leaky jet

[dtr352]

I just bought my first jet boat two weeks ago. I have been boating with my family for years but this is my first boat. It is a 19 ft. southwind 1977 with a 468 ci. chevy and a berkely jet. I'm not sure what model the pump is or how to check but it has a place diverter. Anyway my question is this. Why does my boat leak? The faster I go the more water seams to get in. You don't notice until you let off the gass and all the water rushes forward. Although it is not a enough water to sink the boat it is still a good amount. This can't be normal can it. I get water from the headers so I know the motor is getting water but where is the leak. Any help would be greatly apreciated (be specific). Thanks

[Danhercules]

Your pump will leak. Its suppost to. The thing is, its suppost to drip. Its by the packing on the shaft.
Now on my boat, the header lines were leaking, so I got a lot of water in. Not as much as you at talkin about.
Things ot check. The Transum adaper, the part of the pump that touches the boat, you will see a bunch of screws, make sure thay are tight. There is a nut on the other side.
IF you cannot find anything wrong, fill up the boat with water and see if you can see it dripping out in the driveway.
Hope this helps

[Danhercules]

by they way, Check out www.southwindjetboats.com

[HammerDown]

It can be coming from several places, packing rings, water feed hose to engine or headers, transome seal etc.
BUT what you can do is with the boat on the trailer, install the drain plug and with a garden hose put several inches of water in the bilge...look under the hull and see where it may be leaking out. It could very well be the epoxy around the suction housing.

[1Bahnerjet]

Yeah mine leaks around the Intake Housing :(
nothing that the Bilge pump can't handle.
Its a Major undertaking to re- set the Intake to Hull, Motor-Pump would have to come out just to have room to work. and even though the Intake leaks it would still be stuck good to the Hull.
I did the Fill the Boat with Water to find my Leak, it Works.

[cruser]

Just in case, I must state the obvious here. Do not fill the boat with water. A few inches will do, enough to cover the jet intake but not enough to cover the suction piece. A boat FULL of water is an overloaded/distorted boat/trailer.
cruzer

[1Bahnerjet]

oh sorry. when I said "fill the Boat" I really only put a few inches of Water, with the boat bow up so all water was in Engine Compartment. dtr352,
Good Luck with your Leak.

[quiet riot]

If the faster you go, the more water runs in there is a good chance your cooling water is leaking some where because the faster the motor is spinning the more water is being pushed thru the cooling system (drain plugs on motor, hoses, etc..) If you can have someone drive the boat at a reasonable speed and be back aroung the motor to observe for leaks, you can usually spot 'em.
I'd try the stuff recommended above also.
jd

[Old Guy]

You should not keep running your leaky boat unless you are sure what's going to happen. The previous owner of this boat didn't know where the water was coming in but it didn't seem like a big deal. The more the water came in the boat, the faster it came in. When it sank, all the seat cushions floated away. This is the way I found it.
http://files.triton.net/old1/sleek1b.jpg
I bought it for $500 including the trailer. A lot of time and money later.....it floats.
http://files.triton.net/old1/sleek.jpg
The original problem was an exhaust hose clamp not properly installed.

[Sleek26]

Check freeze plugs too.

[AdrenelineOD]

Originally posted by Sleek26
Check freeze plugs too. I lost one of those. man does that fill it quick. " why are my feet submurged in water dear?":D

[UBFJ #454]

In addition to what the others have said here, you should inspect the Berkeley suction piece very carefully for small cracks ... Don't mean to alarm you, there may be none ... but, it's better to eliminate that possibility now rather than to have a very small crack develope into a much bigger one when out boating ..... Been There, Done That and It's Not Fun.

[dtr352]

thanks for the imput. I did reseal the joint between the jet and the transom wich stopped a small leak i had while just floating. Found it by putting water in the boat on the trailer. Good idea. I will have to check my cooling lines next time out. Hopefully that fixes it. It would make sense if this was the problem because it only leaks with the motor runing. Also, does anyone know where I can get a transom splash shield for the boat. I appreciate the help.

[AZKC]

Originally posted by AdrenelineOD
I lost one of those. man does that fill it quick. " why are my feet submurged in water dear?":D
Been down that road too, were the hell is all this water coming from??

[Bense468]

Originally posted by dtr352
thanks for the imput. I did reseal the joint between the jet and the transom wich stopped a small leak i had while just floating. Found it by putting water in the boat on the trailer. Good idea. I will have to check my cooling lines next time out. Hopefully that fixes it. It would make sense if this was the problem because it only leaks with the motor runing. Also, does anyone know where I can get a transom splash shield for the boat. I appreciate the help.
Fill it up again and take a look under the boat at the intake. More then likley that is where you will find your problem.

[1Bahnerjet]

Bense468,
Thats where mine leaks around the two front nuts (they won't tighten there stripped) someday I'll have to re-set that intake, damn.

[moneysucker]

Originally posted by dtr352
thanks for the imput. I did reseal the joint between the jet and the transom wich stopped a small leak i had while just floating. Found it by putting water in the boat on the trailer. Good idea. I will have to check my cooling lines next time out. Hopefully that fixes it. It would make sense if this was the problem because it only leaks with the motor runing. Also, does anyone know where I can get a transom splash shield for the boat. I appreciate the help.
What color? I am thinking about upgrading mine to a polished aluminum one. If you have a Southwind drag tunnel it will fit. You got a nice boat. It will be water lines that are leaking. When it leaks around the pump, it will drain the water when you are on it.
Cy