The ultimate leak finding thread <post if you find a new source!>

[tdonoughue]

Very nice write-up! Thanks for that.

Top screw hole was stripped out for the factory #8 screw, so used a #10 screw on reassembly.

You know, the stripped screw may have been a big part of your problem. If they stripped that at the factory, water might have been coming in right through the stripped screw... No doubt you improved the seal everywhere, but that one screw change may have been 70% of your issue.

 

[johhnyboat]

The one thing on this very comprehensive list is the sealing around the gas tank and ski locker hatches. I didn't see any water in the ski locker so I don't think that's the issue. I just washed my decking really well and had tons of water getting into the bilge area. I will also have to check all of the cup holders to see if the hoses are attached properly. Running water to them looked like they were draining on the deck as they should, however all of the hoses on the swim deck were disconnected, so that may be the culprit.

 

[Julian]

The one thing on this very comprehensive list is the sealing around the gas tank and ski locker hatches. I didn't see any water in the ski locker so I don't think that's the issue. I just washed my decking really well and had tons of water getting into the bilge area. I will also have to check all of the cup holders to see if the hoses are attached properly. Running water to them looked like they were draining on the deck as they should, however all of the hoses on the swim deck were disconnected, so that may be the culprit.

Yeah.....the floor drains on these boats don't handle much water, not much one can do about that (short of caulking the hatch closed)

 

[johhnyboat]

Yeah.....the floor drains on these boats don't handle much water, not much one can do about that (short of caulking the hatch closed)

I think that is why the first mod for anyone (which was mine), is to add a bilge pump in the actual bilge area.

 

[Julian]

I think that is why the first mod for anyone (which was mine), is to add a bilge pump in the actual bilge area.

I measured the amount of water it took until the stock bilge pumped water and it was only 3-5 gallons. That said, I added a 2nd bilge pump just for offshore boating redundancy (Bimini trips)

 

[johhnyboat]

I measured the amount of water it took until the stock bilge pumped water and it was only 3-5 gallons. That said, I added a 2nd bilge pump just for offshore boating redundancy (Bimini trips)

really, it seems like it holds way more water then that, but I didn't measure specifically. It's good to know.

 

[FSHER]

This past weekend I did some neglected cleaning on my 2021 FSH 210 where I removed everything temporarily from the boat and washed it and was completely amazed at the leaks I’ve found. Granted they all leak to the bilge eventually; id still rather know that the water is going straight to the bilge and not detouring onto all my gear.

• None of the cup holders have a gasket or sealant of any kind between the holder and the hull and leaked.
• None of the rod holder have a gasket or sealant of any kind between the holder and the hull and leaked.
• The deck drain fitting was not sealed and leaked straight into the engine bay. The tube was also higher than the fitting, so it struggled to drain properly.
• The deck drain fittings at every connection in the engine bay including the tee fitting from the ski locker leaked.
• Cup holder and rod holder in the fwd bow locker behind the cooler shows in blue all the places water would leak after washing the boat. Not trickle but leak. Some connections didn’t even have zip ties and the connections fit very loosely. Exact situation on the port side as well.
• There are several cup holders and rod holders mounted thru the boat and aside from the 2 in the fwd lockers none have any sort of drain tubes and drain wherever they are.
• 2 rod holders drain right into the battery compartment, and they don’t even have the black nipple thing on them just an open hole into the batteries. Doubles as vents perhaps?
• The cup holder above the live well has a little nipple thing that drains right on top of some wires for the live well.
• The fwd bow starboard cooler drain fitting was not installed all the way and leaks from the threads and where the tube connects to the fitting.

I don't think any of these will really contribute to swamping your boat, its more of a piece of mind thing for me.

I’ve been slowly sealing and re connecting fittings and drains and adding zip ties and clamps where needed, its fun work for me.

 

[Julian]

This past weekend I did some neglected cleaning on my 2021 FSH 210 where I removed everything temporarily from the boat and washed it and was completely amazed at the leaks I’ve found. Granted they all leak to the bilge eventually; id still rather know that the water is going straight to the bilge and not detouring onto all my gear.

• None of the cup holders have a gasket or sealant of any kind between the holder and the hull and leaked.
• None of the rod holder have a gasket or sealant of any kind between the holder and the hull and leaked.
• The deck drain fitting was not sealed and leaked straight into the engine bay. The tube was also higher than the fitting, so it struggled to drain properly.
• The deck drain fittings at every connection in the engine bay including the tee fitting from the ski locker leaked.
• Cup holder and rod holder in the fwd bow locker behind the cooler shows in blue all the places water would leak after washing the boat. Not trickle but leak. Some connections didn’t even have zip ties and the connections fit very loosely. Exact situation on the port side as well.
• There are several cup holders and rod holders mounted thru the boat and aside from the 2 in the fwd lockers none have any sort of drain tubes and drain wherever they are.
• 2 rod holders drain right into the battery compartment, and they don’t even have the black nipple thing on them just an open hole into the batteries. Doubles as vents perhaps?
• The cup holder above the live well has a little nipple thing that drains right on top of some wires for the live well.
• The fwd bow starboard cooler drain fitting was not installed all the way and leaks from the threads and where the tube connects to the fitting.

