bilge

[Bibbs]

Maybe a silly question but how often do you have to turn on your bilge when surfing. I have to check all my fittings since installing the bigger sacs. I loose some water out of the sacs for sure but after reading it sounds like it might be passive draining. The boat is new and only has about 15 hours on it. The auto ballast doesnt kick on and I only get water after filling up ballasts. I know some is acceptable but how much. Thanks

[Ewok]

I don't get any water in the bilge from surfing. My cooler drains into the bilge at the end of the day so just a trickle comes out when I remove my drain plug. I guess it depends on how much and how bad you dunk the bow, leaks in the ballast and possibly a leak on the prop shaft seal or in the cooling system somewhere.

[boardman74]

On a new boat there is no reason your bilge shouldn't be dry. Are you taking water over the bow or back while surfing? Just the act of surfing or filling draining sacs should not get any water in your bilge. If you sacs are leaking into the boat that is a problem and needs to be repaired. Not normal!

[Bibbs]

first day out was a little rocky out so took some water on so I knew the cause. I know I have one fitting that looks like it is leaking so gunna fix that next time out. Thats on the new rear sacs. Just thought I would ask so if the fitting isnt the problem other things to look at.

[2thdoc01]

I was getting tons of water in the hull after filling ballast. Turns out 6 of 8 pumps were cracked and water was also coming in from the rear deck grab handle. My bilge also was defective, so it never turned on automatically. Dealer serviced and winterized boat. Everything was warrantied.

[IDBoating]

We get water from waves splashing over the tops of those little storage lockers above the swim deck. They drain into the bilge. I attached hoses so they run straight to the bottom, but still... fill them a few times and that bilge pump is going to come on!

Here's an inside view of what I'm talking about. You can see the hoses I added.

[Bibbs]

Working with dealer looks like it is the prop shaft seal. There was a bit of a issue with them. U nailed it EWOK. Sure love the RZ2 and the surf wake and the dealer support.

[loudelectronics]

Mine takes on a lot of water under load. No weight in the boat it stays dry. Push it in the water and the bilge is always running. I had to put a 10 amp fuse in to prevent it from blowing all the time. The stock 3 amp would only last a ride and blow.

[mnpracing]

Mine takes on a lot of water under load. No weight in the boat it stays dry. Push it in the water and the bilge is always running. I had to put a 10 amp fuse in to prevent it from blowing all the time. The stock 3 amp would only last a ride and blow.

any idea why you take on water under load only?

[Ewok]

I would get that prop shaft seal looked at as well, maybe tighten it up a tiny bit.

[IDBoating]

any idea why you take on water under load only?

Might be for the same reason I mentioned above: A ballasted boat takes waves and splashes where they don't normally occur when floating normally, so the water gets in and drains to the bilge. My boat also stays bone dry when not ballasted... but tip it over and the waves find all sorts of little nooks and crannies that are otherwise too high above the waterline to matter, even when we drive really carefully!

This presumes that "under load" means "ballasted". If "under load" means "boat is moving", then his is a different problem.

[loudelectronics]

Mine is only when ballasted for surfing or wakeboarding.

I have thought that it was water coming over the vents however when it would just randomly come on during a ride with out stopping I know it is coming in through the prop shaft or cooling system some how. It is just very hard to catch it.

[IDBoating]

I know it is coming in through the prop shaft or cooling system some how. It is just very hard to catch it.

Next time it happens, have someone reach down and feel the water coming out of the bilge thruhull. If it's warm, it's engine cooling water. Might help narrow down the search.