Leaks !!

[Texascoastalfish]

Hey All,

Ive been out in my 75 20' SF about 6 times since re commissioning and all in all no problems, EXCEPT Im getting water in the bilge and having to pump it out every 30- 45 minutes ( maybe 2-3 gallons or so )I guess sinking would qualify as a PROBLEM !! The only thing I can think is the scuppers. they are original and I suspect water is leaking in from around them. Ive plugged them topside. What is the best way to isolate the problem and narrow it down ? re-sealing around the seaward ends? I don't see any breaches in the hull, but there is a place where it looks like the fiberglass is showing on the keel.
Thanks in Advance !
Dave E.

[castalot]

if possible tilt the boat so the one scupper is the low point and put water in the hull just enough to cover the area you can also make a dam around the area with clay and fill it and look at the bottom for seepage same is true where glass is showing sounds crude but has helped in the past

[McGillicuddy]

I have a '72 Seafari w/thru-hull scuppers and I'm going thru the same experience. I haven't thoroughly investigated but based on what I've read here, I'm pretty certain the scuppers are the culprit beacuse flange on one of them is 1/16" to 1/8" from sealing point.

At any rate I've ordered some flanged brass tubes (4" Moeller drain tubes part# MOE-021003400D) and the 1" flanging tool (MOE 02070000) from clrmarine.com

I believe the bilge drain and the splashwell drains are suspect so I'll be changing them too. Go down about 3 or 4 topics on this forum and you'll see the feed back I just got, and several links from others' previous efforts. I know at least 6 or 7 of the members have changed their own and made unique alterations as well. Good luck!

-McGill

[NoBones]

Also check your live well in the upper corners..
A mirror will help to look.
Mine had over flow tubes that drained into the bilge.

Once I plugged and re-routed the over flow tubes, problem solved.

See ya, Ken

[BillPutney]

Guys I have a book on fiberglass boats from some English dude that seems to be a reference source for many who are repairing/restoring fiberglass boats . Mostly he deals with sailing creaft but his info. applies to all boats.Like you are saying ' he suggests making a dam and the filling it with water and adding a few drops of food coloring so as to make the leak easier to trace.It seems that it is very effective when the leak is a distance away from where the water appears.

[Bushwacker]

This is a fairly common problem on the 20's. The flange at lower end of scupper tube deteriorates over time, resulting in a leak between tube and the hull. Potter installed a section of wood 4x4 in the hull before they dropped in the inner liner. Hole was drilled after inner liner installed and then tube was installed. If it's been leaking long enough the wood may have rotted out. Here's the thread where I posted a bunch of pictures of the repair I did. If you read this thread first, the following pictures will make more sense! leaking scuppers I'll repost the pics here, as they didn't show up in old post.

[76Red18]

Don't know if the 20 has a thru hull drain in the bow well like my 18 does, but that was the source of my leak.

[eggsuckindog]

On my 18 the forward fishbox thru hull was loose and leaked only when loaded or when somebody was up there, drove me crazy. Second idea to isolate, put plugs in the outside of the hull and the inside and see if you still get water. OR completely dry out the bilge, have the bilge access open and put the boat in the water, you will see where its running from - either one side or the other or from the bow, just an idea.

You have to isolate and eliminate - kinda like- go back to where you took your pants off to find the truck key

[Texascoastalfish]

Thanks guys for all the input. I have it up in a sling down at Sisters dock in Jamaica Beach. Ill try all your suggestions, and hopefully isolate it. Thanks again !! Tight lines !!