Water in Bilge After running livewells today.

[Eashton123]

Hi Everyone,

Before today, I have not had water in the Bilge area after taking the boat out of the water. Today the only thing I did different was run the livewells, didnt even fill them to the top. I have a 2017 Skeeter fx20le. Is this a normal thing that could happen with this? After I got home it did not look like I had any leaks in the live well hoses.

Let me know if this is normal or did I do somethingn wrong?

Thank you

[mactlman]

valve or hose leaking maybe. fill up in the driveway and circulate it and see if it leaks?

[BroWhoop]

Could be a pump, a hose connection or fitting, even a thru the hull fitting. Also check all exterior thru hull and rub rails thoroughly.

[Jbass123]

You don’t say how long you’ve had the boat or other variables. What some people don’t realize is that in some cases, whether that be a certain launch ramp or a certain water level or even the wind direction, water can enter the bilge through the splashwell area as you’re launching the boat. You don’t hear or see that water throughout the day, only discover it after the day is done, and wonder where it came from. When in reality you shipped that water in the first minute.

[Lightning 6]

In addition to those possibilities mentioned by earlier bbc members:

Full livewells change COB…..could result in 1) livewell water entering bilge by leaking thru where the rear deck meets the livewell, 2) increased water sloshing onto transom when coming off plane, and 3) water getting thru rubrail in areas of the rubrail that are further forward (toward the helm).

[Dave A]

How much water? if it's a small amount I wouldn't worry about it, now if it's enough to turn on the bilge pump I'd be concerned.

[rboren]

I have developed a leak this year but tried several suggestions with no luck. Maybe 5 gallons a day gets in. Filled livewell and watched for hours. Nothing. Left boat strapped on trailer and backed down ramp until water was about ready to come over the back. Nothing. Looked at engine bolts, tie downs, thru hill fittings and valve. Dry as a bone. Just going to fish and see if it gets worse or I get lucky and see it.

[21XDC]

Cracked live well pumps, and or hose fittings are big players in this problem and hard to see and find

[Kbob]

Had a leak and capped the intake on the transom one at a time when I went out. Discovered the problem was the port side. The fitting on the pump discharge was loose, pulled pump and tightened fitting and good to go. The leak was small but after a couple of hours on the water my auto bilge would kick on.

[davidsa]

This was my core issue on my new boat. Loose fitting on drain hose.

[gdrau]

Remote drain plugs can cause issues

[Poodle]

I have had it happen in my older Ranger. Turned out that the cap that the water sprays out of into the live well would turn some in rough water so that it's spray would go over the top and into bilge. Little Teflon on threads to tighten up stopped that.

[jjue1979]

Is it possible that the water is from splashing out of livewell? Some of my water in bilge issues have been simply water splashing out of the livewell on rough rides.

[BigBry]

Kbob is on the right track. Go to the hardware store and visit the specialty hardware boxes. Buy several corks of various sizes they’re cheap like a buck a piece. In this order. plug your inflow and outflow in your tank with corks and fill your live well to above your top plugged hole and let the water sit a while. Check the bilge. If there’s water then it’s your tank or fittings at intake/outflow. If no water, continue filling till it’s completely full. If there’s water, you have a bad seal at the doorway to tank seal. Reseal or caulk to fix. If no water, plug the outlet and inlet coming out your transom. Pull the bottom plug inside the tank and let sit for a bit and look for leaks on the fittings and hose on that line. If no water, pull the top plug inside tank and check the fittings and look at your pump housing for leaks. If no leaks, pull the cork on the transom that is the intake for your pump just long enough to let some water out to prime your pump. Turn it on a few times and see if that produces a leak. If so it’s your housing or pump. If that doesn’t work, sell the boat lol.

[BigFishSteve]

How about an update, did you find anything?

[SteezMacQueen]

My last boat, a skeeter, would over flow the livewell and it went straight to the bilge. The overflow wasn’t run out of the boat though a bulkhead….it wasn’t thought out very well.

[VA Bass]

I have water in my bilge every outing. Have since new and day one. Some is ice melt in the cooler, some is splash when setting boat down and some is from a leak likely the remote plug or thru hull fittings. Never enough to turn on the auto bilge. I finally accepted it and don’t care now