Boat leaking

Hi All,
I recently bought my first boat. It is used so I expect some bugs to be worked out and since this is all new to me I am looking for help. It seems to me that the boat takes on a lot of water. I turn on the bilge pump every 15-20 minutes when on the water and it looks like a lot of water is being pumped out. Next spring I plan to have an auto switch installed which will help but I am wondering about the source of the water. So, last night in the driveway I started filling it with water. After a bit of filling, water started to run out of of the intake for the livewell pump. I assume that if water can run out then water could run in through the pump and fill the hull.

I really would appreciate anyone’s thoughts on this. I am not very skilled mechanically but I like digging in, learing new things, and resolving the issue….if I can.

So I think where the pipe runs through the boat the seal is no longer good. Maybe start there and remove it clean the area and reseal it.

What type of boat. Just replaced the drain pipe for my live well bout a month ago. It had a nice split in it. Pain in the but job. Took care of the water for a few trips but now Im getting water in again. Might have to fill mine up today and try to see whats going on again. Got a funny feeling the new pipe I put in might of got cut on the aluminium.

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So I think where the pipe runs through the boat the seal is no longer good.

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I was thinking the same but it doesn’t start leaking until the water level gets up several inches on the pump. Also, the water coming out is not at a drip, drip pace….it is flowing like a faucet left on with the water running slowly.

It is a 99 Tracker Targa. 19 foot deep V.

cracked fitting or pump housing somewhere. Put DRY boat in water and get your head down where you can see (or use a camera)……you should be able to ID the leak quickly.

T

I take it that intake bulk head fitting is in the transom? Would think it should be easy enough to shine a flash light back there and see if its loose. Those transom bulk head fittings usually seem pretty secure. Think there would be a better chance of water sitting in a low spot of the pipe and freezing in the winter time creating a crack.

Mine did that to when I first got my boat. I found the leak to be on the pump housing part that hooks up to the intake line. Check out the pump make sure there are no cracks in it and work your way back to the intake port. My guess is that you will find a hole somewhere along in there.

Just had the same thing happen to my used boat that I just bought. Mice had eaten the live well intake hose that brings water in from underneath the hull. Water would run out once inside the boat, filled up the entire hull, shorted out electronics (twice!). Had the intake capped off (so no longer a useable live well, but with AIS, if I keep fish I just put on ice anyway). Live wells could become a thing of the past… so I’m just pluggin it up and stayin’ dry!

Been thinking about going that route to as my live well stores more rain coats and life jackets than fish.

You bring up a great point but I have waited for over 48 years to have a boat with a livewell so it might be a while before I go without. And my son has been waiting for over 19…..I think he was beginning to feel like he would buy one before I would.

Thanks for the comments everyone. I am going to take a closer look later today.

Best way I’ve found leaks is to have the boat out of the water and on the trailer. Fill boat up (part way little at a time) with water and livewell with water. Will find leak pretty quick that way.

could the live well be leaking ? easy to find out filler up in the drive well

I have replaced some pumps do to the hose clamps being over tightened and cracking the pipe to the pump. I have also seen live wells that leak do the pipe coming into it getting broke from fish smacking into it. I have also replaced pumps from being frozen from water still in the lines over the winter. Just a few examples I have dealt with.