Drmajor Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 My son's LT20 has a leak and we can't seem to find it. The bilge pump comes on every X hours. Not a big leak, but worries us. We thought it might be the intakes for the bilge pump- not. We filled up the inside of the hull with water and let sit for at least 24 hr. Not leaking water. Suggestions on where it might be?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lap it Up Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 Access hatch or pie hole in splash well? Does it leak more when standing in the stern? Does it leak even with seachest valves closed or off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drmajor Posted August 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 Not sure what seachest valve is.? I think splash well is tight- will check. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmanjj Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 One place it could be is beneath the rub rail.......the cap sits on the hull there, water pushes up the hull and can get under / between the rub rail and into the hull. the fix is to remove rub rail, apply 4200 sealant at the "seam" and then reinstall the rub rail. Second place can be the livewell hoses either at the ball valve end or the outlet end into your livewell. Check all hose clamps and be sure they are super tight. I'm sure you will get more suggestions...but, this is a start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drmajor Posted August 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 Thank you---We looked at inlet hoses...didn't see- will have to check on next outing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigsnook35 Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 And water may on,y come in while under way. You may have to get in the water and have someone look through the hatch and see if anything is leaking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ksayles44 Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 I also had some water coming into my LT 20 and one thing I found was the rear floor drains were not sealed tightly. Every time someone walks to one side of the boat water will come in which is normal but the water now had a way to drain into the bilge. I sealed this up with 5200 because that was what I had on hand and I have not had nearly as much water in the bilge when I fish all day. Might be something to check out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurem Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 Not sure if this is what Ksayles44 is mentioning, but on the Older Lappy bayfishers the scuppers on the side of the hull were notorious for leaking. I believe the Lt's had the same design. As you walk side to side the scuppers dip below the waterline. On the back side of the scupper it has a small tube that goes between the outer hull and the inner liner. As time goes on the sealant around the tube dries out causing water to get by. You can take the scupper off and inspect, if the sealant looks dried out the clean and replace with fresh sealant. Mystery leaks can be a bear, hang in there. dc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adolph Posted August 23, 2016 Report Share Posted August 23, 2016 My 93 lt20 had the a simalr issue the last few months the bildge would run every so often becoming more and more frequent I found my leak at the connection between the live well and the bottom drain With boat out of the water, take out your plug, fill the live well up with water with the stand pipe in place and see if water leaks into the bilge I think this issue is very common in older hewes my neighbor has a similar year redfisher with same issue there is no valve in my boat in line with the live well drain which I think is a mistake in manufacturing to not have one as this drain is almost or is below the waterline. I understand it's a big line and a small bilge area but every older Hewes in my mind should install a check valve or shutoff valve in the bottom live well drain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goozeman Posted June 20, 2017 Report Share Posted June 20, 2017 My 2000 18 LT does the same thing. Found out that the release well drain leaks. Now, to get my big self in there to fix it will be a totally different story!!! I found it one day while fishing when the bilge spooked some tailing reds, so I immediately started looking and that's what I found. It's a pretty steady lead as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polliwog Posted July 24, 2017 Report Share Posted July 24, 2017 I had the same issue ,but the reason for the leak I have not heard on this discussion. The lower attachment plate for the poling platform had come lose. The platform is attached with lag screws which are not bolted on inside. I couldn't believe it,but true. My yard cut a 3 inch hole in the inner liner to access the ability to through bolt them in place. Mine were only loose on the starboard side. They also took the other Lag screws on the port side and used 4200 sealer the make sure they stay in place. On my 20 ft LT the lower plates are just enough in the water to let water come in when loose. Hope this might help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookbytes Posted February 3, 2018 Report Share Posted February 3, 2018 On 8/22/2016 at 4:06 PM, lurem said: Not sure if this is what Ksayles44 is mentioning, but on the Older Lappy bayfishers the scuppers on the side of the hull were notorious for leaking. I believe the Lt's had the same design. As you walk side to side the scuppers dip below the waterline. On the back side of the scupper it has a small tube that goes between the outer hull and the inner liner. As time goes on the sealant around the tube dries out causing water to get by. You can take the scupper off and inspect, if the sealant looks dried out the clean and replace with fresh sealant. Mystery leaks can be a bear, hang in there. dc totally seen this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F1sh0n Posted February 4, 2018 Report Share Posted February 4, 2018 Boats leak. I bought a new MA21 back in 2004, it leaked. Bought a 1992 before the 21 and it leaked. Bought a 1993 after the 21 and it leaked. It is super hard to do it . . but let it go. You'll drive yourself nuts worrying about it. If you are concerned about safety carry a spare bilge pump with long leads and a long hose that you can just stick in the bilge if the main one fails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polliwog Posted March 23, 2018 Report Share Posted March 23, 2018 Problem with a leak isn't an issue if you trailer the boat ,.it's a big problem if you keep the boat in the water in a marina. Battery runs down the bilge pump and the boat sinks. Should be able to find out what is going on, my boat is now dry after the fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.