Strike 2 -HELP

[BrownClown]

The boat died again today for the 2nd time in as many outings. The first time we went out we got my son on the kneeboard, swam around, ate lunch and then decided to blow up the tube. The boat was idling and all of a sudden it started to run rough, then it died. It turned over when I tried to restart it, but it promptly died again. It wouldn't turn over for a third time. A couple of fisherman towed us back to the ramp where I swam it onto the trailer. I pulled the plug on an incline in the parking lot and gallons of water came streaming out. I happened to have a five gallon bucket in the truck and it overflowed at 6 gallons on kept on going.
The dealer ran it on the fake-a-lake and it ran like a top. He then took it out for a lake run and it took on water. Apparently there was a hose/connection problem in the factory ballast. He took care of that, so I thought everything was good.
I took it out today with my wife 2 boys, Mom, niece and boyfriend. It ran well for the first hour and a half. When I was pulling the niece's boyfriend, it began to jerk and sputter; almost backfire. It cleared up after a few seconds, so I just kept going and didn't have anymore issues. About an hour or so later as I was in the water getting the wakeboard on, the boat began to run really rough, according to the boyfriend. My Mom was driving and said it wouldn't go into gear. It was a carbon copy of the first time. I got in an tried to start it, but it wouldn't turn over at all.
Luckily, we were 50 yards by the ramp and I swam it in. When I got home I parked it in front of our house which is on a fairly steep hill. I pulled the plug and my wife timed the water coming out of the plug hole at full blast for at least 5 minutes. It then trickled out at around the 13 minute mark.
HELP!!! I now don't trust this boat to take family and friends on it. My family has owned boats before I was born. We've had everything from Glastrons, Centurys, and Cobalts. I never had to get towed or swim any of those in. WE LOVE OUR BOAT! I researched for over a year and found this one and it is EXACTLY what we wanted. This is a 15 year boat for us.
I'm desperately searching for answers/advice!!!

[zad0030]

Check all the hose connections on the engine as well as any other ballast hoses. Check all thru hull fittings, anything that goes throught the hull check and see its its tight or correctly mounted.

One thing you can do is put the plug in and run a hose into your bilge while its on the trailer and see if any water leaks. If not your leak is most likely some hose for the engine, ballast, heater, shower (if you have them)

Check your oil and make sure its not a milky color. Be prepareed to replace your starter and steering cable soon.

[Timmy!]

I wonder if there is a bad seam in the hull that is allowing water to get in. Someone on here had that happen with their 22Ve I believe and Tige replaced the boat.

Maybe the engine isn't running right because it's sitting in so much water?

[BrownClown]

Timmy,

I thought about that too, but when I looked in the engine compartment, water was at the base of the plug. And only 1/8th to 1/4 of an inch from the base of the plug. I really had no idea how much water was in the boat because it sits way in the center. I wonder if when the bow is high, water rushes back and floods the motor?

[dogbert]

Timmy,

I thought about that too, but when I looked in the engine compartment, water was at the base of the plug. And only 1/8th to 1/4 of an inch from the base of the plug. I really had no idea how much water was in the boat because it sits way in the center. I wonder if when the bow is high, water rushes back and floods the motor?

That will happen. I actually moved my bilge pump to the back of the boat to deal with this. I really need to add a second pump for the lowest part of my bilge. You get enough water spraying back there and it will cause problems for the engine. You said it drained for a long time...that's not normal.

[BrownClown]

That will happen. I actually moved my bilge pump to the back of the boat to deal with this. I really need to add a second pump for the lowest part of my bilge. You get enough water spraying back there and it will cause problems for the engine. You said it drained for a long time...that's not normal.

It was a strong stream for at least five minutes and lessened in intensity. I think a pump in the middle of the boat might be a good call.

[dogbert]

It was a strong stream for at least five minutes and lessened in intensity. I think a pump in the middle of the boat might be a good call.

Where is your pump now?

[BrownClown]

The factory installed spot in the bilge. Under the back part of the engine.

[dogbert]

That's where I moved mine. It actually was in the low part of the hull. Do you know if your bilge pump is working?

[dingleberry]

Wow, that much water does seem likely to be a waterline disconnect, either engine or ballast. Hopefully that's all it is and you can locate it soon. Anything beyond that seems likely to be not good at all.

Wish I could be more helpful. Good luck.

[BrownClown]

That's where I moved mine. It actually was in the low part of the hull. Do you know if your bilge pump is working?

I think I'm going to put another one "midship" in the lowest part of the boat. A grand total of 2.

DB- As far as the bilge pump working...I can hear it when it's on, but not enough water is in that part of the bilge at idle for it to do anything. I guess I need to hand it over to the wife and have her go 10mph to see where the water hits the pump. I'm taking it back to the dealer in about an hour. Hopefully they can figure something out.

[BrownClown]

Also, I'm hoping the water issue is related to the engine issue. One problem would be better than 2...right?