I don't think any of these will really contribute to swamping your boat, its more of a piece of mind thing for me.

I’ve been slowly sealing and re connecting fittings and drains and adding zip ties and clamps where needed, its fun work for me.

View attachment 222664View attachment 222665View attachment 222666

The only cup holders on my boat with drains are the ones on the stern.

 

[FSHER]

That's mind boggling considering the only cup holders with drains on mine are on the bow, well at least 2 of the 4 on the bow have drains.

The 2 very fwd cup holders that did not drain tubes, I filled up the drain nipple with 4200. in my mind Id like to have a little more control and understanding of where the water is going. a majority of the water if not all of it comes from when I wash the boat, I'm much more comfortable with soapy water on the deck than the bilge.

Does anyone know off hand the size of the tubes that are on the cup holders and the rod holders?
also the black nipple that the drain tube connects to, sometimes, does anyone know if it has a part number?

Appreciate it

-Mark

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

That's mind boggling considering the only cup holders with drains on mine are on the bow, well at least 2 of the 4 on the bow have drains.

The 2 very fwd cup holders that did not drain tubes, I filled up the drain nipple with 4200. in my mind Id like to have a little more control and understanding of where the water is going. a majority of the water if not all of it comes from when I wash the boat, I'm much more comfortable with soapy water on the deck than the bilge.

Does anyone know off hand the size of the tubes that are on the cup holders and the rod holders?
also the black nipple that the drain tube connects to, sometimes, does anyone know if it has a part number?

Appreciate it

-Mark

pretty sure it is 1/2”…

Once you get done with these tasks you will have a dry bilge… I’d think that would be pretty important in a salt water environment.

 

[neokoros]

Thanks so much for the great write-up!

 

[Julian]

Thanks so much for the great write-up!

Hopefully it helped you find your leak?

 

[Jniemela]

Has anyone had a leak on a 255XE in the triangular storage right behind the drivers seat? It should be completely dry and always has been covered in the rain, but it soaking wet.

 

[wajetter]

Found a pretty bad one: the through hull fitting for jet pump rod. The leak is not between the hose and fitting - but between the hull and the fitting.

 

[tdonoughue]

Seems pretty fixable. As usual, finding the stupid thing is most of the battle. Well done. How did you ultimately figure it out? Any tips?

 

[Julian]

Found a pretty bad one: the through hull fitting for jet pump rod. The leak is not between the hose and fitting - but between the hull and the fitting.

I've added that one to the list (#16) and tagged you as the finder! Thanks!

 

[paleus]

Would these driveshaft leaks show up by filling the bilge with a hose? I have a leak that is occuring while just sitting still. The bilge pump will kick on for a few seconds every 5 to 10 minutes while anchored. I checked the deck scupper from the access hatch while on the water and didn't see any water coming in there. I looked around the driveshafts from the engine compartment and didn't see any leaks there either, engines running or off. I've already replaced the anchor locker drain with a thru hull. I'm going to do the deck scupper too, but I don't think it's the source of this leak. I'll get several gallons coming out of the drain plug once it's back on the trailer.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Would these driveshaft leaks show up by filling the bilge with a hose? I have a leak that is occuring while just sitting still. The bilge pump will kick on for a few seconds every 5 to 10 minutes while anchored. I checked the deck scupper from the access hatch while on the water and didn't see any water coming in there. I looked around the driveshafts from the engine compartment and didn't see any leaks there either, engines running or off. I've already replaced the anchor locker drain with a thru hull. I'm going to do the deck scupper too, but I don't think it's the source of this leak. I'll get several gallons coming out of the drain plug once it's back on the trailer.

What about the clean out tray? Have you sealed it? Are your clean out plug wells full of water?

When you say just sitting still, you mean that’s water is coming into the boat after you launch it without running the engines or anything? Where are you seeing this water?

In regards to your deck drain scupper did you reach your hand down around the bottom and feel to see if it’s wet below there?

 

[paleus]

No water on top of the clean out plugs at all.
The bilge pump will pump out a bit of water every 5-10 minutes, even while sitting at anchor with the engines off.
I see water at the back of the engine compartment, in the bilge near the drain plug, and coming up through the ski locker drain.
I visually inspected the inside of the hull through the access hatch by the clean out plugs. I didn't see any water around the thru hull fitting for the scupper.
My next step is to fill the bilge with water while it's on the trailer and look for leaks. Could just need a new drain plug o ring.
The previous owner did mention he sucked up a rope about 4 years ago and had to replace the port reverse bucket linkage because it got bent by the rope. Maybe it cracked the fitting where the shift cable/linkage where it goes through the hull.
It's also on my list to pull the pumps this winter and do the grease cones. I can inspect all the driveshaft fittings then.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Filling the bilge with water while its on the trailer with the drain plug in may show that it is the drain plug… that’s an easy fix.. you should be able to see that from the mechanical hatch, at least on my boat I can see the drain plug from the top.