where's the water coming from?

[dudley]

Me and my dad took our newly purchased 2002 190Bay out today for the first time, and we are having a problem with water getting into the inner hull. First off, it appears as though a previous owner had Triumph try to correct a inner hull water problem. The scuppers have been moved from the sides to the back, and 2 inner hull drains have been installed at the very bottom of the transom, each out about 5 or 6 inches from the centerline. We certainly don't think the scuppers are the problem, you can clearly see that they are plumbed in a straight forward manner using a tube that goes from the ball/check to the inner deck floor. We got the boat launched, tested the livewell pump (it seemed to work fine) and the wash down pump. The wash down really didn't have much volume or pressure, and seemed to have air in the lines. We had the boat in the water for about 30 minutes, tops, and when we put it on the trailer and pulled the inner hull drain plugs, about 10 to 15 gallons of water gushed out. We then put the inner hull drain plugs back in, and backed it down the ramp so that the water intake/discharge holes on the transom were submerged. We also filled up the livewell, left the boat on the trailer and after about 10 minutes we pulled it out. We were mainly trying to determine which of the two intake/discharge holes on the transom were responsible for what. We first checked the bilge area for water, and saw just a trace, not even enough that the bilge pump would pump anything out. Then we emptied the livewell, and were REALLY surprised that the livewell discharged from a very large hole, about 1 1/2 inch diameter located on the bottom of the transom, underneath a "ledge" that we didn't even know existed. While laying under the back of the boat looking for more HOLES, I found one more normal sized intake/discharge hole on the very bottom of the hull, slightly on the port side, about 5 or 6 feet from the transom! Then, we pulled the inner hull drain plugs, and sad but true, about 3 or 4 gallons of water streamed out. To clarify, our boat has 2 upper holes on the transom, which drain the "wash back" area where the boats steering, cables, etc. are. Then further down, say about 1 1/2 feet are two more intake/discharge holes, (we aren't sure which of these holes does what) Then near the bottom of the transom, are 2 more inner hull drain holes, one very large hole that apparently drains the livewell, and yet 1 more intake/discharge hole on the very bottom of the hull, slightly to the port side, about 5 or 6 feet forward of the transom.

Sorry about the long question, but I wanted to be perfectly clear about how this boat is "plumbed". I did not receive ANY owner manuals with this boat purchase! Hopefully, one of you 190bay owners out there might have some information as to what holes do what, and where to look for a obvious leak that is letting water into the inner hull. Love the boat, but the water problem is making me nutts. Thanks very much for any help!

[boostjunkie1]

I wish that I could help you on this. I have a 2007 190 Bay and have not seen this issue. I will however have the boat in the water in the morning for around 5 hours and will let you know if I too find that I'm getting allot of water in her. I will also go over the underside of the boat and see how many holes are in the bottom of the hull. Right now all that I know of are the 2 holes up front for the fish boxes, 2 regular drain holes at the transom for the inner hull and the 2 up top for the engine wash out area. Then there are 2 holes for the scuppers that drain the deck???? Good Luck with your new boat and I hope that you get everything worked out. JB

[NCangler]

Have you discussed this with the person you purchased it from to see if they can shed some light on it regarding any modifications they may have made to the boat or if they had a problem with it? Do you have a Triumph dealer near you that you could take it in to? Finally, any chance of attaching some pictures of the areas you're talking about? That might help make it clearer.

[BarryB]

Hi Dudley,

I drive a 170CC so this may or may not help much.

There are two drain holes near the bow of my boat. They are for the fish boxes. Because of the way the boat is molded, there is always the possibility of a seperation between the inner and outer hull where the drain is located. Water could get in that way.

There is a raw water intake, on the bottom, near the aft end of the boat. This is the intake for the bait well. If there is a problem there, water could get in that way. On my boat, there is also a seacock on the bait well opening. See if you have one and turn it off. Check if water is still getting in.

If you remove everything in the boat (fishing gear, coolers, etc.) and have some time at a quiet boat ramp with a good flashlight and mirror, you should be able to locate the leak.

Good luck.

[NCangler]

I checked with the factory on this for you and got this response:

Just for clarification there are no external "inner hull" drains on the
190. The inner hull is the area where the foam sits between the inner
and outer skins of the boat. The 2 drains described under the ledge are
the bilge drains. My first test would be to pull the boat from the
water close all plugs and put some water in the bilge area. Make sure
you don't overfill it, no more that 1/4 full and inspect the outside of
the boat to see where it is leaking from.

[MolarBoater]

I have a factory modified Bay 190, 2002 also.

Here's some things to start with.

1. The two plugs in the transom should be your "bilge plugs" and drain the common bilge and
makes me think your bilge pump is not working or not turned on. You should be able to hear it for
3 seconds when you turn it on to sample to see if water is in the bilge. It will continue to run if it finds
water. It is automatic and may need to be switched but check to make sure it is not clogged with
mold, fishing line, PAPER by back flushing the thru hull with a garden hose and the transom plugs out.

2. You will eventually place a third plug into the transom @1-2" lower and directly in between your two
bilge plugs.....that will be your inner hull drain. You will be drilling into "foam" @ 3". These pics are
on the site with instructions, please use the SEARCH icon at the top of the page.

3. Take some pictures and put them in your threads or photo gallery for clarification.

4. The rear scuppers work no better than the side scuppers with balls. My opinion.

5. You need to make sure there is a "flapper" style scupper over the bilge discharge thru hull(on transom)
as you will get "back siphoning" of water into the bilge when the pump cycles off. This will cause the
pump to never quit and has been the cause of bilge pumps to eventually burn up/quit.

6. You will have several thru hulls, the bilge discharge, livewell pick up (on the bottom), fuel overflow (on
side) to name the 3 main ones. Check all to make sure there are no "cracks" in the thru hull fittings,
and check to make sure the hoses attached to bilge pump and thru hull, livewell pump and fittings as
well as the sea cock to allow water to the livewell (under the access plate on the floor behind the helm
seat) are all water tight and have a stainless worm clamp securing them.

7. On the trailer, test the thru hulls with a garden hose and see where the water goes. Read all old posts
in the Bay 190 forum as it is pretty extensive.....that's your best OWNER's Manual you could ever have
then thank Randy, aka, NC Angler for doing all this for us.

Good Luck and ask some questions when ready, we'll help out.
MolarBoater

[wpschaef]

When I first got my 170 one of the bilge drains wasn't sealing even though it felt tight. I had to use a pair of pliers to get past a rough spot in the threads to get it to seat all the way. Now I get no water at all unless I get splash from the baitwell. It was quite a bit before.

[ILLOGICAL GGC]

If The 1" Plugs On The Set Back At The Transom Are Black With A Red Washer ,i Would Bet The Washers Are Bad And Water Is Leaking Into The Bilge Not Inner Hull . You Need To Put A Good Quality Garden Hose Washer Or As I Did An O Ring There As Well To Keep Water From Backing Into The Boat . I Do Not Think You Have "inner Hull" Drains But Rather Are Describing The Drains For The Bilge

[hydrotherapy]

I had this problem as well with my 2008 190 bay although not as bad. With the boat on the trailer and the auto bildge switch disconnected i filled the bildge with water and waited for leaks to occur. I figured if it got in it would have to get out the same way. Much to my surprise i found no leaks. Then i went inside and found that the supply tube connection to the bait well was loose and that was wwhere the water was comming from.

[NCangler]

That is my suspicion on this one too Hydrotherapy.