Bilge Pump Problem?

[scott016]

I just bought a brand new 2005 Outback LSV. I took the boat out for the first time this past weekend and after the dealer took us through a run through we began to finish the break in period for the engine. After about 3 hours we brought the boat into our lift to put some things in the boat for future use and the storage area in the middle of the boat was full of water. Took the covers off the engine compartments and it was full of water too. I then went to the dash and tried to turn the bilge pump on manually and it wouldn’t work. I then pressed the circuit breaker and the pump turned on for about 30 seconds and then the breaker popped again. I couldn’t get the pump to stay on for a long time period. Any ideas on what is wrong? Second should there really be that much water in the bottom of my boat is there a possible leak somewhere?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

[lowdrag]

If the pump works and then kicks the breaker, you may want to check and see if there is any debris that is getting sucked into it and jamming it up. There's usually some stuff left behind after construction that will come floating out when you get some water in there.

Describe what you mean by full of water. Having an inch or two in there would be that unusual, but if the entire hull area was filled I'd start looking for a problem. My first thing would be to check the ballast system. If something wasn't hooking up at the factory or came loose and the solenoid isn't switched correctly, you could be taking in water from it while moving, just like like other people who have had problems with their bags filling while moving.

[Buttafewcoe]

Lowdrag is right........there wasn't a lot of debris, but there was some. I made sure the intake on the bilge pump was clear and the float wasn't sticking. Works like a champ...
.
If your ballast system is plumbed in correctly, there is a valve with a handle @ the intake for the ballast system. I have made a habit of closing that valve when not using the ballast. At higher speeds, I think mine is/was forcing water into the system if I leave the valve open. Lower speeds didn't seem to be a problem. But, when not in use, with the valve closed, the bilge stays pretty dry (except for the ice melting in the cooler )
.
Jim
Hickory, North Carolina

[smokedog2]

Where is that guy from Canada that has his 05 boat parked on the water for 6 weeks?

Has he left for the lake yet? I hope he gets to call me a worry wart. Even while at the lake I’ve been known to go check on the boat in the middle of the night.

My six-year-old daughter & I are sneaking out Friday for her first ride in the new boat.

I is about time.

SD2

[Buttafewcoe]

Hopefully, he went to the lake. Geez, it would kill me, I couldn't sleep at night.

[scott016]

Thanks for the quick replies.
What I mean by a lot of water is, the entire storage in the middle of the boat, which is long enough to store skis, to the left of the driver was entirely full of water. I do not have any ballast tanks installed so that can’t be the problem. That just seems like a lot of water got into the boat. I saw a lot of debris in the water which wasn’t put in by us, so I will definitely clean that out.

[MEDIC151]

That is alot of water if your ski locker is the same size as my 02 Mobius. I would check all the spots on the underside of the hull that have something going thru such as the speedo paddle wheels etc. The shaft packing nut could be pouring water in as well. Mine needs to be snugged up since it is a small steady stream instead of the slow drip.

That would have to be very loose though to allow that much water in.

[smokedog2]

Yep, find the leak. Unless you were crashing waves and it was raining.

You may not have a ballast tank, but you may have a ballast hole in your hull. Just a thought.

It would not be unreasonable to ask your dealer to take a look at the various conections.

Brian calls these “water differentials.”

SD2

(sorry Brian, it was just too easy)

[WakeMe]

Why would you have a ballast hole with out a ballast system?

[Buttafewcoe]

In case it could be added, or you wanted to add it later?