How Often Do You Bilge?

[dulouz]

My father in law purchased an Aluminum Deep V, Lund 1984 Lund Tyee 4.9. He is not a boater or fisherman, I don't know why he bought it but that is beside the point. So we were out crusing this weekend and I noticed water in the back of the boat where the battery and gas tanks are, so I ran the bilge pump. I checked every thirty minutes or so, and it pumped out what I seemed a significant amount of water each time. I am not used to operating a boat like this, so I don't know what is normal. Is it taking on too much water? And yes, the drain plug is in.

[central.PA.bass]

I would say yes, it is taking on too much water.. I couldn't tell you the last time I have ever had to run my bilge..

[skunked_again]

every time i touch my key to fire the motor.

[slonezp]

You have a leak somewhere.

[Triton21]

You have a leak somewhere.

Put plug in an put some water in boat. If has a leak it will show.

Kelley

[Pa Angler]

Put plug in an put some water in boat. If has a leak it will show.

Kelley

With the boat out of the water and on the trailer.

Pa Angler

[Pa Angler]

I have an auto bilge but even with that eveytime it rains or before I set out for fishing.

Pa Angler

[Triton21]

With the boat out of the water and on the trailer.

Pa Angler

Thanks Pa. I forgot he is a new boater.

Kelley

[dulouz]

Put plug in an put some water in boat. If has a leak it will show.

Kelley

It's funny you should mention that... after the first time I tried it out it sat in my garage and I thought I saw some water dripping from the hull. I thought it was odd and didn't know why it would be doing that. There is a round trap door about six inches in diameter on the deck a foot or so behind the consoles. In that door is some valves for the livewell. I looked for water, but didn't realize the valves are on a plate and not the hull. I kept checking for water but didn't see any until this weekend the water was almost up to the plate. I will do some investigating now I know there is a problem.

I warned my father in law not to buy the boat without going out on the water with the owner. Needless to say he didn't listen.

Thanks for the advice.

[J Francho]

You have a leak somewhere.

Unless its raining, I forget the plug, or the livewells overflow, no bilge.

[CFFF 1.5]

My Dad had an old aluminum Grumman boat that leaked like crazy. Before we had a bilge we used to get up on plane and pull the plug to let the water run out. Probably only did this once or twice a day but it would be a fairly good amount of water. Once I started using it on my own I put a bilge in it with a switch. I would probably turn it on a few times a day.

[Way2slow]

If you have a live well with pumps or drains, or even your bilge pump, these are very common areas to get leaks. Older, rivited aluminum boats will leak simply because they have nothing better to do. If it has a livewell, I've seen more than one of those leak around the seams from corosion after they get some age. If you have one, plug the drain, fill it with water and see if you start getting a puddle in the boat.

As mentioned, with the boat on the trailer, partially fill it with water, if the trailer will stand it, go up to the water line. This will usually show any leaks in hull itself. Just be carefull, at eight pounds per gallon, it's very easy to add 400 - 500 pounds of water and that could damage your trailer.

As for how often, I've had old bass boats that I would run the bilge every hour. Some of the plumbing for the livewells etc would leak and almost impossible to get to. It was just easier to keep them pumped out.

[BassThumb]

I've fished out of a boat that needed the bilge pump to be used even 45 minutes or so. It turned out to be a minor crack in the weld on the back, near the bottom. It was fixed and the bilge was never needed again unless it was raining.

[Nick]

If you drive a Gambler like me, you'll probably bilge 5 times a day! Have to be real careful coming off pad.

[Lund Explorer]

No doubt about it, you've got a leak somewhere.

First places I would look is to see whether the current drain plug is secure. Next check all of the plumbing for the livewells to see if a hose or fixture is the problem. The last problem could be loose rivets or a problem with one of the seams.

My guess given the age of the boat, is that you have a leak around the drain plug or somewhere in the livewell system. Make sure the plug fits tightly and that all of the other thru-hull fixtures are snug and have a good bead of sealant around them. The best way to check this out would be to dry the bilge area completely, and then watch the area after launching. From the way you describe it, the leak is sever enough that you should find the problem fairly fast.

[dulouz]

I took the boat out today and it didn't seem to be leaking too bad until the whole family was in the back of the boat. I noticed water dripping from the keel ( not sure if this is the correct term, it was the metal rib down the center of the underside of the boat) from a hole that looked like it was made to be there. Any ideas???

[Lund Explorer]

I took the boat out today and it didn't seem to be leaking too bad until the whole family was in the back of the boat. I noticed water dripping from the keel ( not sure if this is the correct term, it was the metal rib down the center of the underside of the boat) from a hole that looked like it was made to be there. Any ideas???

A picture would be worth a thousand words (guesses) here.

[Fishing Rhino]

The keel would be the correct term. It leaks more with the boat loaded because that pushes the hull deeper in the water, which increases the water pressure against the hull.

Maybe the hole is supposed to be there, but I'm sure it's not supposed to leak. Is the hole in the bottom of the boat or the bottom of the stern? Some boats have the old fashioned drains in the bottom. When you are under way, you open the plug and the water will drain. At rest the plug must be tightened or it will leak.

Unless you post a photo of the "hole" all we can do is hazard guesses.

[Doug Sutherland]

Time to play find the leak!! As mentioned check livewell hoses, bilge hoses, even the drain plug itself. It could be anything.

[dulouz]

Time to play find the leak!! As mentioned check livewell hoses, bilge hoses, even the drain plug itself. It could be anything.

Let me preface this again by saying this isn't my boat, and it was purchased by on a whim by my father in law. You mention the livewell, I have never filled it and wouldn't know how if I wanted to. In the deck there is a round trap door, underneath it is a pair of hoses each with a valve that run in the direction of the livewell. If one of these valves were in the wrong position, would that send or let water flow freely into the hull?