Leaking in rough water on Sea Ray 175

zuhl

New Member
Aug 19, 2009
64
Houston, TX
Boat Info
1995 SeaRay 175 "Fiver Series" Bowrider, I/O, Alpha One, 3.0LX
Engines
3.0LX
Hello to all. This is my first post here so forgive me if this has been asked before. I searched but could not find an answer.

I have a 1995 Sea Ray 175 I/O BR 3.0 that I took out into a bay here in Texas over the weekend. Usually I limit it to bayous and lakes, but I was feeling advenurous (or stupid). Anyway, while cruising through the rougher water (2-3 ft seas) I noticed that the bilge was working overtime. Is there a reason that it would be leaking more while out there? Could there be something that is stressing the outdrive seals or such? When we got back to the docks or when were anchored and sitting still fishing, it did not leak at all. I am wondering if there may be somethign I need to tighten.

This is my first boat. I have had it for a couple of years, but it has been fairly worry free, so I am just starting to learn more about it as things like this crop up. Thanks to all for help.

I was also wondering if there is any way to quiet the exhaust any more? I really like this boat, but it is too damn loud for such a small motor.
 
deleted for double post.
 
Last edited:
Can't really quiet the motor - that little 3.0L just likes to shake, rattle and roll. But you can seal the motor box better. Either by replacing the sound-deadening material on the underside of the box and/or around where the box's bottom edge sits.

Water is water - although water does change in density. But for our purposes, salt won't "push" harder on anything.

Could be your rubrail needs to be re-sealed. Does your bilge pump's hose have a loop in it just before it goes through the hull? It should.

Tilt your drive up and check the condition of the bellows hoses.
 
Thank you. I am not sure about the bilge pump hose. I will have to take a look at it. I assume the loop needs to be there to keep water out when it is not running?

Not familiar with a rub rail. I am anyone has any pictures of where I should look, I would appreciate it.

Thanks again.
 
The rubrail is the "bumper" that goes around the waistline of your boat. Your boat is constructed like a show box. Underneath the rubrail is where the two halves come together.

Have someone shoot a hose at it (from below) as you look for leaks.
 
I have the same boat and take it out in rougher waters frequently here in Pensacola. I noticed the same thing with the extra water comming in while in the rough water. I have determined that it is purly the spray from moving through the chop. Our boats have a very shallow gunwale and the spray can easily come onboard.

Not to say this is your issue, but it is what happens to my boat.
 
Good Advice from LAZY DAZE.

Also, the loop for your bilge pump hose is to prevent water from backflowing from the outside into the hull fitting because otherwise it will wind up in the bilge. The loop should take the hose up higher than the the thru hull fitting.

Dave
 
Just to be on the safe side, check your outdrive's bellows. Did you have "green" water coming over the bow at anytime?
 
I will check out the bellows this weekend. There was a lot of water coming over the bow when I was moving through the heavy seas. I was completely soaked. I assume this was a lot of it. But it really started to fill way before that. When I noticed the problem, I had not yet noticed any water coming over the gunwhales.

Thanks again!
 
I'm betting a lot of it is coming in, as others have said, either in the bellows, or under the rub rail. My '95 185 (probably same mold/shell as what you have) would do that, when I was in good waves, (3'+) crashing through them. I actually stopped at one point, and crawled under the dash to check it out, and could see the seepage along the seam.

-VtSeaRay
 
Is there anything that can be done to seal the rub rail? Would a bead of caulk do any good? Probably would just look like a mess. I guess so long as I know what the problem is then I can deal with it. Thanks to all.
 
Rub rail needs to come off to re-seal (properly).
 

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