Water suprise on 170 CC

[Jim Jenkins]

While working on my trailer, 2002 170 CC, had axle on jack stands but bow was down. Noticed some dripping from bow area with water coming out of bow compatment plugs. The compartments were empty with plugs out. Apparently there is a seam between the hull and liner at this "kiss point". My boat had been out of the water for about six weeks and stored inside so there was minimal water in the bilge.

Having read the many threads on inner hull water issues on the bigger models, wanted to determine what I may be dealing with on my 170. Also having owned this boat since new in 2002, I had never had the occasion to have the boat in the bow down attitude while on the trailer. Prior to starting the trailer work, the boat was on a level shop floor in a typical bow up position with no dripping from the open stern drains.

I screwed my bow jack down as low as possible and placed a pail under this area. The water ran out in a small but solid stream for more than an hour. Leaving the boat over night, there was about 2.5 gallons of water in the pail this morning. This water was clear, not funky or skunky.

This is not a real big deal but a suprise after six years of ownership, modifications, maintenance and winterizing done by yours truely. Most winterizing activity is obviously focused on the motor. Thought I knew this boat inside and out....

I would suggest to 170 hull owners to somehow get their boat in an obvious bow down attitude when winterizing to drain any water that may have accumulated to avoid damage from freezing and expansion. I have no idea of how to prevent this condition. For + - 2.5 gallons of water, not worth a lot of effort if it is drained prior to winter storage.

[Davekfl]

Hi Jim
You probably know more about your boat then I ever will but you state that this leak is no big deal.
I would think it is! If water is seeping out of the hull, it is also seeping in at some point. There has to be a crack someplace around the the two front compartment drains holes. If your 170 is like my 2004 170 bass ( I think they are the same hull just configured a little different) the front two compartments are sealed and drain outside the hull. In order for water to seep out ( water in between the inner and outer hull ) there has to be a crack. I would be banging on my dealers door
real fast. Did you ever remove the inner hull drain plug that is in the bilge and see if water comes out of the drain with the bow up? I am a little surprised because this is the first time that I have noticed someone with a inner liner water problem with the 170 line of boats. I thought it was a larger
Triumph boat problem. Hope you get it resolved.
Davekfl ( Sarasota, Florida)

[Jan from Humboldt]

Jim you should have a drain type plug low down on the center stringer just in front of the transom. On my 150 it,s on the starboard (right) side, hard to see but it should be there.

I should proof read and not stay up so late, LEFT is as it was pointed out is the port side of a boat.

Boy do I know how to look dumber than a rock.

[Jim Jenkins]

Re; two replies.

In the past I have opened the plug on the center stringer with no water evident. Actually a couple of times over the five years of ownership. Did not open it this time or even thought about it before getting the water from the bow down attitude as explained in the post. Most likely, the water that was present would have drained had I opened the plug on the hull stringer.

Still not a big concern due to only 2+ gallons but for the winter season. This boat is stored inside but unheated.

Have fully checked the hull on a floor creeper with good lighting. No evidence of splits or cracks. I am guessing there are one or two openings in the bow storage drains 'kiss point' as this was the source of the water. I believe it went in at this juncture and came out the same way. I have used some after market plugs for these drains since 2003 or so. They are longer than the OEM plugs and largely prevent water from collecting in the bow storage spaces when the boat is in use and/ or docked overnight for 3-4 days.

This thread discussion is the value of the Owner's web site for those who forget the details of the boat construction or to help the new owners understand the unexpected.

Thank you both for responding to this post.

[Davekfl]

Hey Jim
Is your boat set up like mine in that the two drain holes for the forward compartments are right over the trailer bunk. Without actually jacking up the boat off the trailer I cant see the drain holes since they are covered by the bunk.
Davekfl

[Jim Jenkins]

My trailer is a Galv. Loadrite as purchased with the boat new in 2002. The two drains for the fwd. compartments are about 5 inches forward of the end of the center trailer bunks. So I could see this area well when searching for the source of the water that started with a slow drip, then small stream until it quit. Again 2 + gallons in a plastic pail.

When loaded correctly, the stern of my boat is about 1 inch forward of flush with the end of the bunks.

Overall, it is very satisfying how maintenance free these Triumph boats are. In the past I have waxed gel coat, patched dings in the gel coat, varnished bright work and maintained an OMC stern drive that required much more TLC than the Yam. 4-stroke.

[Troll]

When I installed the Nauticus Trim Tabs on my Transom, I had to drill a total of 8 mounting holes. On the starboard side I noticed that one of the holes seeped a small amount of clear water. The flow was so slow that I used a paper towel to speed up the process. The total amount of water was no more than an ounce or two, but it obviously came from the foam inside the transom.

At the time I did not give this much concern, should I have?

Troll

[Eric G]

Ditto here on 2007 170CC - front storage compartment drain holes over the trailer bunks, especially the starboard side.

Anyone ever check the livewell/pump pickup coming thru the bottom of the boat? My starb. trailer bunk is shaved/router down to pass the livewll thru-hull fitting bezel so it is not ripperd off when cranking the boat up on the trailer. With fixed bunks welded to the trailer frame, its impossible to move the bunk to clear the thru-hull fitting. The carpet is torn already from the livewell fitting bezel being dragged on the carpet. The caulking is twisted, but that could have been done during assembly and install the thru-hull fiitting. It is plastic (delrin?)).

Just a FYI to all, jack up the boat and check this fitting. A loose/cracked fitting might be the cause of water inside. Should have been a chrome or bronze fitting if located on the bunk for durability. Alreay burned up one pump due to the Owner's Manual not dislosing/or Dealer not indiacting a seacock being installed (and with small hatch in the splashwell (PITA) and having the seacok closed. Nice section in O/M about livewell, but not disclosure about seacock. O/M printed by thrid-party company FOR Triumph, as confirmed by NE Sales rep.

Bad design/engineering on behalf of Triumph to have it located right on the bunk. Could have been moved 1"- 1.5" either way and cleared the bunk. Apparantly, the livewell pickup was moved from the transon to the bottom of the boat on the 2007's but still located stupid.

Still the best boat for the money and convenience. Won't buy any thing else. Got my eye on the 235 (but the gas prices...)

[NCangler]

Eric,
Are you sure you have a trailer with the bunk setup designated by Triumph? I contacted the factory about your comments to see what they had to say. Here is the response:

"The high speed pick up, thru-hull installed at the factory are bronze. It's location is dictated by structural kiss-off's and stringer geometry, accessibility of the pump, plumbing constraints and proper location to maintain good pressure and flow to the aerator pump while underway. Provisions have been made to the trailer bunk to relieve the area around and behind the thru-hull so as to not tear up the carpet."

Do you have any pictures of your trailer bunk setup and where the pickup is hitting the bunks?

[Eric G]

Thanks for contacting Triumph. No pics yet (**** daylight savings time)

Yes, the thru-hull is bronze looking in the bilge, but looking at the underside of theboat its a straight hole up.

"Provisions are made to the bunk to pass the liveweell p/u" yes, it is router down from end of bunk to point clearing the p/u, but not enough. My carpet is torn right where the p/u hits the end of the router section of the bunk.

Per dealer, boat came from factory set-up. Bunks not moved and are welded to frame so they cannot be adjusted.

Pics this week.