"Self-healing" water leak???

2

2005-Sundancer300

New Member
Jun 8, 2020
14
Boat Info
2005 Searay 300 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 6.2L w/Bravo III drives
Hello SeaRay Nation!
I am posting this on a few forums within ClubSearay.com - so if you see this more than once, pardon me in advance...
Anyway; here's my situation: on my 2005 300 Sundancer (w/twin 6.2's and B3 outdrives) - every time (for about the past 2 years) we launch this baby (we dry-storage in between uses), lake-water starts coming into the bilge area from a location I can not detect or determine. And it's comes in at a rate that the automatic bilge pump will kick in within about 1 hour, if I haven't already turned it on myself...
But here's the real head-scratcher: within about 24 hrs, the leak has diminished on it's own - down to a "non-concern" inflow rate - and by the end of the second day, essentially non-existent! It's definitely NOT fresh water - or my fresh water pump would be always kicking in, which it does not.
All that said; does anyone have any idea what might be going on here? You'd think a lake-water leak coming in would be fairly steady, at whatever rate based on the nature of the location or source - but this thing "self-heals"! Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks everyone!
 
Hello SeaRay Nation!
I am posting this on a few forums within ClubSearay.com - so if you see this more than once, pardon me in advance...
Anyway; here's my situation: on my 2005 300 Sundancer (w/twin 6.2's and B3 outdrives) - every time (for about the past 2 years) we launch this baby (we dry-storage in between uses), lake-water starts coming into the bilge area from a location I can not detect or determine. And it's comes in at a rate that the automatic bilge pump will kick in within about 1 hour, if I haven't already turned it on myself...
But here's the real head-scratcher: within about 24 hrs, the leak has diminished on it's own - down to a "non-concern" inflow rate - and by the end of the second day, essentially non-existent! It's definitely NOT fresh water - or my fresh water pump would be always kicking in, which it does not.
All that said; does anyone have any idea what might be going on here? You'd think a lake-water leak coming in would be fairly steady, at whatever rate based on the nature of the location or source - but this thing "self-heals"! Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks everyone!
 
Hello SeaRay Nation!
I am posting this on a few forums within ClubSearay.com - so if you see this more than once, pardon me in advance...
Anyway; here's my situation: on my 2005 300 Sundancer (w/twin 6.2's and B3 outdrives) - every time (for about the past 2 years) we launch this baby (we dry-storage in between uses), lake-water starts coming into the bilge area from a location I can not detect or determine. And it's comes in at a rate that the automatic bilge pump will kick in within about 1 hour, if I haven't already turned it on myself...
But here's the real head-scratcher: within about 24 hrs, the leak has diminished on it's own - down to a "non-concern" inflow rate - and by the end of the second day, essentially non-existent! It's definitely NOT fresh water - or my fresh water pump would be always kicking in, which it does not.
All that said; does anyone have any idea what might be going on here? You'd think a lake-water leak coming in would be fairly steady, at whatever rate based on the nature of the location or source - but this thing "self-heals"! Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks everyone!
 
Hello SeaRay Nation!
I am posting this on a few forums within ClubSearay.com - so if you see this more than once, pardon me in advance...
Anyway; here's my situation: on my 2005 300 Sundancer (w/twin 6.2's and B3 outdrives) - every time (for about the past 2 years) we launch this baby (we dry-storage in between uses), lake-water starts coming into the bilge area from a location I can not detect or determine. And it's comes in at a rate that the automatic bilge pump will kick in within about 1 hour, if I haven't already turned it on myself...
But here's the real head-scratcher: within about 24 hrs, the leak has diminished on it's own - down to a "non-concern" inflow rate - and by the end of the second day, essentially non-existent! It's definitely NOT fresh water - or my fresh water pump would be always kicking in, which it does not.
All that said; does anyone have any idea what might be going on here? You'd think a lake-water leak coming in would be fairly steady, at whatever rate based on the nature of the location or source - but this thing "self-heals"! Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks everyone!
 
Just a note - a lot of folks use the "latest post" view, so you only need to post in one area.

To your question, maybe it's the boat's wood planks swelling and sealing after being out of the water? Just kidding. No idea what's going on there.
 
b_arrington said:
Just a note - a lot of folks use the "latest post" view, so you only need to post in one area.

To your question, maybe it's the boat's wood planks swelling and sealing after being out of the water? Just kidding. No idea what's going on there.
Click to expand...
Ok, thanks Brad for the posting tip - I'm pretty new - and not sure how this all works...
 
2005-Sundancer300 said:
Ok, thanks Brad for the posting tip - I'm pretty new - and not sure how this all works...
Click to expand...
And you're right - when I was a kid, we used to throw in the lake an old Larson cedar strip boat, let it fill up and sink in shallow water, wait for the wood to swell and bail it out and go!
 
Is it possible the boat collects rain water or other condensate water while in dry storage?
Then it slowly drains to the bilge when sitting at normal float angle, and is empty by the end of first day?
 
R-and-R said:
Is it possible the boat collects rain water or other condensate water while in dry storage?
Then it slowly drains to the bilge when sitting at normal float angle, and is empty by the end of first day?
Click to expand...
That's an intriguing thought - however, there is a full storage cover over it and I always remove the drain plug after each use as well...
 
I had a similar issue.
First time in the water for two years the bilge pump would run every 10 minutes. Then the water leak would slow down to once every 12 hours or so.
It ended up being the steering shaft seal. I am not sure exactly why but my steering pin was pretty rusted and the seal was chewed up. The rust must have swelled up after a while. After I replaced the pin and seal I finally have a dry bilge.
 
Its the steering pin on the transom assy. Corrosion or rust swells up and slows the leak. Common issue. I replaced both transom assys on my 300da for this issue. Also check the passage for the raw water where it comes through. Its about time for that to close down too. And one more thing check the block where the hyd lines for the trim hook up. With that pin leak the water collects in that area and causes it to corrode and the line will blow out.

If you are in fresh water then it may not be so bad. I didn't see where you are located. Bet she runs pretty fast WOT with the 6.2L That is where the 6.2L made the difference over the 5.0L i had. Do a search as i had posted the repair process on mine with pictures.
 
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