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

[paleus]

Yes, I can see the inside of the drain plug from the access hatch, but when I looked, it was already under the water in the bilge so I couldn't tell if water was coming in there.

 

[johhnyboat]

My issue is that water is coming in over the plugs on 242 limited S. Things that I have tried and have not worked for me:
1. Rebuilt plugs
2. Used wax on plug seals
3. Used pool silicone on plug seals
4. Cleaned / buffed inside aluminum in housing
5. Replaced entire plugs with new Yamaha plugs
6. Used wax with new plugs

Nothing has worked. Any suggestions??

 

[paleus]

It's most likely not blow by from the plugs, but water coming in through the access hatch drain. When you stop, water can be forced up through the drain and then run into the plug cavities. A way to test would be to plug the drain next to the cleanout plugs and see if you still have water on them.

 

[johhnyboat]

It's most likely not blow by from the plugs, but water coming in through the access hatch drain. When you stop, water can be forced up through the drain and then run into the plug cavities. A way to test would be to plug the drain next to the cleanout plugs and see if you still have water on them.

It’s not that. I have a riser on the cleanout tray and a valve on the hatch drain.

 

[jcb1977]

It’s not that. I have a riser on the cleanout tray and a valve on the hatch dra

search and find the thread on adding o-rings....that should stop it the water accumulating on top of the cleanout plugs.

 

[paleus]

Yes, I can see the inside of the drain plug from the access hatch, but when I looked, it was already under the water in the bilge so I couldn't tell if water was coming in there.

Turns out my leak was the drain plug. There was a lot of junk in the bilge next to the plug and some junk that was crudding up the threads. I cleaned all that out, cleaned the threads, and sprayed some silicone lube on the plug o ring and that stopped the leaking.

 

[Julian]

It’s not that. I have a riser on the cleanout tray and a valve on the hatch drain.

Some members have put a gopro camera under the hatch with a light to see where water is coming from (or just over rode the lockouts and left the hatch open and watched.

Are you convinced water is blowing by your plugs?

 

[anmut]

I found a new source of leaking in my boat... the infamous anchor locker drain. But not the drain hole itself as I had plugged it completely with silicone years ago. No, this time it seemed to be the small area between the fiberglass and drain hole. I ran a thin bead of silicone around it and had less water in my boat over the weekend than previous times.

I still need to tackle my rear rub rail. I noticed over this past weekend that, while sitting on the rear transom with a couple of people at the sandbar, the rub rail dips below the water line. That's my latest suspect for water in the boat.

 

[johhnyboat]

Some members have put a gopro camera under the hatch with a light to see where water is coming from (or just over rode the lockouts and left the hatch open and watched.

Are you convinced water is blowing by your plugs?

I’m not 100% certain, but pretty sure. I ran it the other day on the hose for about 10 minutes and water was full above the plugs and water in the bilge. I’m going to put on the O rings when they come and run it with the hatch open to see if it’s something else. Could be the intermediate bearings or even a leak from the shutoff valves I installed a few years back. I’m not ruling out those yet but the plugs seem to be the likely culprit. I’ve sealed the tray, put on the JBP riser and put in a blowback valve on the drain. I still think water leaks through under pressure in the tube itself when it gets past the plugs. I’ve put a second bilge pump in the bilge so I’m not super concerned, BUT… I just don’t like water in the bilge.

 

[johhnyboat]

I’m not 100% certain, but pretty sure. I ran it the other day on the hose for about 10 minutes and water was full above the plugs and water in the bilge. I’m going to put on the O rings when they come and run it with the hatch open to see if it’s something else. Could be the intermediate bearings or even a leak from the shutoff valves I installed a few years back. I’m not ruling out those yet but the plugs seem to be the likely culprit. I’ve sealed the tray, put on the JBP riser and put in a blowback valve on the drain. I still think water leaks through under pressure in the tube itself when it gets past the plugs. I’ve put a second bilge pump in the bilge so I’m not super concerned, BUT… I just don’t like water in the bilge.

Also, I know there is no water getting in from any other source. I’ve done the complete rundown on the leak thread.