Boat leak question

I have a Warrior 1890BT and had it out for the first time this year Sunday on P2. After the 7 hours on the water I had about 1/2- 1 gallon of water come out when I pulled the plug. I didn’t take any over the side or the back of the boat, so there is a very slight leak somewhere. I also had the rear livewell plug in before entering the water and I had 3-4″ in water in that. I am thinking I might have a cracked livewell line. What is a good way to search for the leak?

Put the boat in the water and physically look where the water is coming in. Pretty common for a pump to be cracked from freezing.

Like Dean said, if its a line issue most likely its right at the housing of the pump. Open up the compartment and just watch. Or plug the inlet of the livewell and fill the livewell up with water and find it that way.

Thanks Dean, if I filled the livewell will it leak back also or is there a value that would stop that?

This is a 2005 model and it isn’t real easy to see in there without laying on the floor and sticking my head under the back platform. With this slow of a leak I could drift the entire pool 2 before I found it.

Try installing a new drain plug first. I spent most of two days last year trying to find a non-existent leak in my Lund 16 footer. In frustration put in a different drain plug. Went fishing for about nine hours. Pulled the different plug out when put back on trailer. Not one drop of water came out.

Never had one go bad before. In over 40 years of boating.

papaperch wrote:

Try installing a new drain plug first. I spent most of two days last year trying to find a non-existent leak in my Lund 16 footer. In frustration put in a different drain plug. Went fishing for about nine hours. Pulled the different plug out when put back on trailer. Not one drop of water came out.

Never had one go bad before. In over 40 years of boating.

That could be part of the problem, but wouldn’t explain the livewell filling part way up.

I’d check things starting at the live well and moving back toward the drain outlet. I’ve chased these leaks before 3 times and found out that if you don’t do things slowly and systematically, it’s time-consuming and frustrating.

I’d start with the stuf that’s easy to test in the shop at home.

Starting off, the bilge needs to be completely dry and water free.

1. Plug the livewell but not using the normal rubber plug, use plumber’s putty so you know you got a complete seal. Fill livewell as full as possible. Leave overnight. Check bilge. If no water, then no cracked livewell seams. Don’t drain the livewell yet.

2. Plug livewell drain outlet on transom with plumber’s putty. Now remove the putty that’s blocking the drain in the livewell. Leave overnight. Check bilge. Any leakage indicates a leaking drain hose or fitting.

If neither of the above pinpoints the leak, it’s time to switch to the bilge pump side and to check the livewell pump. It’s easier to do these with the boat in the water.

Grouse

All of these are possibilities fyi, but I will bet a fresh homemade cookie on the cracked housing ! Yes it is a pain to see these things, but on water is your best bet for finding the source!

Thanks for all the suggestions. Guess I’ll have to spend another 7-8 hours on P2…even if I find the leak before the weekend