Sea Water leaking from front of the boat into Bilge

JohnEGraham

JohnEGraham

Active Member
Aug 5, 2008
1,013
Long Island, NY.
Boat Info
250 Sundancer 1998 5.7.
Engines
350 Merc / Bravo 3
I have been Getting a lot of water in the bilge. I have looked through the past "Bilge water" posts and they pretty much come from the rear of the Boat such as Bellows, Through hulls ect...
I am getting water flowing from the front of the boat into the bilge.
I spent an hour with a "Wet dry vac" standing in the bilge and the water is coming from the front of the boat (Flowing under the Gas tank, Horizontal wood protection plank). There is a Large round hole in the wood and a Gap under the wood where it flows from.
Not 100% sure when it started ( most likely a couple of months ) May have started after my Boat ride from hell ( 6 ft sloppy Waves) with lots of hard landings..
My question is there anything I should check before I pull the boat? if not, What it might be once I do pull the boat?
Thanks All
JG.
 
John,
Is your AC unit up front like mine? Maybe the thru hull or related hardware is the problem?
Todd
 
Thanks Todd, But I don't have AC ( Wish I did:) Thanks for the try.
and it is Salt water took a Bottle home.
JG
 
Yes, I am getting ready to pull the Boat this weekend (I have to borrow friends "big" truck due to size of boat) I did Add a second 120 volt sump pump w/ hose just in case I loose 12volt power I do have 2 new large Blue top Gel cell Batteries but only only bilge pump. ( winter project to add back-up)
Just wondering what it could be? If anyone had a problem like this?
John G
 
john; the part about lot of hard landings suggest a crack in the hull???
 
:smt089 I know, Hope not, Could not be a big crack since its takes about 3 min. to fill a 12oz bottle. which may make it hard to find, If it is a crack.
 
JohnEGraham said:
:smt089 I know, Hope not, Could not be a big crack since its takes about 3 min. to fill a 12oz bottle. which may make it hard to find, If it is a crack.
Click to expand...

That is a large leak.

No A/C, so I assume no generator thus no thru hulls below the water line.
I also assume any depth gauge is aft of the leak.
This should be easy to find, not necessarily easy to fix but easy to find once the boat is out of the water.
 
Presentation said:
That is a large leak.

No A/C, so I assume no generator thus no thru hulls below the water line.
I also assume any depth gauge is aft of the leak.
This should be easy to find, not necessarily easy to fix but easy to find once the boat is out of the water.
Click to expand...

Agreed, that's just under 2 gallons/hour. I'd be concerned enough to pull the boat ASAP. As for the "Big Truck" you can pull this boat with a 1/2 Ton F150 EASILY I towed my old 250DA all over hell's-half-acre for years withe my F150..

Is there water in your fresh water tank? (if equipped)? I can't remember but is there a sump pump under the step into the cabin? (under the garbage can?) How are your window seals? Any evidence of water intrusion be below the port-holes? With that amount of water I'd suspect a below the water-line issue. good luck and keep us posted.
 
John,
Are the following areas wet or dry?
Bottom of bow anchor locker
V-birth storage areas
Does your model have a trash can under the steps? If so, can you pull it out and look down there?
 
Cracked Hull!! It is still in the water?? heck NO! pull it. I pull a 240 Weekender (77) with a mountaneer V8 AWD. hijack a pickup and get it up and out.
Then tell us oops there is a through hull fitting that the valve came open in rough water "I hope"
 
Does your model have a trash can under the steps? If so, can you pull it out and look down there?
Yes, I will look. The Shower only pump ( never use ) is there under the plastic can and check the other two areas ( bow anchor locker
V-birth storage areas)
RE: I towed my old 250DA all over hell's-half-acre for years withe my F150.. I have a Toyota Highlander, pretty much a Camry body and Since I have a Slip, I only need my friend for the trip in & out.
Will keep in touch...
 
Howdy,

Get it out of the water ASAP

If you are sure it's flowing bow to stern that would rule out

the bellows and most other connections to the rear.

Do you have a seacock @ your head.

Any other thru-hull fittings below the water line.

Pull out all your cabin cusions and look at the fiberglass

for saturation from the inside too. Sometimes the bottom

paint will hide the entry point.

just me .02 worth.
 
OK, Better news! The flow is way down. The Water is still coming in from the front edge but now I believe that it maybe coming from the Water heater, Draining down the back and flowing down and around. There is some Rust at the base. If this is it, it must be siphoning out of the tank because I don't hear the Water pump running.
So I have drained the main water tank and place towels around the Hot water tank as best I could. when I go back, and the Hot water tank is empty and I remove the water one lest time that should be it.
 
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I Have a 1999 240 and had a leak around the tow hook that you connect your trailer winch to. I was shocked at how much water was coming in. Removed it, cleaned off hardware and took a burr and cleaned holes through the hull and filled with 4200 before putting back together. Hasn't leaked since
 
Thanks KDawg, If the Hot water heater is not the full story I will check it out, Not sure if the hook is the water unless your moving. Where was your access inside the boat? JG
 
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I am Going to check the hot water heater today, if the Hot water Tank has Domestic water in it ( 6 gallon tank) I guess it could be the Engine heater feed portion of the exchanger Coil that's leaking. I dd run the boat each time I check for the leaks.
 
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Do you have the cockpit heat/defroster option? There I shear exchanger on the starboard side in the aft cabin (directly below the helm). It takes heated water from the engine and circulates it to the exchanger. Mine cracked and filled my aft cabin but it is possible that it could run down the starboard gunwale in into the bilge.
 
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