auto bilge goes on with heavy load / live well question

[baytripper89]

Last year I posted a question about how when I'm out with a heavy load in the cockpit of my 1989 Overnighter 20 the automatic bilge will kick on periodically and a fair amount of water gets pumped out. It's not constant, but it also doesn't just happen once and stop. It also doesn't happen with a lighter load. I got a number of good suggestions to follow up on, but I still haven't figured out exactly what's going on. Some thought that it may just be that I have water up front that channels down and gets pumped out when I have the heavy load on board. I'm really starting to think that somehow water is getting into the bilge through a leak somewhere below the waterline. I'm also wondering if it has something to do with the live well in the stern. The previous owner told me the live well system didn't work and since I only go fishing once or twice a year, I just never really paid much attention to them. I'm not a serious fisherman so it wasn't an issue for me. I have to admit that I don't really understand how they work. I would appreciate it if someone could give me a bit of an explanation and let me know if there's a chance that this is the source of my problem. The port and starboard live wells are used for storage and there doesn't seem to be any issue there as far as I can tell. The well in the stern will fill with water from time to time and then empty out. Is this normal and could this be the source of my problem?
Sorry for the long post, but any help on resolving this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[g0tagrip]

First thing I recommend is you make sure your thru hulls for the live wells are closed. then if they are closed, check for leaks around the thru hulls. Since your boat is an older version, I would also check your overboard drain thru hulls are properly sealed. Well after your boat was made Grady went to bronze thru hulls. The plastic ones tended to crack with age and allow water to enter. Your description that it happens when fully loaded leads me to suspect one of the two possibilities mentioned is the source of the water.

 

[baytripper89]

Thanks very much for the reply. I will check that out.

 

[seasick]

Thanks very much for the reply. I will check that out.

There are several more common possibilities.
If water pumps out when the aft is loaded it could be water draining back for the forward area (anchor locker is a common source). In that case see if the bilge drains when standing still or only when is motion. If it does when standing still and the bilge doesn't continuously cycle the water is probably coming from the bow area. If pumping cycles, it is probably something else.
If it only happens after the motor well gets filled with water, there are two places to look. The seals on the access plates or the plates themselves could be leaking. The o-rings do wear out.
There could be leaks in the scuppers, drains or tubes that connect the well drains to the scuppers. (

A third possibility are the deck scuppers and drains. There are hoses from the drain to the scupper and these can deteriorate and leak. With a heavy load, the scuppers are probably under water and if there are leaks, water will back up into the hoses and drain into the bilge. These can be tested by running a decent amount of water into the drain, plug the scupper with tape or hold the flap closed and look in the bilge for leaks

As mentioned thru hulls are a possibility but most are a good distance above the water line with the exception of the locker drains behind the cockpit ( livewell and storage) Those thrus are at or slightly below the water line
Those are easy to check, plug the thru with a cork and fill the locker. It should hold water. Fixing a leak in those drains is a pain.

 

[Lt.Mike]

Seasick mentioned the seals in the access ports, thats my best guess. With a heavy load my '87 Overnighter gets water into the motor well. If the round inspection plate is leaking you'll get a lot of water through there. also the rectangular panel may need recaulking.
Mine has a 470lb 225 outboard hanging on the back so with a full tank of fuel and 4 or more aboard I'd have 2" of water on the back deck when drifting. You'd think we were sinking. :lol: Bubble scuppers were the solution there but if something like an acorn finds its way down the deck drain and holds it open it'll still back up.
Mike.