Water Leak

[wideawakeaz]

I own a 2004 LSV with 350 hours. In the last two weeks, I've seen more water in the boat when I pull the plug after a day at the lake and notice the bilge light coming on (once every 30 minutes to an hour) when I start up on a wakeboard pull. Also, two weeks ago I had the shop put on a new prop. Is it likely that the drive shaft seal is leaking? How long do they last normally? Does the prop swap increase the likelihood of inducing a leak?

I've examined the hull, no cracks, no traumatic events, etc.

Any tips on how to identify where it's leaking?

If it is the shaft seal, can the shaft seal fail catastrophically? How big a deal is it to change out.

Thanks

WideAwakeAz

[Ndawg12]

I own a 2004 LSV with 350 hours. In the last two weeks, I've seen more water in the boat when I pull the plug after a day at the lake and notice the bilge light coming on (once every 30 minutes to an hour) when I start up on a wakeboard pull. Also, two weeks ago I had the shop put on a new prop. Is it likely that the drive shaft seal is leaking? How long do they last normally? Does the prop swap increase the likelihood of inducing a leak?

I've examined the hull, no cracks, no traumatic events, etc.

Any tips on how to identify where it's leaking?

If it is the shaft seal, can the shaft seal fail catastrophically? How big a deal is it to change out.

Thanks

WideAwakeAz

Changing the prop shouldn't have anything to do with your water intrusion. Fill your bilge with a garden hose and check underneath for leaks. If it is leaking where the shaft exits the hull and/or running down the shaft then I would say your shaft seal is the culprit. 350 hrs is about the right time for a replacement (typically every 300 hrs). I don't think it can fail catastrophically but will continue to worsen and your bilge pump will run more and more. Replacing the shaft seal can be a pain, you can run a search on here to find good info on that or pay the dealer about $100, that what I did

[Baddog]

I own a 2004 LSV with 350 hours. In the last two weeks, I've seen more water in the boat when I pull the plug after a day at the lake and notice the bilge light coming on (once every 30 minutes to an hour) when I start up on a wakeboard pull. Also, two weeks ago I had the shop put on a new prop. Is it likely that the drive shaft seal is leaking? How long do they last normally? Does the prop swap increase the likelihood of inducing a leak?

I've examined the hull, no cracks, no traumatic events, etc.

Any tips on how to identify where it's leaking?

If it is the shaft seal, can the shaft seal fail catastrophically? How big a deal is it to change out.

Thanks

WideAwakeAz

Changing the prop shouldn't have anything to do with your water intrusion. Fill your bilge with a garden hose and check underneath for leaks. If it is leaking where the shaft exits the hull and/or running down the shaft then I would say your shaft seal is the culprit. 350 hrs is about the right time for a replacement (typically every 300 hrs). I don't think it can fail catastrophically but will continue to worsen and your bilge pump will run more and more. Replacing the shaft seal can be a pain, you can run a search on here to find good info on that or pay the dealer about $100, that what I did

Could be as easy as just tightening the shaft seal. Go with easiest first.

[Sunscape fan]

I had the same problem: noticed more and more water in the bilge with the pump coming on more frequently. When we were in the water one day a few weeks ago I started searching for the problem. Turns out the water was leaking from between the head and the exhaust manifold. My boat is still under warranty so I took it into my dealer. He removed the manifold and pressure checked it. The manifold had a casting flaw that produced a small hole which caused the leak. Luckily the water didn't leak down the exhaust port and into the engine cause it leaked even with the engine off. Unfortunately it ended my season cause my dealer is still waiting for a new manifold. So you may want to look there. It was hard to see cause you couldn't see it from the top.

[wideawakeaz]

I own a 2004 LSV with 350 hours. In the last two weeks, I've seen more water in the boat when I pull the plug after a day at the lake and notice the bilge light coming on (once every 30 minutes to an hour) when I start up on a wakeboard pull. Also, two weeks ago I had the shop put on a new prop. Is it likely that the drive shaft seal is leaking? How long do they last normally? Does the prop swap increase the likelihood of inducing a leak?

I've examined the hull, no cracks, no traumatic events, etc.

Any tips on how to identify where it's leaking?

If it is the shaft seal, can the shaft seal fail catastrophically? How big a deal is it to change out.

Thanks

WideAwakeAz

Changing the prop shouldn't have anything to do with your water intrusion. Fill your bilge with a garden hose and check underneath for leaks. If it is leaking where the shaft exits the hull and/or running down the shaft then I would say your shaft seal is the culprit. 350 hrs is about the right time for a replacement (typically every 300 hrs). I don't think it can fail catastrophically but will continue to worsen and your bilge pump will run more and more. Replacing the shaft seal can be a pain, you can run a search on here to find good info on that or pay the dealer about $100, that what I did

Could be as easy as just tightening the shaft seal. Go with easiest first.

[wideawakeaz]

To tighten the shaft seal, do I do that inside the hull or tighten the screws outside the hull?

[Baddog]

To tighten the shaft seal, do I do that inside the hull or tighten the screws outside the hull?

The shaft packing nut is inside where the drive shaft goes through the hull. There are two large nuts. Loosen the outer one then adjust the inner nut tighter one hex surface at a time. Retighten the outer nut and you should see no more than 1-2 drops every 5-10 seconds.

[JPSkier]

I had the same problem. Mine was the shaft packing. When you are in water you will see water leaking from the nut if that's the problem. It should be 1-2 drops every 10 seconds or so. You'll need to tighten it while out on the water. Tighten it just enough to slow the water to 1 drop every 10 seconds, no more. You'll need a big wrench - 1 7/8 I believe.

[Brad B]

Unless one of your ballast tanks has a leak.