Water Leak - Zodiac Pro

[james t]

I have a Zodiac Pro 7 (4.2m RIB) and I am baffled by the amount of water that comes out of the hull drain at the end of a session - it runs full flow for nearly a minute!

I have filled up the hull in reverse on land to check for cracks in the hull - using a hosepipe connected into the drain hole. I filled her up and no water came out through the underside of the boat.

The drain plug and washer looks like it is OK. There are a few small holes in the deck where screws used to go - but I can't imagine them leaking that much.

Does anyone have any idea how this water is getting into the hull?

I haven't ever taken the tubes off - could there be any leaks between the tubes and the fibreglass material of the hull?

I'm a bit stumped

[mike-stgt]

Hi,
don t worry about that. It is mostly condensed water from the ait comming inside.
The Hull is in cold water and the sun is shining to the flor on top. Its the same as in the bathroom. You cannot see , but its always there , the humidity.

Salve mike

[ribraff]

If it's running for more than a minute it is more likely to be something other than condensation!

A common cause for a lot of water in the hull or under the deck is rainwater leaking through fittings, is the console and seating screwed down? If the screws are not seated in a suitable sealant there's a strong chance any water on deck level be it rainwater or seawater will run through below deck.

Is there a splashwell running down to the keel?... Is there a bung it may be leaking through?

It's unlikey to be a gap between the laminate on the tube flange but if it is an easy job to take them off it may be worth checking.

[RibinSpain]

yes I have a Ribeye 5m & was amased at the water in the hull after each session. Post 2007 there are no elephant trunks, just supposed to be 1 way flow valves where the trunks were. These work ok on planing & clear the deck but when launching are pretty useless as water flows in the hull. In fact for anything other than planing they are useless.

As you recover & haven´t planed for 5 mins the boat is full of water.

My solution - block them up from the inside with swim toggles (those foam things). You can easily take them out if needed, just pull them out as they are blocked from inside.

Since I used above no problems at all.

[spartacus]

I have the same boat - and to be honest I just get a trickle from the hull drain plug even if I'm out in bad weather. When I put the console and seating in I used sikaflex then screwed down with stainless-steel screws so is watertight.

I don't see any advantage in taking off the sponsons - more hassle than it's worth. What I would check is that the bow locker lid is down tight. Water will gain access here. Also check the main transom drain bung is fitted. The one-way valve is next to useless unless you're under-way.

[mike-stgt]

Hi again,
i have the same Rib. When not in planing , the hull is full of water until middle of the floor from behind. The valve is not completly close. I thought about the inside of the hull. There is a 3/4 Inch screw to drain the hull . There is also water comming out and this is mostly condensed water.

[Red Fox]

If this occurs after wave jumping etc I can only think water might be getting into the 'hull' chamber via the locker box. Normally the flow out at the end of a day will be some especially if soaked folk have been hauling themselves in and depositing water out of wet suits. Most will run down the deck and exit via the bilge well at the back and through the black flap. But if your screws and holes are not filled/caped with silicon sealant then this will be the way in. Check the D ring on the front bow is not lose also. Good luck and enjoy...its only water!

[james t]

Thanks alot for all your input. I reckon it must be the screws of the console etc not being sealed properly as you have pointed out. As a newbie I am just getting aquainted with problems of boat owning and also being able to differentiate between what is worth worrying about or not. We dive and fish from the boat and get quite alot of water on the deck.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Red Fox

If this occurs after wave jumping etc I can only think water might be getting into the 'hull' chamber via the locker box. Normally the flow out at the end of a day will be some especially if soaked folk have been hauling themselves in and depositing water out of wet suits. Most will run down the deck and exit via the bilge well at the back and through the black flap. But if your screws and holes are not filled/caped with silicon sealant then this will be the way in. Check the D ring on the front bow is not lose also. Good luck and enjoy...its only water!

Noooo! Not silicone! Sikaflex/purflex/a PROPER marine sealer is the ONLY thing you should be using onboard a rib!

[martin p]

I have the same issue. im sure its not water coming in through screw holes. i think i might fill it with water and see where water comes out. the rubber on the bung has perished slightly but still seems excessive.