17macae Posted April 17, 2023 Report Share Posted April 17, 2023 My bilge pump works but the water does not make it out the side of the boat. Is there a valve somewhere I'm not aware of? The water returns from behind the starboard compartment. Any wisdom would be appreciated. Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeviam Posted April 17, 2023 Report Share Posted April 17, 2023 Sounds like the hose has come loose from the thru-hull fitting on the inside. Do you have access to hold a cell phone back behind it and take a video? If not, you may have to cut an access hole inside the starboard compartment wall to get to it. Buy a cover plate/inspection plate first so you know the correct hole size to cut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17macae Posted April 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2023 Thanks, I went and looked and there is a small oval port BEHIND the power pole pump. Great tip. Todd 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernWake Posted April 17, 2023 Report Share Posted April 17, 2023 How much water are you trying to pump out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Seither Posted April 17, 2023 Report Share Posted April 17, 2023 Dirt Dober nest possible, I've had to unplug mine a couple of times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17macae Posted April 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2023 The portal is about 4 inches and I can't get my hand in there. What next - I don't even know where to start cutting? Southern Wake: I forgot to remove the plug after a trip. While rinsing, the biige activated and nothing shot out the side. It appears that I'm not picking up any water during operation. Just purchased the boat used 4/11/23. Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wthree3 Posted April 17, 2023 Report Share Posted April 17, 2023 Before cutting any holes I would be sure your pump is actually pumping water; that the impeller is turning and your not just assuming it's working because the motor is spinning perhaps with a detached impeller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17macae Posted April 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2023 Pump works well - it recirculates the water nicely. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeviam Posted April 17, 2023 Report Share Posted April 17, 2023 8 hours ago, 17macae said: The portal is about 4 inches and I can't get my hand in there. What next - I don't even know where to start cutting? Wow! That looks tight with all the wiring and hydraulic lines in there. I wouldn't risk cutting there. I don't know enough about the HPX-V 18 hatch locations and thru-hull fitting locations to offer a definite answer on this. Usually those type hose connections are double clamped and glued on with some 3M marine caulking, to make sure they never come loose easily - at least my 2016 Hewes Redfisher was built that way. Hopefully there's some way to access the thru-hull fitting from maybe another angle in a different hatch (or the bilge) without having to cut more of the bucket wall out. Wish I could see more of it in person and had a better idea to fix it. A boat rigging/repair shop might have a knowledgeable, tiny, skinny person who could crawl in there and get it done right for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dabear Posted April 17, 2023 Report Share Posted April 17, 2023 Can you place a hose in the stainless fitting on the outside of the hull and turn the water and check if the hose leaks before it gets to the bilge pump ? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17macae Posted April 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2023 Dabear - The water just goes in the bilge. When the bilge pump runs, water just returns from the starboard side. Another option may be to drill a new bilge hole on the port side but I can not see in that area either. I just need to know where to cut. Might have to rent a borescope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Seither Posted April 18, 2023 Report Share Posted April 18, 2023 This rules out a pump/ plugged line! Have you thought about contacting the dealer to see what the options are? Borescope would at least let you see what's going on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim33042 Posted April 19, 2023 Report Share Posted April 19, 2023 On 4/17/2023 at 7:59 PM, 17macae said: I just need to know where to cut. Might have to rent a borescope. there are many models on Amazon that will work with your phone... reasonably priced as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tender Posted April 19, 2023 Report Share Posted April 19, 2023 On 4/17/2023 at 7:59 PM, 17macae said: Dabear - The water just goes in the bilge. When the bilge pump runs, water just returns from the starboard side. Another option may be to drill a new bilge hole on the port side but I can not see in that area either. I just need to know where to cut. Might have to rent a borescope. You'd still have a problem with the existing thru-hull fitting, its essentially a hole in the side of your boat and water will enter every time it dips underwater. I'd consider cutting out that corner of the tub/compartment to get the access you need and have a glass guy repair it and spray it before I'd drill a new thru-hull. Really tough area to access for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim33042 Posted April 20, 2023 Report Share Posted April 20, 2023 That access hole does look tight, but if you take off (unscrew) the outer housing - that should give you a little bit of access to get your hand and a camera to take video or pics of what is going on - I did that on my older Hewes to replace the plastic thru hull with a stainless....otherwise... I would get a bore scope and enter from the outside of the bilge outlet to see if maybe the hose came off or if there is any obstruction or possible crack in that hose. If so, you can cut a hole on the side of that compartment if necessary for better - direct access to the hose/thru hull connection. I did my replacement with an access hole almost exactly where yours is. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17macae Posted April 20, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2023 Ordered a borescope. It should help with wiring issues too. Bennett trim tab control randomly auto retracts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim33042 Posted April 21, 2023 Report Share Posted April 21, 2023 One thing to add, when you are ready to get at that project... take off the hatch/lid of that compartment (leave the hinges attached to the boat and just remove the screws to the hatch).. it will be a lot easier for you to move around and inspect things. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17macae Posted April 22, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2023 The bilge is connected to the thru hull but seems to be kinked. I'm only getting 60 GPH out the discharge - it runs down the side of the boat. The previous owner cut the bilge discharge and installed a DIY PVC Tee connected to a hose. Water flew out when I directed it to the hose. This connection was very leaky and I removed it. I then properly connected the pump to the bilge hose. The 1200 GPH pump is clean and operates normally when connected to another hose. It says with 3 foot of discharge head, the pump should discharge 700GPH. The borescope was fun but revealed nothing but a cluster of wiring and nothing that I could discern inside the hose. I saw a fly that got stuck in just outside the rod tube - that could have been a disaster it the hook had penetrated a hydraulic line. When I had it disassembled, I back flushed with the garden hose and the flow seemed restricted then too. No debris that I could see came out. Sewer snake next?? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lap it Up Posted April 22, 2023 Report Share Posted April 22, 2023 Like others have said. Sounds like a mud dobber nest. I’ve had them in several areas on outboards over the years. Perhaps a hard coat hanger stretched out to knock it loose? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeviam Posted April 22, 2023 Report Share Posted April 22, 2023 I think you should just sell the boat - TO ME! 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17macae Posted April 27, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2023 Found the bilge problem - kink. I've pulled on it already, but now that I know it's kinked, I'm going to pull the hell out of it: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17macae Posted April 27, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2023 Do I need a riser loop in the bilge line? I went ahead and cut a hole. The riser loop has 2 kinks and I can not do anything to relieve them. There is not much room in there for the loop. The hose does an upward loop from the bilge discharge and then goes down to the hull and over to the pump . I could cut out the loop and re-attach the section but then I would have no loop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17macae Posted April 27, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2023 Fixed: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim33042 Posted April 28, 2023 Report Share Posted April 28, 2023 Wow, that was a bad one.. thank you for posting.. this can help someone in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim33042 Posted April 28, 2023 Report Share Posted April 28, 2023 You may want to check your back flow again... my bilge pump has a check value, so if the thru hull goes under water - no water goes into the bilge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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