lots of water into the engine compartment, Please help!

[Jonas B]

Hello
We have an Avon Jet Rib 320. Last season we had a problem as the boat takes water into the engine compartment. After only a few tens of meters when we drove, quite a lot of water accumulates in the engine compartment (we do not know what could be wrong.
Is there anyone who has come across something like that and knows what it can be to worry? We have a thought that it may be some radiator hose or something that is leaking. Grateful for help

[95gstnj]

There are dozens of reasons you could be getting water into the bilge. We cant diagnose from your description. Rig up a few bilge pumps, leave them on, and go for a ride and look inside the bilge and see where the leak is coming from.

[paulbrown22]

It doesn't sound like he even needs to go for a ride, if it's only happening after a few meters! I'd stay as close to the trailer/marina as possible in that scenario...

If the boat is on a trailer, I'd just back it into the water so it's just about floating off the trailer, and before even starting the engine, look for ingress into the engine compartment/bilge, in case there's a leaking/missing drain plug, a leaking sea water inlet hose, a hose clamp that's come loose, etc.

Only if there's no ingress like that, then I'd start the engine and see what happens. If it fills up as quickly as you say, sounds like you shouldn't really need to move off the trailer, you'd likely be seeing something pouring into the bilge by then.

[Salty Pete]

I wouldn't go for a drive unless you have good insurance. To see where water is leaking in, you should be able to see where water is leaking out. With the boat on the trailer at home put some water in the bilge and see where it is leaking out of the boat. There is dye available, normally to check for leaks in swimming pools, and by squirting it around where you think it may be leaking, the dye will flow into the crack or hole.

[samt]

So many potential points of entry on a jet tender. Could be hull, seal between jet and hull, the jet drive, or the engine cooling/exhaust system.

You really need to be able to see in the engine bay, around the jet with the engine running, as suggested, if you have a trailer, back it down a slip so its deep enough in the water but still attached to trailer, if there is no water after say 10 minutes, start it up, if you now have water its the exhaust/cooling system.

Go careful filling the boat with water, you risk damaging the engine.

Unfortunately these are over complicated boats, with awful access for maintence and repairs.

If you are not experienced, take it to a professional, but prepare to pay $$$ compared to an outboard tender, you may even get turned away, lots of guys will not work on these type of boat!

[Tim M]

Run it up on a trailer out of the water connected to a hose pipe. See if it’s still filling up then. Could well be a loose hose or crack in an engine component.