Water in Bilge - Whats Normal

[RevoSEMIpro]

Recently purchased a new (2018) Lund Renegade 1875. I've been having water in the bilge after each time out, sometimes enough that the auto bilge will pump for about 30 to a minute seconds while on the water. More than a few cups, less than a few gallons.  This is the first tin bass hull I've owned, never had water in the bilge in my previous boats (Alumacraft Backtroller 16 and Lund Proguide 1875) which are obviously different hull styles. Is some level of water in the bilge just the nature of the beast with the reduced transom height?

 

I've tried the following to rule out causes -

1. Backed down the ramp (after dark so as not to hold things up) and let every drop I could get out to drain. Figured this would ensure I'm not seeing last trips water.

2. Replaced the original drain plug that was getting a little dry rotted - no change

3. Cranked the plug in with a pliers to make sure I wasn't being a Sally by hand - no change

4. Plugged the livewell drain hole in the transom as well as the bilge drain - no change

5. Filled the livewell while fishing and used the recirc. - no more, no less than before

6. Tried to keep an eye on water coming over the transom while coming down off plane, haven't witness any

7. Haven't had it out in rough water yet so I'm not taking anything over the transom or gunwale while fishing

8. Its garage kept so wouldn't be rain water or anything from storage

 

So I'm down to thinking its "normal" for the hull type, I've got an aerator leak on the intake side of things, or its intruding through the hull somewhere not noticeable.

 

What does our collective experience tell us? 

[camman]

I had a friend who bought a new Crestliner (if I remember correctly) aluminum boat.  He had a similar issue where his auto-bilge would run periodically throughout the day.  At first they told him it was normal (which it’s not to the level he was getting it).  After taking it a number of times, they finally found a leak up in the front of the boat.  They fixed it and his boat was dry after that.  It took them over a year to find the problem.

 

To me there is a big difference between a few cups (which I would not worry) to a my bilge running for 30 seconds to a minute (which is of concern).  Also would be curious on what caused your original drain plug to dry rot on a 2 year old boat.

[RevoSEMIpro]

53 minutes ago, camman said:

To me there is a big difference between a few cups (which I would not worry) to a my bilge running for 30 seconds to a minute (which is of concern).  Also would be curious on what caused your original drain plug to dry rot on a 2 year old boat.

Thanks, thats the way I'm leaning....yay.

 

As far as the drain plug beginning to dry rot - it was not screwed in, hanging by the cable tether when I picked up the boat. I suspect it was left out for the duration of time it was with the dealer so the UV took its toll.

[A-Jay]

IMO, Not normal.

Been running a Lund Pro-V Bass for 4 years.

Got it new in 2016.

Hull is bone dry unless it's raining or I'm taking waves.

Certainly a selling point with a all brands. 

No one's selling very many new boats that 'leak a little'.

Seems you've done due diligence to locate a possible reason.

While it's still under warranty - get it to the Lund dealer.

Be ready to contact Lund directly - may be what it takes have this resolved with the least amount of BS.

Because there's bound to be some. 

Bottom line is, although it's not a lot of water, your hull leaks.

And if the bilge pump croaks you're in for more than you bargained for when you purchased the rig.

Good Luck. 

A-Jay

 

[Way north bass guy]

Could be as simple as one little rivet that’s a bit loose. Doesn’t take more than a pinhole for water to come in, especially if it’s under pressure from the boat running across the lake. Might be hard to find by yourself, I’d definitely do what A-Jay said. 

[Shimano_1]

Id put it in the water and take a flashlight and climb around the back bilge area and see if you can tell where water is coming in at or park it on a hill and put some water in it with a hose and see where it comes out at on the outside of the boat. May have some debris around the threads of the drain hole or something.  Had this happen on my aluminum triton when I first bought it it was bone dry then had a cple outings where it took on a Gallon or so. Ended up being some aluminum shavings that were left in it from factory had gotten in the threads.  If you can't figure it out id definitely be having the dealer do so. Good luck! 

[Dirtyeggroll]

Not normal. Continue to investigate. Hope you figure it out and its a simple fix.

