Taking on water

[basscathash]

You most likely took on the water when you stopped as backwash came over the back of the boat. Water enters through the vent on the back of the boat. The livewell valve set to empty will drain the water and not let more in. In manual, it allows you to fill water manually and not let water out for use with the aerator and recurilator pumps. Brian

[fishmagnet]

On an un-crowded ramp, back you boat about 3/4 the way into the water, leave it strapped on the trailer, set your e-brake, put your vehicle in Park, and climb onto the back deck of your boat. Pop the rear hatches and with the help of a flashlight and your free hands, look and feel around all of the hose fittings, bilge/aerator pumps for any signs of water intrusion. Over the years, I have discovered numerous culprit leakages from several not-so-obvious sources (hairline cracks in bilge pump nipples, bad Mayfair pump cartridge gaskets, slightly loose hose clamps, etc, etc) Youre also gonna get some water in the bilge from your ice chest, if you used it that day, and yes, a little water will dribble into your bilge area from the resulting backwash after a hard stop on the water.

[Bass Cat Boats]

Be sure when your fishing you flip the switch for your livewells good. couldnt get mine to hold water once and it was the lever not being all the over in the closed position. It doesnt take much water to come in from stopping, it always looks like more coming out of the drain hole.

[Bass Cat Boats]

Go to the FAQ section from the Bass Cat Boats link and go to Post #2133. It is a “how to” on livewell operations. It should describe everything you need to know on your livewell processes in some detail. It is hard to determine on the leakage. The drain tube could be corroded from battery gasses, these get released from not opening the lids when charging. The gasses could also have deteriorated fittings and they harden those other parts as well. Which cause nipple failures on pumps and the overflow also gets cracked when changing batteries. We hope this helps!

[Bass Cat Boats]

Check the large overflow fitting the come from back of the livewells out the rear of the pad. Then check pump cases and outlet fittings. The rear 1″ drain tube also can corrode from battery gasses requiring replacement. Then check the liwewell valve itself and hoses to the spray bars. Worst case scenario if you can find it, plug it and put water in it on the trailer.

[Bass Cat Boats]

I filled the bilge up with water and it started dripping out of the black port on the drivers side of the drain plug. What does that mean? broken pump? and how do you fix it? or is it better to take in and get fixed.

[Bass Cat Boats]

Depends on what is in that hold, there should be three across on that back end, and one is a Aerator Valve and LW drain. Or ther may be two on yours. Man we have to work to recall info. on an older rig that was before our time.

[pantera296]

On a PII with the open bilge area you should be able to set it in the water..Open rear deck lids and see/find most any leak. You may need a flashlight to help but all plumbing/pumps is in that area and very visible. Good Luck..Sherm

[Will]

I have a 94 P-II and I am for some reason taking on water while fishing (not running). I can not find out where the water is coming from? I have bought a new drain plug with no help. I have shut the garage doors and put a high powered flash light in the bilge area and looked for light (could not see any). What should I do next? The rate of flow is in 2 hrs, it starts to come through the middle hole in the floor in between the driver and passenger. Could it be one of the pumps that are broken or a crack in the hull that I can not see?

[Bass Cat Boats]

The flush valves are turned on the spray bars.

[1stinLA]

I found that if you run the pump in too long it overflows a bit into the bilge as the drain lines do not handle as much as is being pumped in. Every time I forget it on too long it seems to put a bit in the bilge.

[Will]

I also noticed it even when I did not fill up the live wells using the “pump in”, just went out fun fishing and when I pulled the plug there was an excessive amount of water draining. Switch was in the auto position. The next time I had turned it to “empty” prior to launching boat, after pulling the plug there was no drainage. Seems to only happen when switch is in “auto” position. Not sure I understand the comment left by BCB, can you elaborate a little. Greatly appreciated

[StevenW387]

You could have a loose hose clamp on your pumps.

[schodackbassman]

Just another thought, when you come off plane are you giving the throttle a little goose to stop back wash from coming over back? If I forget a few times during an outing, I end up with a lot of water in the bilge.

[Will]

Have not ran the big motor yet, have not broke it in yet, will take it out this weekend for that

[Author]

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