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  1. #1
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    Water in boat when I pull drain plug

    Hey guys I have a 2016 z18 and notice I always have some water in my boat when I pull the drain plug. Even if im out for just an hour or 2. We are about to go on vacation and i'd have the boat in the water (in a slip) for a week. Im starting to second guess whether I should worry since I always have water in the boat. (I am not putting any water in from the inside, swimming, ice chest, etc.)

    Any ideas whats going on or suggestions?

  2. Member
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    Sep 2009
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    joliet
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    #2
    Overflows from livewell?
    Nitro z21

  3. Member
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    May 2011
    Location
    Melbourne FL
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    92
    #3
    I always have a little too it is common. Some of mine leaks around the cooler box plug into the hull. Also if you don't have one get a auto bilge pump switch. I had my boat in a slip for a week fishing and one night it rained like crazy and my boat almost sunk because I had the live well over flow plugged. I installed a switch as soon as I got home.
    Johnnyboydan
    Triton 185 Merc 150

  4. Member
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    Sep 2009
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    joliet
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    #4
    Only time water in the hull should be common is ice melt in cooler overflow of livewell or water in boat either from rain or taking waves
    Nitro z21

  5. Banned
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    Jan 2019
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    TX
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    #5
    Livewells are not overflowing.. and I rarely use the built in icechest. Maybe I will replace the plastic boat's drain plug with a stainless steel.. Only thing I can think of, is the rear drain is not a tight seal and water is slowly seeping in

  6. Member
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    May 2008
    Location
    Ankeny, IA
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    1,354
    #6
    My Z7 was getting water in the bilge. To test the rear plug i put teflon tape on it. It stopped the leak so I bought a whole new drain plug assembly and it solved the issue. Good luck.

    I will add on another boat I owned, one of my livewell hose fittings broke and was letting water into the bilge. A lot more than the drain plug issue.
    Last edited by remaly181; 06-08-2019 at 09:29 PM.

  7. Fishing is a Passion
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    Oct 2011
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    Wilmington, NC
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    3,176
    #7
    Backwash
    2002 Pro Craft 200 Super Pro- 2005 200 Mercury Optimax, Retired
    Empty Nester- Proud Grandfather 5-30-2014-Boy-Aiden, 8-2-2017-Boy-Calen

  8. Moderator Fishysam's Avatar
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    Oct 2016
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    Jamestown North Dakota
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    9,318
    #8
    my nitro for a few trips leaked, then i turned the drain plug like 1/8th turn tighter, fixed
    Mercury 250 proxs 2B115089

  9. Banned
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    TX
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    #9
    Thanks for the replies, you guys!
    Last edited by cav; 06-09-2019 at 06:28 AM.

  10. Member
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    Apr 2018
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    South Carolina
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    #10
    My 2018 is the same way and it stays at the dock for a few days at a time. I wouldnt worry about it, just keep check on it.

  11. Member
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    Sep 2009
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    joliet
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    #11
    Well you can have the plug leaking it’s an easy check just install plug and fill bilge with water over the pumps.

    Your jackplate bolts may not be sealed or tightened properly. Your underside of the rub rail may have a void. Bilge plumbing may be also a culprit.
    Nitro z21

  12. Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Louisville
    Posts
    13
    #12
    I have aZ9 that was doing that and it was a piece of a zip tie that had been cutoff and had worked it’s way back to the drain. It was keeping the drain plug from seating properly.

  13. Dogfish_Jones
    Guest
    #13
    My Z7 was filling up and found that the drain plug threads were messed up causing the water to come in. 10 minutes to install a new one and dry as can be now.

  14. Member 1stindoor's Avatar
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    Aug 2007
    Location
    Fayetteville, NC
    Posts
    3,156
    #14
    A cracked fill line for my livewell was the culprit for my previous 911 CDC. Took awhile to find the problem.
    2016 Nitro Z21
    "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin

  15. Member KCLOST's Avatar
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    Sep 2006
    Location
    Pleasant Valley, MO
    Posts
    1,982
    #15
    Get the garden hose and start filling up the bilge so all of the fittings are under water as well as the pumps for the bilge and live wells. At least you can check those for leaks at the inlets and drain plug area.
    Layton Strong
    Nitro State Team

  16. Member
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    Jan 2017
    Location
    Fairview, NC
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    84
    #16
    I had a issue years ago that stumped me for a while. Here in the NC mountains it gets very cold and freezes every winter. I went fishing one cold morning and my AUTOMATIC bilge pump kept going on??????!!!!! I finally figured out that I had not gotten all the water out of the incoming water lines when I stored it OUTSIDE for a few weeks. One of the hoses And the pump cracked and leaked the water into the boat. I had to replace one pump and a little bit of hose. Problem solved. Sure glad I had installed a second AUTOMATIC pump. At the end of the season before you put the ship up for the season run all the pumps, so said the marine mechanic!