Little Water in Bilge...Need to tighten plug?

[BRDad]

Hey All,

New R4 was put in the water by the dealer a few weeks ago. He put in the drain plug and made a point to tell me to just hand tighten it.

The boat sits on a lift when not in use. There has been no rain.

I've been noticing some water sitting in the bilge. Not enough yet to auto turn on the pump. I did manually turn it on and got a little out.

I'm wondering if the plug was not put in tight enough and it has a slow leak? I seem to notice a bit more water when the boat is left sitting in the water for a few hours. If it's not that...then some kind of water leak from the engine. I've had it running and I don't seem to see any leaks. Anywhere in particular I show look?

Picture attached is after I ran the pump and it took a little out. If it looks a bit wet on the engine...I think that was from me trying to get some water out

Let me know what you think I should look for?

As always you have all been amazing and thanks for the help!

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[Big Block Power]

Just jump in the water and tighten it more then recheck.
Otherwise check all of your hose clamps. Otherwise you have a screw or thru bolt that is below the water line leaking from not being sealed. Or the hoses or fitting or bracket from the out drive. I take it you didn't have anyone coming into the boat from the water?
Yes that's too much water.

[BRDad]

So this morning while the boat was on the left I took out the plug let some water drain out… It wasn’t much. then put the plug back in and made sure it was snug.

But now I’m sitting here clearly watching water increase in the bilge… Engine off just sitting at the dock. The attached two pictures are probably 20 minutes apart.

I think I’ve cleared the fact that it’s anything to do with the engine given that I’m watching it increase sitting still in the water with the engine off.

Needless to say very frustrating on a brand new boat.

Other than the obvious which is back to the dealer… Anything else to look at?

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[VTENGR]

My new R6 is the exact same way. I jump down there and used a shop vac to get it bone dry and after one outing it's back. I talked to the dealer about it and he insisted it was normal but I don't think so.

To add to that, after I shop vac'ed the water out - while on a lift - water came back. It took about 3 shop vac spaced 10 or so minutes apart to get all the water out. Seems some water was coming from the bow of the boat into the engine compartment.

[BRDad]

My new R6 is the exact same way. I jump down there and used a shop vac to get it bone dry and after one outing it's back. I talked to the dealer about it and he insisted it was normal but I don't think so.

To add to that, after I shop vac'ed the water out - while on a lift - water came back. It took about 3 shop vac spaced 10 or so minutes apart to get all the water out. Seems some water was coming from the bow of the boat into the engine compartment.

That’s discouraging to hear. I’m literally watching it increase overtime. just took a ride and when we came back it’s more full. definitely not normal. I’ve had four and usually they stay bone dry. There’s no way a boat should be taking on any water just sitting there. I thought maybe it could be coming from the bow area as well but when I removed it I literally watched it inch up from the back of the boat to the front.

I’m waiting to hear from my dealer as well so let me know what you end up hearing.

Last thing that is also a little strange… When I took the plug out of the boat I put my pinky finger through the hole and on the other side I can feel a loose screw. Assuming during production someone just dropped it and there was no easy way to get it out but still kind of strange.

[Titaniumboy]

Do you have a borescope so you can get a closer look under the engine and around the transom? This one from Amazon is only $38 and doesn’t need a phone or an virus-ridden app to use.

https://www.amazon.com/Borescope-Inspec ... 02&sr=1-49


Dropped stainless screws are a pain because a magnet probe doesn’t work to retrieve them. With the borescope you can at least see where the dropped screws are.

[BRDad]

Do you have a borescope so you can get a closer look under the engine and around the transom? This one from Amazon is only $38 and doesn’t need a phone or an virus-ridden app to use.

https://www.amazon.com/Borescope-Inspec ... 02&sr=1-49


Dropped stainless screws are a pain because a magnet probe doesn’t work to retrieve them. With the borescope you can at least see where the dropped screws are.

That’s a good idea. I’m guessing this will have to go back to the dealer to figure out the leak…and can find the screw.

[stifflkd]

Its ridiculous for a dealer to say its normal for water to enter the boat. I would check each thru hull point. Start with the transducer. Get the water out of the boat like you did in the 2nd pic and dry the area really good. Put the boat in the water and see if you can tell if water is seeping thru the mount. I would wrap the area with tissue paper. If its leaking even slightly it will show up on the paper.

[BRDad]

Its ridiculous for a dealer to say its normal for water to enter the boat. I would check each thru hull point. Start with the transducer. Get the water out of the boat like you did in the 2nd pic and dry the area really good. Put the boat in the water and see if you can tell if water is seeping thru the mount. I would wrap the area with tissue paper. If its leaking even slightly it will show up on the paper.

Thank you. I got as much water out as I could like you see in that picture but there was still a decent amount towards the back. Keep in mind on the lift I pulled the plug and let it drain today as well. Your idea with tissue paper is a really good when I’m just not sure how to get back far enough to do that and reach all the water in the back.

[Titaniumboy]

New R4 was put in the water by the dealer a few weeks ago. He put in the drain plug and made a point to tell me to just hand tighten it.

Is your drain plug made of brass? My drain plug is brass and I would never consider installing it with just hand tightness. I use a small adjustable wrench so I can get it tighter than hand tight. I do not reef on the drain plug with the wrench, but I get it quite a bit tighter than hand snug. Maybe 10 foot-pounds at the most?

[Titaniumboy]

Your idea with tissue paper is a really good when I’m just not sure how to get back far enough to do that and reach all the water in the back.

Maybe you can shove a bath towel back there with a short stick, while leaving enough towel for you to still be able to grab and remove?

You will definitely be in third base territory with your engine while doing this sort of work.

[stifflkd]

The transducer is in front of the engine. Its that unit mounted in front of the engine pulley. It looked like you were able to get enough water out of the boat that you could determine if water is leaking from there. If you want to check whether the leak is from the drain assembly, lift the boat, add water to the bilge and see if water is leaking out. If the water level in the boat does not change with the boat on a lift for several days (with no rain) I doubt it is the the drain

[BRDad]

The transducer is in front of the engine. Its that unit mounted in front of the engine pulley. It looked like you were able to get enough water out of the boat that you could determine if water is leaking from there. If you want to check whether the leak is from the drain assembly, lift the boat, add water to the bilge and see if water is leaking out. If the water level in the boat does not change with the boat on a lift for several days (with no rain) I doubt it is the the drain

I just lifted the boat out of the water. I'll let the outside dry and go bake and look in a little bit or in the morning.

I do see the transducer. When the water was lower it seems like the water was moving from the back of the boat towards the transducer...but I guess if it's slow it would be hard to tell. I was 100% not coming from the bow towards the stern. The stern is filling up and going forward.

Here is a picture I took just before lifting the boat. You can see it's clearly more water and that not at all from use...just sitting in the dock. What I don't know is if the bilge pump was turning on through out the day. I didn't see it go on but I guess it could have. When I turn it on manually I hear it running but nothing is coming out so I guess not full enough yet?

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[BRDad]

Update: so I was able to have a close look at the transom while it was up on the lift just now.

Unfortunately I think I found the culprit. There appears to be a crack in the hall where it meets the transom.

Needless to say I’m shocked and devastated at the moment.

I know it’s under warranty but this seems like a crazy high stress area… Is it even repairable properly as a new boat should be?

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[sailor55330]

I would definitely get that back to the dealer. No way that is normal. Fiberglass is able to be repaired but I’d want a structural analyst given its on a joint