craig240DA
New Member
- Apr 27, 2007
- 94
Brand new 240DA, should I expect a dry engine compartment, all the time?
Water in Engine Bilge
- Thread starter craig240DA
- Start date
Under nromal circumstances, there is no reason for water to get in the bilge.
On my 260DA, I had a leaking fresh water pump as well as an engine cooling hose that was dripping. Once those were fixed, my bilge stayed bone dry. Even if you hose down your cockpit, for instance, it will all drain overboard and not into the bilge.
On my 260DA, I had a leaking fresh water pump as well as an engine cooling hose that was dripping. Once those were fixed, my bilge stayed bone dry. Even if you hose down your cockpit, for instance, it will all drain overboard and not into the bilge.
- Oct 3, 2006
- 4,404
- Boat Info
- 280 Sundancer, Westerbeke MPV generator
- Engines
- twin 5.0's w/BIII drives
Mmm, from experience I’m going to go with ‘some’ water in the bilge.
Even with the boat out of the water, sitting on the trailer with me hand drying the boat’s bilge area then after a rain storm I will have a small amount of water in the bilge.
Even with the boat out of the water, sitting on the trailer with me hand drying the boat’s bilge area then after a rain storm I will have a small amount of water in the bilge.
Most of the time it should be dry. There will be times ie:wash downs, wet items in storage area that drain to the bilge, etc that some water will get in the bilge. How much water are you seeing? Since it is new, who tighted the plug when it was launched :grin:
estebanj
New Member
Another thing to monitor is whether the amount changes week to week.
Also keep in mind that the bilge pump may not get all of it out when you use it.
Esteban
Also keep in mind that the bilge pump may not get all of it out when you use it.
Esteban
gstanton
New Member
I almost always have "some" in the bilge. Especially after a hard rain, but my cover is wasted. More importantly is to notice if and when the automatic bilge comes on... that indicates that there is a leak somewhere. I've had this kind of "notification" with a bad bellows, a rusted out plug on the manifold and a rusted out plug on the engine block, in that order.
I should mention that my 230 DA is 6 month salt and 6 month fresh... year round.
I should mention that my 230 DA is 6 month salt and 6 month fresh... year round.
Bridog
Well-Known Member
The 260DA always had "some" water in the bilge. After heavy rain, etc.
Searay Jim
Member
I'm going to go with "yes", and "no". :grin:
Mine used to be dry as a bone. It wasn't very often that I'd find water in the bilge and when I did, it was usually tracked to us being in and out of the water a lot. We were also less active and tried to keep water out. We were new and I was/am anal, we finally realized, it's a boat, and relaxed!! :smt101
Now we get some water. Last weekend I thought I figured out where it was coming from only to discover it was something else. When I say "some" if we aren't in and out or tubing etc. and just running around and anchoring, it's a few cups of water maybe. Of course some can come for the anchor locker etc. that drain into the bilge.
I found last weekend, in heavy winds, thus 2'-3' chop, the water backing up in the overboard drains, coming up and splashing into the cockpit, was partly draining into the bilge going under the engine cover. Made sense since the boat was rocking a lot so the little bit of water that made it into the cockpit was having a hard time aiming for the overboard drain again.
I also think I may have a dribble from the fresh water cooling somewhere, although I can't find anything wet.
But again, if we're out a lot and getting wet, a lot, and usually slipped for a few days so I'm not draining it at the end of the day, it may end up with a couple gallons that I drain, but I'd expect that since some things do drain into the bilge and we can get a lot of water just getting in and out, water cannon fights etc.
Mine used to be dry as a bone. It wasn't very often that I'd find water in the bilge and when I did, it was usually tracked to us being in and out of the water a lot. We were also less active and tried to keep water out. We were new and I was/am anal, we finally realized, it's a boat, and relaxed!! :smt101
Now we get some water. Last weekend I thought I figured out where it was coming from only to discover it was something else. When I say "some" if we aren't in and out or tubing etc. and just running around and anchoring, it's a few cups of water maybe. Of course some can come for the anchor locker etc. that drain into the bilge.
I found last weekend, in heavy winds, thus 2'-3' chop, the water backing up in the overboard drains, coming up and splashing into the cockpit, was partly draining into the bilge going under the engine cover. Made sense since the boat was rocking a lot so the little bit of water that made it into the cockpit was having a hard time aiming for the overboard drain again.
I also think I may have a dribble from the fresh water cooling somewhere, although I can't find anything wet.
But again, if we're out a lot and getting wet, a lot, and usually slipped for a few days so I'm not draining it at the end of the day, it may end up with a couple gallons that I drain, but I'd expect that since some things do drain into the bilge and we can get a lot of water just getting in and out, water cannon fights etc.
keokie
Well-Known Member
- Dec 27, 2006
- 1,486
- Boat Info
- 2002 310 Sundancer, Westerbeke 4.5 Genset
- Engines
- 496's, Bravo III's, 2.2:1 Gears
Do you have a built in cockpit cooler? If so, it may drain into the bilge. The previous owner of my 31 had the dealer install a big built in cooler under the companion seat. The ran the drain to the bilge. I changed it because I like a dry bilge.
craig240DA
New Member
- Apr 27, 2007
- 94
Water in bilge
Wow, new here and can't say how much I appreciate all the replies. We originally had water in both the front and the back. MarineMax Service had been out three times and found leaks in the freshwater system up front, but couldn't figure out the leak into the engine compartment until they trailered the boat back to the shop. They say it's fixed now but I won't get it back until next week.
It was at least a gallon of water. I keep the boat on a lift and I can't get to the plug unless I go out in a kayak. I don't want to have to do that each time I use the boat, but with the 240 you can't see if there is water in the back of the engine compartment. The bilge pump is up front and it would take a lot of water in the compartment to get it running.
Does everybody pull the plug after each use? Even if you have the boat on a lift without easy access to the plug?
Wow, new here and can't say how much I appreciate all the replies. We originally had water in both the front and the back. MarineMax Service had been out three times and found leaks in the freshwater system up front, but couldn't figure out the leak into the engine compartment until they trailered the boat back to the shop. They say it's fixed now but I won't get it back until next week.
It was at least a gallon of water. I keep the boat on a lift and I can't get to the plug unless I go out in a kayak. I don't want to have to do that each time I use the boat, but with the 240 you can't see if there is water in the back of the engine compartment. The bilge pump is up front and it would take a lot of water in the compartment to get it running.
Does everybody pull the plug after each use? Even if you have the boat on a lift without easy access to the plug?
