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Reasonable Water Intake?


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We've got a 2006 LSV and have been having increasing problems with water coming into the boat. We have been working closely with the dealer, but wanted to get a second opinion from others.

A little background. We were running early last summer and a serious vibration started in the boat. After much discussion with the dealer, a new prop (they thought we hit something) and no stop to the vibration, the dealer discovered three of the four bolts mating the drive shaft to the transmision had fallen out (they found them in the bilge, not sheared). Since then, the vibration has stopped, but the boat seems to take on water at a faster rate. This shows up as a dead batery after one to two weeks of non-use (moored in covered morage). The dealer has tested the electrical system, but no shorts show up, so that leaves us with the conclusion of the automatic bilge draining the battery.

Dealer indicates that that is a normal lifespan for the battery, and is basically suggesting not moring the boat in the water. They ran the boat in the water, and indicated "no sigmificant vibration" and that the drive shaft is true. This is not our first boat, but is our first inboard, and have not seen this rate of battery drain. At this point, the dealer indicates the water has risen high enough to warant rebuilding both the starter and alternator. Facing this much of a bill, wanted to ask others a few questions.

Also, we have only one battery (no significant stereo system) and the wet packing system for the drive shaft.

1) How long should you be able to not run the boat in the water before draining the battery? Is two weeks too long?

2) Notice the HDS Leak discussions. What is HDS (????? Drive Shaft?)

3) If drive shaft is leaking, is this a waranty issue that i can get Malibu to address, or just a "cost of doing business" on my end?

4) What is a shaft log? Does this replace the dripless packing the dealer is talking about?

Thanks for the help.

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1) How long should you be able to not run the boat in the water before draining the battery? Is two weeks too long?

Your boat should not be taking on enough water in just two weeks to kill the battery. No.gif

2) Notice the HDS Leak discussions. What is HDS (????? Drive Shaft?)

Hydrophonic Dampening System (or something like that). It's the box built into the floor of the bilge that the driveshaft exits through. There is great debate as to whether or not it actually does anything beyond cause headaches. :unsure:

3) If drive shaft is leaking, is this a waranty issue that i can get Malibu to address, or just a "cost of doing business" on my end?

The drip rate of the packing should have been checked when the dealer discovered and corrected the driveshaft coupling bolt issue. With the drive shaft vibrating as much as it would with only one bolt in it it had to have beat the snot out of the packing material in the shaft log. The packing material wears slowly over time requiring occasional tightening of the shaft log nuts. Eventually the material needs to be replaced but just to give you an idea, my 2000 (with ~500 hours on it) still has the OE packing material.

4) What is a shaft log? Does this replace the dripless packing the dealer is talking about?

The shaft log is the piece that seals the hole that the driveshaft goes through. Traditional shaft logs have the replacable material in them and typically have a drip rate of 1 drip every five to ten seconds. The dripless is a newer design and obviously by their name they don't drip but I have to think that a wobble/vibration like what you are talking about would have destroyed the entire unit. Dontknow.gif

End result - you need to identify where the water is coming from. If it is coming from the shaft log (around the drive shaft) that's an easy fix, just tighten the nuts. Worse case...replace the packing material. If the HDS is leaking, that is definitely a more intricate repair and probably not a DIY.

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No HDS in a v-drive

:Doh: Didn't look at what boat he had...Edwin is right...It is only us DD owners that are blessed with that particular invention. The shaft log is quite a bit more difficult to adjust in a v-drive or at least hard to reach. Yes.gif

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Norcal is right on but a few things he forgot.

Was the shaft bolt repair under warrent?

Is the shaft seal leaking?

If the shaft seal is leaking and filling the boat up with water when moored. Then the battery, starter and alt all are failing because of a warrenty problem that started this. I.E. shaft bolts. Find out for your self where the water is coming in from, before going back to the dealer.

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Don't overlook all your threw hull fittings and hoses. Your problem may not be related to the first problem. Lose fitting cracked hose or a hole rubbed in a hose from the vibration.

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One thing you need to look at is the out hose on the bilge pump.For some dumb reason malibu uses the cheap juck plastic hose that comes with a cheap bilge pump. it can break then when you get enough water in the boat to turn on the bilge it just runs its self to death, pumping the same water over and over.

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Norcal is right on but a few things he forgot.

Was the shaft bolt repair under warrent?

Is the shaft seal leaking?

If the shaft seal is leaking and filling the boat up with water when moored. Then the battery, starter and alt all are failing because of a warrenty problem that started this. I.E. shaft bolts. Find out for your self where the water is coming in from, before going back to the dealer.

Yes the bolt issue was under waranty, but after the dealer looked everything over, they said everything was fine. They have checked the shaft seal and packing material several times and again OK. We've only got about 200 hours on the boat, so we are not too close to having to replace, but are considering replacing with the dripless system.

So, is there a manual, website, book out there that details all of the through hull penetrations, and what stuff you have to pull out of the interior to get at them?

Thanks for the info.

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Do you have a ballast system in your boat? If so, could it be leaking?

The shaft packing could just need tightening. Next time you have the boat in the water, look at the shaft log and check to see how much water is coming out of it. As stated earlier, the correct drip rate is about once every ten seconds but can vary a little. If the packing has a steady stream or a very high drip rate without the prop shaft turning, it needs to be tightened or replaced.

Other possible sources are leaks through your drainplugs. Check the drainplug under the v-drive, the one on the transom, and the one under the in floor ski locker (if applicable). You could also check your rudder packing for leaks. Another possibility is a leak from a loose fin on the bottom. This could have been damaged if you hit something.

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