Water Through Bilge Vent

[mdk681]

Use frogzskin. It's a fabric that is used on the hood vents of snowmobiles that lets air enter the engine compartment but keeps the snow and water out. They sell sheets in large sizes, 36 x 61. Here is the website. http://www.frogzskin.com/index.php?main_page=index.

This is genius. I ride a Polaris and noticed some of that stuff on my hood... I had no idea what it was or what it really did. I am going to order a sheet next week and hopefully figure something out. Thanks Chad for the link!

[hopps1945]

Have the same issue with our 2000 2300V. I moved the bilge also to the back and help with all the water back there. Ever since we finally got our wake dialed in, very easy to get water up over the back if stopping too quick. Actually watched her stop and try the backing technique and ended up backing to fast putting water up over the low side of the boat, up over the rear locker. No more more of that!

Will have to check into that frog skin and give that a try on the vent too.

[SATige]

I have a 2002, 2100V that had the same issue. Didn't take a large wave to get water though the back. It ruined the blower motor, as all the water would travel through it into the bilge. With my boat sitting on a lift and the off center drain plug I would have to often pump the water out. I capped the vent with fiberglass and connected my new blower to a vent that is located above the rub rail. Problem solved.

[JohnnieMo]

A sponge should drain over time. If you are taking a lot of water in it probably would saturate. You'd need to experiment on types of sponge and foam. Typically I only run the blower after the boat has been sitting for a while, so I'd assume the sponge would drain. Of course if it drains into the motor, you are no better off.

That frogskin seems like your best bet. You can even mount it over the sponge if that is what it takes to keep it in place.

My dad affixes sponges to everything. It is a key part of the red neck toolkit.

[KXCORKY]

Did the frog skinz trick work? I have a bunch of samples from work I will put on if so.

[mdk681]

Water Through Bilge Vent

I forgot to provide my fix for this issue. I did not try the frog skin. Rather, I realized the main bulk of the water was hitting the transom, and pushing straight up between the gap of the grill, and the fiberglass. I removed the grill, and stuck a strip of 1" thick rubber weatherstripping to the bottom edge of it. When I put the grill back on, the gap between the transom and the grill is filled up and blocked by the weather stripping. The actual vent cuts in the grill are still open, allowing blower air to easily and freely escape. This has been a solid solution and has eliminated the massive amounts of water in my bilge. I can take pics on Thursday when I fly home if anyone is interested, my description my be a bit difficult to understand, hah.

I also relocated my bilge pump to the far back of the bilge area, next to the rudder. This has worked great for any water that makes it back there, the old location sucked!


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[KXCORKY]

I forgot to provide my fix for this issue. I did not try the frog skin. Rather, I realized the main bulk of the water was hitting the transom, and pushing straight up between the gap of the grill, and the fiberglass. I removed the grill, and stuck a strip of 1" thick rubber weatherstripping to the bottom edge of it. When I put the grill back on, the gap between the transom and the grill is filled up and blocked by the weather stripping. The actual vent cuts in the grill are still open, allowing blower air to easily and freely escape. This has been a solid solution and has eliminated the massive amounts of water in my bilge. I can take pics on Thursday when I fly home if anyone is interested, my description my be a bit difficult to understand, hah.

I also relocated my bilge pump to the far back of the bilge area, next to the rudder. This has worked great for any water that makes it back there, the old location sucked!


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Or didn't suck as well?? haha, I would be interested to see the pics if you take them, even though frog skinz flows a lot of air I don't think it flows as freely as the open vent would so I think your idea from what I can picture would be a safer fix. I have a bunch of samples of frog skinz at my desk if anyone is interested in that route as well.

[Cubby_Z]

My 1999 21v doesn't have a grill, so the space is wide open. I have the driving technique down and don't take on mug water when stopping, but if we are anchored and swimming, I am constantly watching the waves hit the back of the boat and drain in through this vent. I would love to see some solutions!!!

[mdk681]

I am actually flying home tomorrow and will do my best to remember to take a couple pictures. If you don't hear from me in the next couple days, PM me to remind me...!


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[KXCORKY]

Will do, thanks

[mdk681]

Alright so here are a couple pictures of my fix.



So the first picture is a picture of the vent, as you can see the slits in the vent are still wide open and allow air to pass through.

The second picture is from the bottom looking up, between the transom and the grill. I used self adhering rubber weather stripping cut to the length of the vent, and applied the sticky side to the vent. Put the vent back on and boom, the vent gap is filled.

This has been a great fix for the water hitting the transom and slashing straight up into the vent gap. Airflow is still great out the vent as well!


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[KXCORKY]

That is awesome, thank you for putting the pics up. I will be doing this next week!!

[mdk681]

Thanks!!! Pretty simple solution, but it is very effective. Minimal water gets in now much is great.


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[laserfish]

Thanks for the solution! Will have that on before next weekend!

[mdk681]

Excellent! Let me know how it works for you guys. Like I said it has been a perfect fix for me at this point.


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