bilge pump suprise

[LSUTIGER1947]

210 owners have been communicatiing over time about water in the foam and how it got there and how to get rid of it. Well I discovered quite by accident how to get rid of it and how water might be getting into the bilge while on the water which was causing the bilge pump to cycle on everey 20 minutes or so. I removed the pump for cleaning and when I disconnected the base from the bilge mount water came gushing out from 2 of the screw holes. These to screws were about 2 1/2" long and apparently penetrated into the foam area. I got about months worth of drip, drip, drip from the transom drain in about 5 minutes! I believe the pump is installed at the factory so I don't know if those long screws were put in by accident or if it was intensional. I just went and checked and i've probably collected a gallon of water so far in the last 20 minutes.
Just thought I would pass this on. Ckeck the screw lenghts on your bilge base.

[shrimpfisherman]

IT HAS BEEN DRIVING ME NUTS! I constantly have water leaking into my bilge pump area, now i know why thanks so much man!

[NCangler]

As I understand it the length of the screws is less important than how much sealant (RULE Elastomeric) was put on them during installation. Triumph has many screws that penetrate the inner hull but they should have rule sealant or be used in conjunction with gaskets or both.

[ILLOGICAL GGC]

lsu---youve got me confused ---iknow reno it dont take much !! but i'm wondering why the water decided to drain once you removed the bilge pump mtging bracket rather than anytime you remove the foam drain plug if in fact you are talking about the special mod we do on the transom to remove water in the foam and not the bilge thru hull drain. any water in the foam should gravitate to the foam drain and not be trapped around the bilge pump---just wondering if i understand what you are describing correctly

[Codfish]

While changing out my bilge pump for one without the internal float switch, I found the following;
1- The pump base is screwed to a square block of 1/2" starboard.
2 - The block of starboard is Ruled to the bottom of the bilge.
3 - The screws go through the base, through the starboard and then into the inner hull layer of ropolene.

That is why they are longer than you might expect, and still longer than needed for the install in my opinion. A 1" screw should be sufficient. When I removed mine I worried that they could have actually penetrated the outer layer of roplene. They had not but it must have been real close. I reinstalled with 1" and they worked fine for the job.

I also found that there was plenty of rule between the starboard spacer block and the hull but not any noticeable at the screw heads.

If the factory would simply change the screw length, and be sure to smother the screw with rule, it should eliminate any leak problems.

Just trying to be helpful.

Codfish

[LSUTIGER1947]

Ilogicall-
beats the heck out of me, I guess there was some sort of pressure build up at that location in the foam. Sorry so long to reply been out of pocket for a while.