i have a 1987 champion 171 fish and ski and have a leak in the overflow hose that runs from the front livewell to the stern of the boat. i have pulled the gas tank and found the leak to be under the cockpit area. my question is how do i get up in there to check where the leak is and fix it?
explain cockpit area (drivers cockpit or under the live well)
to my best knowledge its under the drivers cockpit
then your water is from your speed odometer should be easy to get to under console if it is in line from pick up to tach will need to probly replace the whole line
Gage, Are you saying the leak is under the floor of the driver area?
yes, that is what im saying. and i dont know how to get under there to fix it
Ouch...I hope someone will be along who can help.....
Most folks I know, have plugged the front livewell and just use it for storage. That's what I did on my 1990 176 which had both front and rear wells.
Hi Gage,
I have an 85 Champ 176 SC and just fixed a similar problem. The livewell overflow is plumed with 1 1/8Â black water hose (I believe the 87Âs are the same). Due to the age of our boats this hose has shrunk in length and does not reach from front to back any more. I was fortunate that mine pulled lose from the transom through-hull connector and was easily fixed by replacing the last section from the ÂYÂ to the transom with a hose 2Â longer. Unfortunately It sounds like yours pulled lose from the front livewell connector.
To repair it I would start by disconnecting the hose from the transom connector to allow slack. Then I would pull back the carpet at the front of the cockpit deck and carefully cut an access hole (about 6Â square) aligned with where the overflow tube passes through the back of the livewell. This should allow you to pull the hose forward and reattach it to the livewell nipple. While you have access, check all the connections and recalk if necessary.
Repair the access hole the same way you would repair a large hole in wallboard. That is, cut two pieces of plywood (marine of course, if you can get it) approximately 3Â wide and 8 Â long (2Â longer that the hole) paint them and the edges of the piece you cut out of the floor, to water proof them. Place one of these cleats on each side of the hole allowing half the width to create a ledge for the piece you cut out to rest on. You can attach them with construction adhesive and screws through the floor from the topside. Now replace the piece you cut out of the floor and secure it with screws and calk all the gaps. Replace the carpet and reattach the hose to the transom by replacing the last section hose with one an inch or two longer.
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