2013 Byliner 175 leaking water into the hull/transom area-gctid818608

[Goshenfire72]

Please help!! I have a2013 Bayliner 175 I bought used this spring from a marina (2017). I have noticed a small leak soon after putting the boat in the water for the first time, I thought it was normal. I just went and checked on the boat (sitting in the water) and water was up to the bottom of the motor inside.

What would be the main cause of this? I do know there is a small leak around the drain plug housing in the transom. Would this cause that much water to enter the boat? Thanks for ANY help!!

[Waterdowg]

"Goshenfire72" post=818608 wrote:
Please help!! I have a2013 Bayliner 175 I bought used this spring from a marina (2017). I have noticed a small leak soon after putting the boat in the water for the first time, I thought it was normal. I just went and checked on the boat (sitting in the water) and water was up to the bottom of the motor inside.

What would be the main cause of this? I do know there is a small leak around the drain plug housing in the transom. Would this cause that much water to enter the boat? Thanks for ANY help!!

It could leak from there. But I would look at the bellows. If they have never been replaced they may be dried out. Being a 2013 chances are they are original .

[builderdude]

IMO With water up to the oil pan the bilge pump doesn't work, or has no float switch wired in. Many areas could allow water into the bilge. Pull the boat and find the source then get the bilge pump wired up correctly.

Also, a garboard drain housing that lets water into the bilge is not going to be good for the transom inch:

[Pcpete]

The leak itself could be from the shifter bellows. The cable goes through the transom plate low on the starboard side and is usually a drip. Get your bilge pump fixed and be sure your automatic float switch is working. A backup setup isn't a bad idea if you keep the boat in the water.

Btw, go into your profile tab and add some information about where abouts you are and the boat information you were wise enough to provide in your first post. Welcome!

[TPerk274]

Unlikely that boat came with an "automatic" float switch for the bilge. My 2016 175 has a bilge pump operated by a switch. If you want an automatic pump, you need to add the float and another pump (unswitched) -- cheap insurance if it is to be moored for any length of time.

[6104696]

Did the marina offer any type of warranty? An I/O boat should not leak at all. My 2007 175 was sold last winter, but it never leaked one bit. Original bellows, original everything.

Can you put it on a trailer and put some water in the bilge and see where it comes out? Could there be a leaking cooling hose that is pumping raw water into the boat when the engine runs? I assume that you are sure that it is not rainwater......

[Goshenfire72]

I filled it with water and moved the trim up and down, lower unit side to side. I did not see any water around the bellows, and the rubber "sleeve", forgive me I do not know boat vocab well, appeared to be intact, with no rips or leaks. The brass hosing around the plug that is help in by 3 screws was very loose and almost came off by loosening the plug. I did use marine grade silicone around the brass, to make a nice tight seat. I am letting the silicone set up for at least the 24 hrs, that the instructions say. I will update everyone after I put it back into the water.

Thanks everyone for the advice!

[diveguy]

Silicone is not the best product for that application. Ok for the short term which will seal temporarily but you should use a sealant meant for below the waterline such as 3m4200.

[Goshenfire72]

"diveguy" post=818873 wrote:
Silicone is not the best product for that application. Ok for the short term which will seal temporarily but you should use a sealant meant for below the waterline such as 3m4200.

Thanks, I did see that sealant afterwards. When I take the boat back out I will apply the 3m 4200 or 5200.

[Goshenfire72]

The boat has been in the water for two days now. We went out a day with the kiddos swimming off of the rear platform and we drove around the lake for a while. There was no more leak after boating. The next day we had some big storms with heavy rainfall, some of that went between the bow and cockpit covers and into the ski storage area, then in the hull, and back into the bilge. There was less than a half gallon of water after the rain, not even enough for the pump to run.

Thank you everyone for your help! It was the bilge plug on the transom that was the culprit.