[Dwight Hottle]

As others have said it is not normal. You have a leak somewhere. If your always filling your live well that could be the source. Some livewells will leak out the top from overfilling or wave action. Try not using your livewell for a few trips & see if you still are still accumulating in the bilge to rule it out. You could also have a leak in the livewell plumbing or intake. Once you rule out the livewell as the source of your leak check out the hull. Fill the bilige with water & look for leaks under the boat while on the trailer in your driveway. Also check the transom for leaks around the discharge & intake holes. Most leaks are plumbing issues not hull leaks especially in newer boats. Leaking rivets usually are a wear & tear issue from rough water usage over time.   

[Born 2 fish]

My Lund was always bone dry unless it was raining.

[RevoSEMIpro]

Thanks for the replies, pretty much reaffirmed what I was thinking - unfortunately.

 

I've done as much detective work as I'm gonna do - I bought a new boat to avoid chasing gremlins. Surely wont be pulling deck up or contorting to trace plumbing issues or filling with water to play leak detective. Thats not to say the advice isn't appreciated, if I bought used it would be a different story.

 

Will be on the phone with the dealer in the morning to see how they and/or Lund are going to handle it.

[MickD]

If you're being told that water intrusion is normal ask how you are supposed to leave the boat on the water overnight or for days?  Trust the auto bilge?  I have often wondered how to find a slow leak, not sure I know how.  But you should not have to accept water intrusion.  First place I would suspect is through the transom engine mount bolts.  

 

New boat with dry rotted drain plug?

 

If you plug the outlet hole in the transom that is used to exhaust the live well, and put water into the live well either through the auto or manual fill pump, you will get overflow of the livewell into the bilge.

[slonezp]

Check for loose or cracked pump connections 

[OnthePotomac]

17 hours ago, slonezp said:

Check for loose or cracked pump connections 

That happened to me and it was a loose factory installed clamp on the live well pump. Easy fix once I found out what it was, but so minimal it was hard to find.  I put on a new clamp with sealer and no more leaky.  Bone dry since unless I reverse too aggressively and get water over the stern.  That has to be a welded hull and I doubt the weld is leaking.

[MickD]

I think all Lunds are riveted hulls.  Crestliner, part of the same company, are welded.  I expect in both cases their leak detection methods on the production line have to be very robust, so most likely the cause is something like hose fittings or other operations done after the hull is inspected on line.

[K1500]

Take it to the dealer. To find a leak they will shut the bilge off and fill it with water and look for it leaking out of the boat. Quite often it’s around a penetration in the hull like a livewell drain. I’ve got a brand new Lowe that leaked and the dealer fixed it no problem. 

[ToeDrag62]

I just saw this feed from last September.  I bought a 2019 Renegade 1775 and it leaked horrible. It ended up being the fittings for the live well.  I took it back under warranty and got it back worse than the original leak.  I ended up unscrewing the fittings, using marine sealant and retightening.  Problem solved.  Dealer could have cared less about it.  

[gim]

17 minutes ago, ToeDrag62 said:

I just saw this feed from last September.  I bought a 2019 Renegade 1775 and it leaked horrible. It ended up being the fittings for the live well.  I took it back under warranty and got it back worse than the original leak.  I ended up unscrewing the fittings, using marine sealant and retightening.  Problem solved.  Dealer could have cared less about it.  

Wow that is shocking. I’d be pretty upset

[E-rude dude]

My Triton leaked from bottom motor mount bolts when new. They had to remount the motor twice. 

[S Hovanec]

Motor bolts through transom.  My dealer didn't seal mine properly and that was my water intrusion problem 

[WRB]

Elastomers don’t dry rot. Try reinstalling the drain plug using Vaseline to lubricate it.

You have a slow leak somewhere. Try laying paper towel sheets under the hose connections and check for Wet towel after about 14-30 minutes on the water. Easy way to isolate the leak source.

Tom

 

[NoShoes]

Something to think about is how much water is coming in when you pick up your trolling motor?  My old jon boat used to get water accumulate a little bit from the trolling motor pick ups.   Boat was bone dry electric only places where it stayed down. 
 

just another thing to think about