure the pump and float switch stay in good operating condition....
cliff
SeadawgVB
Active Member
I agree with what has been stated above. My bilge would be completely dry if I never hook up the city water connection. It took me a while to figure that out. Now that I know where it is coming from, I'm not in a big hurry to fix it, that freshwater pressure manifold looks like an angry octopus.
That being said, you need to determine the rate of your leak (if there is one) to make sure your bilge pumps aren't cycling often and masking a bigger issue.
Also as stated above if I go out during heavy seas and take on some water into the cockpit seating area (or actually any area in the cockpit) the only place it drains is into the engine room bilge.
That being said, you need to determine the rate of your leak (if there is one) to make sure your bilge pumps aren't cycling often and masking a bigger issue.
Also as stated above if I go out during heavy seas and take on some water into the cockpit seating area (or actually any area in the cockpit) the only place it drains is into the engine room bilge.
sandydlc
Active Member
Yes, and it drives me nuts. I'm tempted to mount a camera in the engine room at least temporarily to see what is going on when we're on plane.
cfd95
Active Member
Check the easy things first.
Blue drain plugs on the engines. sometimes the o rings break
fresh water pump and hot water heater connections.
Everything that is mounted on your arch and hard top is sealed good.
Water will run down where the arch is mounted and into the bilge.
Blue drain plugs on the engines. sometimes the o rings break
fresh water pump and hot water heater connections.
Everything that is mounted on your arch and hard top is sealed good.
Water will run down where the arch is mounted and into the bilge.
For any 97-2001 and maybe other years too, check your lazarette after a rain. Our 98 would collect water there and the weep hole in the middle wouldn’t do anythjng unless the boat was perfectly level. Instead it would run left or right and down into the engine room through the shore power cord or fresh water washdown holes. I made a canvas extension to cover it.
