Water in R20 vdrive area?

[supremedevice]

Hey you guys, just got a new r20 a few weeks ago and in the process of learning the ropes. So far we have about 10 hours on it, no real issues and we are loving it. As I was cleaning it out today I noticed an inch or two of standing water in the VDrive / gas tank area. Is this normal? I'm no mechanic but I'm pretty sure water shouldn't be there! We always bilge out water at the end of the day and have never taken in an excessive amount out there. Has anyone experienced this, and any idea how it happened? Or maybe I'm making a big deal out of nothing?

[supremedevice]

Here is a pic of said new boat!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ec7vtu44hm...%2040%20PM.jpg

[chpthril]

The trick is to start the day with a dry bilge. This means getting the nose high to drain out any water. Then drive around to see if water is entering via the engine running or prop shaft seal or other. Then fill the ballast and see if any water collects.

[supremedevice]

Well after another look this appears normal because the access hatch alows water taken in the boat to flow inside the area. Maybe im being compulsive but it just seems like the mechanical components and engine should stay removed from water taken in the boat.

Does anyone have ideas on how to drain the boat dry without parking on a 45 degree slope?

[supremedevice]

Thanks chpthril, I'll try that next time out.

[kx250frider617]

If you worried about water ruining the motor, don't be. Just remember, the engine in your car/ truck will get drenched when it rains and running through puddles etc. It also, has all the dirt and debris that a boat motor will never see.

[chpthril]

Well after another look this appears normal because the access hatch alows water taken in the boat to flow inside the area. Maybe im being compulsive but it just seems like the mechanical components and engine should stay removed from water taken in the boat.

Does anyone have ideas on how to drain the boat dry without parking on a 45 degree slope?

Yes, boats are designed to allow water on the cabin to either drain into the bilge or overboard through a scupper. in the case of a Tige, water will drain into the bilge. You do not need to worry about the water level in the bilge harming anything as long as its just normal accumulation. The boat has an automatic bilge, which will kick on when the level is high enough to activate the float.

[supremedevice]

Can someone tell me where the bilge float is? Just got a ton of water in the boat and want to check to see if the auto bilge is working.

Thanks!

[chpthril]

The float/water sensor is integral with the pump. It take a couple 3 inches of water at the pump to trip the pump. As noted above, fill the bilge with water and see if the pump kicks on. With a 3 wire pump, you have a black wire thats GND, a brown thats the manual switch on the helm and the brown/red that a constant B+ to the float.

[supremedevice]

Do you know where the pump is? Are you saying the pump should activate when there is 3 In inches of water from the bottom in the boat?

Thanks chipthril!

[chpthril]

I do not know exactly where Tige has mounted the bilge pump on your year/model, but if you look down into the bilge area around the engine, you should see the pump mounted to the bilge floor. Yes, it can take about 3 inches of water in the bilge to activate the automatic bilge. This is typical with all bilge bumps, not just the ones Tige uses.

[2thdoc01]

Or you could have 6 bad ballast pumps and a bad bilge pump...then you get 10 inches of water in the engine compartment! Lol